Mena Executives is recruiting a senior Factory Manager on behalf of a well-established catering company in Abu Dhabi, UAE. This high-level leadership role oversees a large-scale food production, industrial bakery, and central kitchen operation — requiring a minimum of 10 years of food manufacturing experience (including at least 4 years managing a plant or major production operation), strong command of production planning, OEE, GMP, HACCP, food safety, and manpower management, and HACCP Level 3 certification or above. Candidates must be currently based in the UAE. Send CV to: info@menaexecutives.com
About the Role — Food Factory Leadership in Abu Dhabi
Operation: Large-scale food production, industrial bakery, patisserie, and central kitchen — full plant management responsibility
Recruiter: Mena Executives — a specialist executive recruitment firm placing senior food and catering sector leaders across the GCC
Certification: HACCP Level 3 or above — a firm requirement; no exceptions for candidates without this qualification
Sector Preference: Industrial bakery, patisserie, central kitchen, UAE/GCC catering experience is highly desirable
UAE Requirement: Candidates MUST be currently based in the UAE to be considered for this role
Career Growth & Food Operations Impact in Abu Dhabi
Senior Role: Full plant management authority for a large-scale, multi-function food production and bakery catering operation
GCC Market: Abu Dhabi’s catering and food service sector is one of the most active and lucrative in the Gulf region
HACCP Leadership: Lead food safety governance at HACCP Level 3+ — setting the standard for quality and compliance across the facility
Executive Platform: Placed through Mena Executives — a respected regional recruiter specialising in senior food and hospitality leadership
Position Overview
The Factory Manager in Abu Dhabi will oversee the full end-to-end operation of a large-scale food production, industrial bakery, and central kitchen facility for a leading catering company. Core responsibilities span production planning and scheduling, yield and wastage control, OEE monitoring and improvement, GMP and HACCP compliance at Level 3 or above, food safety management, manpower planning and development, and operational excellence across all production lines — requiring the seniority, technical depth, and leadership capability to manage a complex, high-volume food manufacturing environment in the UAE’s demanding catering sector.
Why This Role Matters: As Factory Manager at this Abu Dhabi catering company, you are the operational and food safety authority across one of the most complex types of food manufacturing environments in the GCC — simultaneously managing industrial bakery lines, central kitchen operations, and high-volume food production for a catering client base that expects consistency, freshness, and full regulatory compliance every single day. Your production planning keeps output aligned to demand, your OEE focus maximises the return on every production hour, your HACCP leadership protects food safety across the entire facility, and your manpower management builds the team capability that sustains operational excellence long-term.
Key Responsibilities
Production Planning, Scheduling & OEE Management
- Oversee and manage all production planning and scheduling activities across the food production, bakery, and central kitchen operation
- Monitor and continuously improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) — driving maximum output from available production capacity
- Manage yield and wastage control across all production lines — identifying loss reduction opportunities and implementing corrective measures
- Ensure production targets are consistently met on time, to specification, and within approved budget and resource parameters
HACCP, GMP & Food Safety Governance
- Lead all HACCP, GMP, and food safety management activities across the facility at HACCP Level 3 or above certification standard
- Ensure the facility maintains full compliance with UAE food safety regulations, Abu Dhabi Municipality requirements, and international food safety standards
- Conduct and oversee HACCP audits, food safety inspections, and corrective action management across all production areas
- Build and maintain a strong food safety culture — training, coaching, and holding all production team members accountable to food safety standards
Industrial Bakery, Patisserie & Central Kitchen Operations
- Manage the operational performance of industrial bakery and patisserie production lines — ensuring quality, output, and efficiency targets are met
- Oversee central kitchen operations — managing recipe compliance, batch production accuracy, food quality standards, and timely delivery
- Ensure cross-functional alignment between bakery, central kitchen, and broader food production operations within the facility
- Implement and maintain best practices across all production areas to deliver consistent, high-quality products to catering clients
Manpower Management, Team Development & Leadership
- Lead, manage, and develop a large, multi-disciplinary food production workforce across all shifts and departments within the facility
- Manage manpower planning, scheduling, and resource allocation to align production capacity with output demands and business requirements
- Build team capability through structured training, coaching, performance management, and development planning across all production roles
- Foster a culture of accountability, food safety compliance, continuous improvement, and operational excellence across the entire team
Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement
- Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives across production efficiency, food safety, cost control, and quality performance
- Manage operational KPIs — including OEE, yield rates, wastage percentages, food safety audit scores, and manpower productivity
- Collaborate with senior management, quality, procurement, and commercial teams to align factory performance with business objectives
- Maintain equipment, infrastructure, and facility standards — ensuring the production environment supports food safety and operational continuity
Qualifications & Requirements
Educational Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related discipline
- HACCP Level 3 certification or above — a firm, non-negotiable requirement for all candidates applying for this role
Experience Requirements
- Minimum 10 years of experience in food manufacturing — covering production management, food safety, and large-scale operations
- At least 4 years of direct experience managing a food production plant or major production operation at a senior management level
- Industrial bakery, patisserie, or central kitchen operations experience in the UAE or GCC is highly desirable for this role
- Candidates must be currently based in the UAE — applications from candidates outside the UAE will not be considered
Technical Knowledge
- Strong knowledge of production planning, yield and wastage control, and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) management
- Deep practical understanding of GMP, HACCP, and UAE food safety regulatory requirements at a senior plant management level
- Solid experience in manpower planning, team management, and building high-performing food production teams in the GCC
About Mena Executives
Mena Executives is a specialist executive recruitment consultancy focused on placing senior leadership professionals across the Middle East and North Africa region — with deep expertise in food manufacturing, catering, hospitality, and industrial sectors across the GCC. This Factory Manager role is placed on behalf of a well-established catering company in Abu Dhabi that operates a significant large-scale food production, industrial bakery, and central kitchen facility — serving institutional, corporate, and hospitality catering clients across Abu Dhabi. With Abu Dhabi’s catering and food service sector continuing to grow and diversify, this is one of the most senior and commercially significant food factory management roles available in the UAE market in 2026.
Career Excellence: Step into one of Abu Dhabi’s most senior food manufacturing leadership roles — managing a large-scale catering production, industrial bakery, and central kitchen operation with the full support of a specialist GCC executive recruiter dedicated to finding the right opportunity for the right leader.
How to Apply
Qualified UAE-based candidates are invited to send their updated CV directly to info@menaexecutives.com. Please ensure your CV clearly highlights your food manufacturing management experience, plant management tenure, HACCP Level 3 or above certification, and any industrial bakery, patisserie, or central kitchen experience within the UAE or GCC region. Only candidates currently based in the UAE will be considered for this role.
Who Should Apply?
- Senior Food Factory Managers: UAE-based with 10+ years food manufacturing experience and 4+ years in plant or major production management
- HACCP Level 3+ Certified Professionals: With active HACCP Level 3 or above certification and proven food safety leadership in UAE/GCC
- Industrial Bakery & Central Kitchen Leaders: With direct management experience of large-scale bakery, patisserie, or central kitchen operations
- GMP & OEE Specialists: With strong knowledge of Good Manufacturing Practices, OEE management, and yield/wastage control in food production
- UAE Catering & Food Service Operations Managers: With experience managing large food production teams in Abu Dhabi or wider UAE environments
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