Culinary Manager, Middle East & North Africa

Responsibilities:

• Respond within four (4) hours notice to a disaster area to act as Culinary Manager, managing relief operations on the ground, or in rare cases, remotely.
• Lead and manage field teams specializing in culinary operations.
• Design and implement response strategies in the field.
• Recruit, onboard, train and manage culinary teams.
• Provide regular updates on operations to the Response Director.
• Collaborate with all WCK departments on the ground.
• Ensure smooth transitions and complete handovers with other Activation Managers.
• Complete the After-Action Report process immediately following activation wind-down.

Culinary Operations:

• Design and manage high-volume production kitchens.
• Direct and oversee multiple modalities of rapid food production.
• Create or advise on rotating menus.
• Manage and liaise with the procurement and logistics team.
• Guide and teach WCK culinary teams and vendor partners.

Budgeting and Logistics:

• Work with the finance team and Response Director to share cost projections.
• Collaborate with the procurement and logistics team to source materials and supplies.

Personnel Management and Training:

• Recruit, train, and motivate diverse culinary teams.
• Provide leadership, mentorship, training and support to team members.
• Address personnel issues on activations in real time.
• Support the recruitment of Corps members.
• Identify professional development needs and gaps in culinary capabilities.

Community and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Build strong relationships with local communities first.
• Ensure the teams conduct outreach and engagement activities.
• Represent WCK in the field.

Requirements:

• Ability to spend up to 70% of the time in the field.
• Must live within one (1) hour of an international airport or be willing to relocate.
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently to remote and potentially hazardous locations.
• Bachelor's degree and/or equivalent is preferred.
• Experience leading, training and coaching large teams.
• Ability to work independently with minimal infrastructure and resources.
• Willingness to work in challenging environments with austere living conditions.
• Ability to work well with others and take directions.
• Demonstrated negotiation and diplomacy skills.
• Exhibit a calm and composed demeanor during crisis situations.
• Be physically fit and have the stamina to work long hours.
• Strong mental resilience and emotional intelligence.
• Display cultural awareness and sensitivity.
• Fluency in English is required; proficiency in additional languages is highly desirable.

Benefits:

• Innovative Environment: Be part of a forward-thinking team that values creativity and innovation.
• Global Impact: Your work will have a direct impact on building a diverse and talented global team.
• Professional Growth: Opportunities for continuous learning and career development.
• Dynamic Team: Work with a supportive and enthusiastic team that values collaboration and fun.

About the Company: World Central Kitchen is first to the frontlines, providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. We build resilient food systems with locally led solutions.