Culinary Development Manager – Inflight Dining (Arabic Cuisine)

Overview

Qatar Airways is looking for a Culinary Development Manager to steer the inflight dining experience for Arabic cuisine within its global network. This role sits within the Product Development and Design function and focuses on creating premium food and beverage concepts that raise passenger satisfaction while staying practical for airline operations and commercially sound.

You will help turn culinary ideas into consistent onboard delivery, working across menu strategy, product development, supplier coordination, and quality assurance. The position calls for a blend of creativity, commercial judgment, and strong leadership in a fast-moving international environment.

Role Summary

In this position, you will guide the inflight dining roadmap, develop menus across cabin classes, and ensure the airline’s food offering reflects its five-star brand standards. You will work closely with internal teams, catering partners, QACC, guest chefs, and suppliers to maintain quality, safety, and a memorable guest experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Set the direction for inflight dining in line with the airline’s brand, culinary vision, and premium service expectations.
• Create, review, improve, and roll out menus for all cabin classes, keeping taste, presentation, feasibility, diet restrictions, and allergen considerations in balance.
• Oversee catering partners across locations, including both in-person and remote coordination, to maintain consistent execution and service quality.
• Work with suppliers, guest chefs, and sourcing teams to introduce new ideas, improve product reliability, and support cost efficiency.
• Ensure food safety, regulatory, and culinary SOP compliance in partnership with QRCS compliance teams.
• Track customer feedback, market movements, and culinary developments to keep the inflight dining proposition current and competitive.
• Carry out audits, site inspections, and performance assessments, and prepare clear reports for senior leadership.
• Contribute to transformation, sustainability, and continuous improvement initiatives across the network.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s or master’s qualification in Hotel Management, Culinary Arts, or a closely related discipline.
• At least 6–10+ years of practical experience in food and beverage leadership, ideally in airline catering or inflight dining.
• Strong understanding of international cuisines, culinary methods, food trends, and premium presentation standards.
• Demonstrated ability to build inflight menus that combine creativity with customer appeal, cost control, and operational practicality.
• Experience managing suppliers and catering partners while meeting airline, legal, and food safety requirements.
• Solid commercial and analytical ability, including budgeting, forecasting, cost management, and performance analysis.
• Effective leadership, change management, and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work in a fast-paced multicultural setting.

Additional Information

Reference: 231488

Location: Qatar, Doha

Job family: Corporate & Commercial

Closing date: 2026-06-30

About the Employer

Qatar Airways is focused on creating advanced inflight products, improving passenger comfort, and driving innovation in aviation design. Its Product Development and Design team works from concept through launch with industry partners to deliver travel experiences that set new benchmarks.

How to Apply

Candidates interested in a challenging career opportunity should submit their CV and complete the online application form.