General Manager Job in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Emirates Flight Catering

Emirates Flight Catering ranks among the world’s largest catering operations, serving as a trusted partner to hospitality groups, organizations, and over 100 airline clients.

Job Purpose
The General Manager is responsible for driving all aspects of the business, including P&L management, strategy development, execution, business growth, and product portfolio oversight. This role requires strong leadership to align cross-functional teams with Emirates Bustanica’s strategy, values, and culture, while fostering people development and ensuring the overall success of the business.

  • Key Responsibilities
    Team Leadership:
  • Oversee diverse functions such as precision indoor farming, product packing, logistics, plant science, hygiene, quality assurance, marketing, and sales.
  • Develop and guide teams in executing annual plans while addressing immediate challenges proactively.
  • Foster talent growth and performance through clear objectives, targeted development plans, and alignment with organizational values.

    Strategic Growth:

  • Identify and pursue opportunities for business expansion through innovative partnerships and strategies, driving sustainable growth.
  • Develop and execute pricing and negotiation strategies to optimize revenue and profitability.
  • Leverage insights from market analysis to drive strategic decisions, product development, and sales channel growth.
    Brand and Market Positioning:
  • Implement marketing strategies to enhance the Emirates Bustanica brand, increasing visibility and sales across HORECA and retail sectors.
  • Develop online sales strategies to expand market reach, improve customer experience, and increase revenue.
  • Ensure market alignment by delivering the right products at the right time through optimized facility utilization.
    Customer and Stakeholder Engagement:
  • Build and maintain strong customer relationships by ensuring alignment with SLAs and SOPs, driving customer satisfaction and loyalty.
  • Collaborate with internal teams (Legal, Finance, IT, HR) to negotiate contracts and ensure compliance with governance standards.
    Market Analysis and Innovation:
  • Explore current and adjacent markets to identify trends, opportunities, and areas for growth, including brand extensions and new sales channels.
  • Continuously identify new revenue streams and areas for value creation.
    Operational Excellence:
  • Design and execute a comprehensive commercial strategy to achieve growth targets in HORECA and retail produce segments.
  • Ensure operational efficiency, enhanced profitability, and a strong market presence

Job Descriptions:
The General Manager is responsible for steering the strategic and commercial operations of Emirates Bustanica, a trailblazer in vertical farming, ensuring alignment with the overarching goals of the Joint Venture and Emirates Flight Catering. This role focuses on driving revenue growth, capturing market share in leafy greens and other product categories, and building strong partnerships across HORECA and retail sectors. Operational excellence, sustainability, and innovation are integral to the role, requiring a clear vision and strategic approach to expand the organization’s footprint in competitive markets.

Qualifications and Experience
Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience preferred.
    Work Experience:
  • At least 9 years of leadership experience, managing premium product portfolios in quality-driven, competitive markets.
  • Proven expertise in the Dubai commercial market, particularly in retail and FMCG sectors, with a strong sales-oriented approach.
  • Experience in the local and regional food service market is advantageous.
  • Skilled in leading and inspiring teams to deliver business growth and achieve strategic goals.
  • Extensive experience in customer engagement, contract negotiation, and relationship management, both locally and internationally.
  • Demonstrated ability to implement and manage technology solutions to optimize operations and improve efficiency across the value chain.
  • Familiarity with market trends related to ESG, including the ability to report progress against relevant goals and targets.
  • Knowledge of controlled environment agriculture is a plus, with the ability to understand and manage engineering and horticultural concepts applied by subject matter experts.
    Key Skills
    Business Acumen:
  • Expertise in customer negotiations with a focus on building long-term partnerships.
  • Strong financial management skills, including budgeting, reporting, and forecasting.
    Leadership and Communication:
  • Exceptional leadership, coaching, and team-building abilities.
  • Effective communicator with strong organizational skills.
  • Proficient in conflict resolution and problem-solving.
    Technical Proficiency:
  • Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).