About Al-Futtaim Group

Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim Group today is one of the most diversified and progressive, privately held regional businesses headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Structured into five operating divisions; automotive, financial services, real estate, retail and healthcare; employing more than 35,000 employees across more than 20 countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, Al-Futtaim Group partners with over 200 of the world's most admired and innovative brands. Al-Futtaim Group’s entrepreneurship and relentless customer focus enables the organization to continue to grow and expand; responding to the changing needs of our customers within the societies in which we operate.

By upholding our values of respect, excellence, collaboration and integrity; Al-Futtaim Group continues to enrich the lives and aspirations of our customers each and every day.

Overview of the role

As the IKEA Food Manager Assistant, you are responsible for overseeing the IKEA Restaurant & Café, SFM & Bistro, and co-workers restaurant as individual profit centers, driving profitability while ensuring customer satisfaction. Key elements of success in this role include managing food service operations, attaining financial goals, and enhancing the overall IKEA store experience through food offerings that reflect Swedish culture.

You will work closely with the store manager to achieve set budget goals and customer satisfaction targets. Your role extends to ensuring the health and safety of visitors and co-workers while maintaining compliance with local regulations. Fostering a strong team and developing future leaders within the department are crucial responsibilities. Moreover, sustainability remains at the forefront, demanding collaboration with stakeholders to integrate it across all food-related functions.

What you will do

Food Management

• Contribute actively to the development and implementation of a clear IKEA Food action plan using the store business plan and country business plan.
• Ensure high-volume dishes are served that suit the taste of the local market.
• Secure an irresistible food offer by providing an appealing range presentation.
• Ensure the top-selling products are available and clearly communicated and displayed at all times.
• Maximize sales through commercial and operational excellence by utilizing commercial opportunities and appropriate tools.
• Ensure that the IKEA co-worker restaurant offers a range of nourishing meals in a pleasant environment.
• Facilitate integration and implementation of sustainability by supporting functions with the right information and best practice solutions.

Financial Management

• Accountable for the profit and loss of the IKEA Restaurant & Café, SFM & Bistro and co-workers restaurant.
• Achieve budget goals set by the store manager.
• Ensure IKEA Food financial results according to unit, national and global frames.
• Explore and follow-up sustainability performance based on business plans and tools.
• Document and evaluate initiatives and activities to promote continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with global and national standards to secure a safe environment for customers and co-workers.

Customer Experience

• Ensure customer satisfaction goals are met as measured by IKEA Brand Capital and CSI.
• Enhance the Swedish profile and style in the customer area to meet the diverse needs of visitors.
• Act on insights from the local market potential to attract visitors.
• Strengthen the IKEA brand by safeguarding a high-quality, safe, and inspirational customer experience.
• Act as a member of the Commercial Management Team and proactively contribute to the store's business plan, commercial plan, and commercial calendar process.

Leadership and Development

• Lead and coach the store to optimize and develop the IKEA Retail Food business.
• Recruit the team based on IKEA values and ensure training.
• Empower, support, and coach co-workers to perform better and grow.
• Develop successors to meet the succession needs of the IKEA store.
• Create an environment where the IKEA culture is a strong and living reality, valuing diversity.
• Ensure simple and straightforward internal communication and information flow.

Required skills to be successful

• Leadership and team management skills.
• Strong commercial and sales acumen.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of sustainability practices in the food industry.

What qualifies you for the role

• Higher education required.
• 5 to 7 years of experience in a vibrant food retail environment with a proven track record of managing and developing a team.
• Advanced knowledge of food production and safety standards.
• Capability to understand KPIs and drive departmental actions to affect results.
• Demonstrated proficiency in English and strong communication skills.
• Proficient in MS Office and computer usage.
• Strong sales orientation and passion for food and people.
• Proven leadership abilities with the capacity to motivate a diverse team.

About Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate

The real estate development and operations arm of Al-Futtaim, Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate is responsible for a multi-billion-dollar portfolio across MENA. With high-quality residential, business, retail, tourism, educational and healthcare developments, the master developer caters to the diverse needs of cities and communities in the region. From origination, conception, development, sales, procurement and construction of mega-projects and the leasing, operation and management of these projects after completion, Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate (AFGRE) has been developing and managing owned landbanks, unlocking the economic potential of the region and contributing to future development for more than 40 years.

Our focus is to enable and invest in meaningful relationships to make our properties the best places to live and work, build additional products and services and enable partnerships to create true value to our customers throughout their entire experience with us.

AFGRE is responsible for master planning of all projects in its portfolio, including two large scale mixed use destinations: Dubai Festival City and Cairo Festival City.

About Al-Futtaim Malls

Al-Futtaim Malls provides development and asset management expertise, specializing in building retail-led super regional malls in prime locations across MENA and beyond. With a proven track record of creating both sustainable revenue growth and value enhancement for tenants, Al-Futtaim Malls delivers exceptional experiences and exciting shopping environments for customers.

Part of the Al-Futtaim Group, Al-Futtaim Malls leadership team brings more than 30 years of experience and a deep understanding and knowledge of the retail sector, both from a shopper’s point of view but as curators of space or landlords to other brands. The company has a directly managed portfolio including over 9 million sqft of retail space across four malls in the MENA region and two under development. Malls under the Al-Futtaim Malls portfolio include Dubai Festival City Mall and Festival Plaza in the UAE, Cairo Festival City Mall in Egypt, Doha Festival City in Qatar and Zenata Mall, Morocco.

Leveraging on the expertise of its parent company, Al-Futtaim Malls established PLEX Management Services offering a full array of services including asset management and development, leasing, and brand experience expertise to shopping mall landlords and retail organizations globally. Implementing global best practice and deploying Al-Futtaim Mall’s deep understanding of mall management and retail dynamics, PLEX promises to deliver continuous growth and long-term value for its partners.

About Al-Futtaim Engineering & Technologies

Al-Futtaim Engineering & Technologies offers customers complete engineering and systems integration solutions.

The Engineering arm operates in the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt providing a wide variety of products and services from air conditioning, scaffolding and access solutions, elevators and escalators, control and life safety, facilities management, building products, MEP, energy management, technology infrastructure and digital transformation.

The Technologies division provides complete business solutions to large, medium and small customers that include contact centre solutions, business applications, business intelligence, data management, advanced analytics amongst others. The IT infrastructure portfolio comprises IP telephony, ELV systems, networking solutions, professional audio-visual solutions and managed services.

These solutions are further complemented by services that include project management, installation, testing, commissioning and after-sales maintenance contracts.