Independent Food Company is home to some of the region's most recognised hospitality concepts, including SALT, Somewhere, Parker's, Shalwa, Somewhere, and Public. We are a fast-growing organisation with an expanding portfolio of concepts, an active acquisition strategy, and ambitious plans for growth across new and existing markets. As we scale, the quality of our people remains central to everything we build. That is where you come in.
We are looking for an L&D Manager to lead the function and build the capabilities, culture, and service standards that drive operational excellence and an exceptional guest experience across all concepts. Central to the role is a deep understanding of each brand's DNA - every concept has its own personality, story, and guest journey, and this role will bring that identity to life on the floor. The job holder will ensure that service excellence is a genuine expression of all our brand. The role owns the end-to-end learning agenda while staying close to the floor, ensuring training drives behavioural change, consistent standards, and measurable business impact.
Key Responsibilities
- Own and develop the company-wide L&D strategy and learning culture, including a practical capability and competency framework spanning service, culinary, leadership, and support functions
- Understand each brand's distinct DNA and translate it into tailored learning journeys, partnering with brand teams to embed service excellence that reflects each concept while protecting consistency across the portfolio
- Design and deliver high-impact programmes like service excellence, brand standards, SOPs, onboarding, compliance, and leadership development; all through blended learning (in-person facilitation, coaching, and digital/microlearning), and build a network of internal trainers and brand ambassadors to scale delivery
- Drive talent development and the internal talent pipeline, including Emirati talent and graduate programmes aligned to national talent frameworks (Nafis), supporting succession and employee engagement
- Manage the LMS and learning technology, track learning analytics and ROI beyond completion (knowledge retention, behavioural application, guest impact), and manage the L&D budget and external partners
- Ensure mandatory and regulatory training (food safety, health & safety, HACCP, local authority requirements) is delivered, tracked, and audit-ready across all sites
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in HR, Hospitality Management, or related field; L&D certification (CIPD, ATD, or equivalent) an advantage.
- 6–8 years' L&D experience, including owning programmes or leading learning in a multi-site environment; hospitality, F&B, aviation, or luxury service background required
- Strong brand awareness, able to internalise distinct concepts and translate their personality into best-in-class guest experience and service excellence
- Practical, delivery-focused, set direction and run training hands-on, with strong instructional design and facilitation skills
- Ability to manage multiple stakeholders; sound command of LMS platforms and learning analytics
- Ideally, UAE/GCC experience and familiarity with Emiratisation/Nafis preferred; Arabic advantageous
