Job Title: Campus Executive Chef
Company: Gather & Gather
Location: University College Dublin (UCD) – Belfield, Blackrock & Museum of Literature Ireland
Reports to: Campus General Manager
About Gather & Gather
Gather & Gather brings food, creativity, and community together. We deliver fresh, seasonal, innovative catering experiences across universities, workplaces, and public venues. At UCD, we operate a diverse collection of cafés, restaurants, event spaces, and hospitality outlets, offering dynamic and varied culinary challenges every day.
Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Campus Executive Chef to lead all culinary operations across the full UCD estate, including UCD Belfield, UCD Blackrock, and the Museum of Literature Ireland.
This is a high-impact role overseeing multiple outlets such as student restaurants, conference halls, a members club, and public restaurants. The ideal candidate will be a strategic leader who is always several steps ahead, planning seasons, events, menus, and resources months in advance while ensuring exceptional day-to-day standards.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead, inspire, and manage all culinary teams across the UCD campus portfolio.
* Oversee and coordinate food operations across multiple sites, including student dining, public restaurants, conference and banqueting spaces, and hospitality services.
* Create innovative, seasonal menus that align with Gather & Gather standards and site-specific needs.
* Ensure exceptional food quality, presentation, and consistency across all outlets.
* Develop long-term culinary plans and forecasts, thinking strategically months ahead to manage events, menus, staffing, and operational requirements.
* Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, confidently representing the culinary function at meetings.
* Recruit, train, motivate, and manage chefs and kitchen teams across all sites.
* Drive financial performance, including cost control, labour management, and achieving GP targets.
* Maintain the highest standards of food safety, health and safety compliance, and kitchen hygiene.
* Foster a collaborative, positive culture across the culinary teams and work closely with front-of-house and management colleagues.
Skills & Experience Required
* Significant experience in an Executive Chef role or similar senior culinary leadership position.
* Proven ability to manage multi-site catering operations or large-scale, diverse food environments.
* Strong organisational and forward-planning skills, with the ability to think months ahead.
* Excellent communication and client-facing skills; confident speaking in meetings and presenting ideas.
* Natural people leader with the ability to build strong teams and positive working relationships.
* Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, GP, and labour costs effectively.
* Experience across a broad range of dining styles, student dining, casual restaurants, fine dining, and conference/banqueting events.
* Passion for creativity, food innovation, and delivering outstanding culinary experiences.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: €65,000.00-€75,000.00 per year
Benefits:
* Company pension
* Employee discount
* Food allowance
* On-site parking
* Sick pay
Work Location: In person