Overview
Now Hiring at The Grace
The Grace | Where Excellence meets Opportunity
Westport, County Mayo | Full-Time | Pre-Opening Opportunity
Join The Grace Westport Estate, a remarkable new hotel opening in Spring 2026 on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, at the heart of the captivating Westport Estate.
Job Summary
We are looking for a passionate and experienced Head Chef to lead our culinary team at The Grace Westport Estate. This role requires a hands-on leader who can not only manage daily kitchen operations but also drive business growth and maintain the highest standards of culinary excellence and food safety across all our venues.
Responsibilities
* Culinary & Operational Leadership
* Lead, manage, and inspire the kitchen brigade, establishing performance and development goals for all team members.
* Develop and refine menus, creating a mix of traditional and contemporary dishes that reflect our brand and satisfy diverse palates.
* Oversee all kitchen operations, including ingredient procurement, recipe standardization, food preparation, and presentation.
* Maintain all kitchen equipment and storerooms, ensuring they are in proper operational condition and cleaned regularly.
* Financial Management
* Manage all food purchases to ensure the budgeted food cost percentage is maintained in accordance with actual revenues.
* Maintain and increase food profit margins and achieve agreed budget targets set by management.
* Maintain updated and accurate costing and documentation for all dishes.
* Team Development & Management
* Lead, train, and inspire the kitchen staff to ensure culinary and hygienic standards are met.
* Educate and train the team on brand standards, service behaviours, and governmental regulations.
* Coordinate performance management by managing staff appraisals on an ongoing basis.
* Compliance & Safety
* Ensure complete adherence to governmental food safety regulations and company policies.
* Implement and enforce a cleaning schedule and ensure all staff are aware of the importance of maintaining back-of-house areas.
* Perform ad-hoc tasks or projects as assigned by Management.
This job description is not intended to be either prescriptive or exhaustive, it is issued as a framework to outline main areas of responsibility at the time of writing.
Qualifications
* Minimum 3 years’ experience in a similar role in a luxury hotel environment
* Proven leadership and team management skills
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
* Strong organisational skills with a focus on the details
* Extensive knowledge of food safety standards
Equal Opportunity
The Grace Westport Estate is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create and maintain a diverse workforce where everyone is respected and included.
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