Chef De Cuisine - Italian Restaurant | Luxury Beachfront Resort

Chef de Cuisine – Italian Restaurant | Luxury Beachfront Resort

Location: St. Maarten
Compensation: $50,000–$55,000 USD

Benefits: On-site apartment, relocation assistance including flights, company cellphone and laptop, medical insurance, food allowance, friends & family perks, and additional company benefits

We are recruiting on behalf of a luxury beachfront resort in St. Maarten seeking an experienced Chef de Cuisine to lead the opening of a brand-new Italian restaurant. This is an exciting pre-opening opportunity to shape the culinary vision of a new dining concept within an established resort renowned for its diverse food and beverage offerings.

The successful candidate will be responsible for launching and leading the restaurant from the ground up, creating authentic Italian menus, building a high-performing kitchen team, and delivering exceptional dining experiences while maintaining the highest culinary and operational standards.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the pre-opening and day-to-day operations of the new Italian restaurantDevelop authentic Italian menus, seasonal specials, and innovative culinary offeringsRecruit, train, and mentor a high-performing culinary teamEnsure exceptional food quality, consistency, and presentation across every serviceManage food costs, inventory, purchasing, and kitchen budgets

Ideal Candidate Profile

Previous Chef de Cuisine or Senior Sous Chef experience within an upscale hotel, resort, or standalone Italian restaurantStrong background in authentic Italian cuisine with a passion for quality ingredients and classic techniquesProven experience opening new restaurants or leading pre-opening culinary operations is highly desirableStrong leadership skills with the ability to recruit, develop, and inspire culinary teamsExcellent financial acumen with experience managing food costs, labour, and kitchen operationsCreative, adaptable, and passionate about delivering exceptional guest experiencesLuxury hospitality or Caribbean experience is considered an advantageCandidates must hold Dutch, American, or Italian nationality due to work permit requirements.