Executive Chef - New Restaurant Opening

Executive Chef – New Restaurant Opening

Barbados, West Indies | Full-Time | Expatriate Position

We are seeking an experienced and hands-on Executive Chef / Head Chef to lead the kitchen opening and ongoing culinary operation of an exciting new restaurant in Barbados.

This will be a 120-seat, casual-elevated dining restaurant and bar, offering lunch and dinner seven days a week, with evening entertainment and potential Sunday brunch. The concept will feature Mediterranean cuisine with Caribbean influences.

This is a unique opportunity to join a growing hospitality company with plans for additional venues, with the successful candidate playing a key role in establishing the culinary identity and standards from the ground up.

The Role

Developing and designing the opening menu and culinary concept Establishing kitchen systems, recipes, standards and proceduresSetting up the kitchen and preparing for openingRecruiting, training and mentoring a team of approximately 10 chefsLeading a hands-on kitchen operation across lunch and dinner serviceManaging food quality, consistency, presentation and portion controlOverseeing ordering, stock, food cost and kitchen controlsDeveloping Mediterranean cuisine with Caribbean influencesCreating a strong pizza offering and maximising the restaurant's pizza ovenLeading the team through busy service and maintaining high standardsSupporting events, entertainment and potential Sunday brunch operationsBuilding a positive, professional and accountable kitchen culture

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for a confident culinary leader who is hands-on, entrepreneurial and comfortable building something from scratch.

Ideally, you will have:

Proven experience as an Executive Chef, Head Chef or Senior Sous ChefStrong restaurant experience, ideally with new opening/pre-opening exposureExperience developing menus and culinary conceptsStrong Mediterranean and/or Caribbean culinary knowledgeExcellent leadership and team-development skillsA practical understanding of food cost, purchasing and kitchen operationsThe ability to take full ownership of a kitchen operationA passion for quality, creativity and guest experienceA hands-on approach and willingness to work alongside the team

Package

USD $6,000–$8,000 gross per month, depending on experience

Performance-based bonus schemeFull expatriate packageAccommodation providedFlights providedWork permit providedFull-time position in BarbadosOpportunity to grow with an expanding hospitality group and future venues

If you're an ambitious chef looking for the opportunity to build a new restaurant from the ground up, lead your own kitchen and help shape a growing hospitality business, we'd love to hear from you.