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Head Chef Job – Established City Hotel, Kilkenny

We are recruiting an experienced Head Chef on behalf of a well‑established and highly regarded city hotel in Kilkenny. This is an excellent opportunity for a confident, motivated culinary leader who thrives in a busy hotel kitchen environment and is passionate about delivering high‑quality, consistent food across all services.

This Head Chef job in Kilkenny is ideal for someone who enjoys being hands‑on, leading from the front, and creating memorable dining experiences for hotel guests, events, and functions.

The Role: Head Chef

As Head Chef, you will have full responsibility for the day‑to‑day running of the kitchen, leading a dedicated brigade while maintaining strong operational standards, creativity, and cost control. You will work closely with senior hotel management and front‑of‑house teams to ensure a seamless guest experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, motivate, and develop the kitchen team to consistently deliver high standards
• Create a positive, professional, and performance‑driven kitchen culture
• Manage kitchen rotas, staffing levels, training, and ongoing development
• Communicate effectively with hotel management and FOH teams
• Oversee all kitchen operations including breakfast, lunch, dinner, and events
• Ensure excellent food quality, presentation, and consistency at all times
• Maintain a clean, safe, and well‑organised kitchen environment
• Take full ownership of allergen management and dietary requirements
• Design and deliver seasonal menus aligned with hotel standards and guest expectations
• Introduce new dishes and concepts to elevate the hotel’s food offering
• Balance creativity with efficiency and profitability
• Manage food costs, GP margins, portion control, and waste reduction
• Oversee ordering, stock control, and supplier relationships
• Maintain accurate kitchen documentation and operational records
• Ensure strong budget awareness and commercial decision‑making
• Maintain full compliance with HACCP and food safety regulations
• Conduct regular kitchen checks, audits, and staff training sessions
• Ensure cleaning schedules, procedures, and records are always up to date

Candidate Requirements

• Proven experience as a Head Chef, or a strong Sous Chef ready to step up
• Background in a hotel kitchen or high‑volume hospitality environment
• Strong leadership, communication, and organisational skills
• Creative, confident, and commercially aware in menu development
• Solid understanding of food costs, ordering, and stock control
• Excellent knowledge of HACCP, food safety, and allergen regulations
• Calm under pressure and leads by example
• Passion for hospitality and delivering outstanding guest experiences

What’s on Offer

• Competitive salary, dependent on experience
• Real creative input and menu ownership
• Opportunity to lead a committed and motivated kitchen team
• Supportive, professional hotel management
• Positive working environment with long‑term career potential
• Staff meals and additional employee benefits

How to Apply

If you’re an experienced Head Chef looking for a hotel job in Kilkenny, we’d love to hear from you.

Please submit your CV to apply or reach out to Laura directly

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