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Head Chef – New Restaurant & Bar Opening

Excel Recruitment is delighted to partner with a leading four-star hospitality destination in County Meath as they launch an exciting new restaurant and bar concept. This is a rare opportunity to join a high-profile opening from the very beginning and play a key role in shaping its future success.

The venue is designed around modern gastropub-style dining, premium drinks, quality Irish produce and a relaxed yet stylish atmosphere. With a completely new menu, fresh identity and significant investment behind the project, this is an outstanding opportunity for a chef who wants creative input, operational ownership and the chance to build and lead a high-performing kitchen team. This role offers the perfect blend of creativity, leadership and commercial responsibility within a well-established hospitality operation that is entering an exciting new phase of growth.

The Role

As Head Chef, you will lead all kitchen operations within this newly launched restaurant and bar, ensuring the delivery of outstanding food quality, consistency and guest satisfaction.

This is a hands-on leadership position where you will be actively involved in all aspects of food preparation, service delivery, team development and operational planning. You will lead by example, inspire your team and help create a kitchen culture built around quality, collaboration and continuous improvement.

Working closely with the Executive Head Chef and senior management team, you will contribute to menu development, maintain strong commercial performance and ensure the successful execution of all food offerings, from all-day dining and evening service to private events and special occasions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the day-to-day operation of the kitchen
• Drive food quality, consistency and presentation standards across all services
• Work alongside the Executive Head Chef on menu creation, seasonal offerings and new dish development
• Recruit, train, mentor and develop a motivated kitchen team
• Foster a positive, professional and high-performance working environment
• Manage food ordering, stock control and supplier relationships
• Monitor labour and food costs while maintaining excellent quality standards
• Ensure HACCP, food safety and health & safety compliance at all times
• Effectively plan and coordinate kitchen operations across multiple services and events
• Collaborate closely with front-of-house and events teams to deliver exceptional guest experiences
• Identify opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement within the food offering
• Play a key role in establishing the reputation and success of this exciting new dining destination

About You

• Previous experience as a Head Chef, Senior Sous Chef or experienced Sous Chef within a high-volume hospitality environment
• A genuine passion for quality food and locally sourced ingredients
• Experience developing menus and introducing new culinary concepts
• Strong leadership and team-building skills
• Excellent organisational and communication abilities
• Sound commercial awareness with experience managing food costs and margins
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, food safety and kitchen compliance requirements
• The ability to remain calm and solution-focused in a fast-paced environment
• A hands-on leadership style and a commitment to leading by example

Why Join This Opportunity?

• Join an exciting new restaurant and bar concept from day one
• Opportunity to influence menus, standards and overall culinary direction
• Work with an experienced Executive Head Chef and established hospitality leadership team
• Lead and develop your own kitchen team
• Strong career progression opportunities within a growing hospitality business
• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Ongoing training and professional development
• Staff meals and additional employee benefits

Ready for Your Next Challenge?

This is an exceptional opportunity for a passionate Head Chef who wants more than just another kitchen role. If you’re excited by the prospect of launching a new concept, building a team, shaping menus and creating a standout dining destination in County Meath, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today in confidence.

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