Executive Head Chef

Executive Head Chef - Luxury Country House Hotel

Surrey | Independent Food Direction | High-Volume Events & Restaurant Dining

JWR is recruiting an exceptional Executive Head Chef to lead the food operation at a stunning country house hotel in Surrey, set within extensive grounds and offering a diverse mix of restaurant dining, weddings, conferences, banqueting, afternoon teas and private events.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a talented hotel Executive Head Chef or Head Chef who wants genuine freedom to create.

There is no restrictive head-office food concept or centrally dictated menu. The successful chef will have the autonomy to develop the hotel's food identity, work with outstanding local and seasonal produce and create menus that give guests a genuine sense of place.

The Opportunity

The food operation is substantial and varied, requiring a chef who is equally comfortable delivering an individual restaurant experience as they are leading the kitchen through a high-volume wedding, conference or banqueting event.

At the heart of the hotel's future direction is a desire to create a distinctive food story built around seasonality, provenance, creativity and fantastic ingredients.

With extensive grounds surrounding the hotel, there is also an opportunity to take local sourcing considerably further - utilising ingredients grown on the estate, incorporating honey produced from the property's own bees and developing relationships with excellent local suppliers.

We are not looking for someone to simply inherit menus and maintain the status quo.

We want an Executive Head Chef who will put their personality into the food, develop the proposition and make a genuine impact.

As Executive Head Chef, you will:

• Take full ownership of the hotel's culinary operation and food direction
• Develop creative, seasonal and commercially successful menus
• Lead delivery across restaurant, weddings, conferences, banqueting, afternoon tea and private events
• Manage high-volume M&E without compromising quality or presentation
• Build, inspire and develop a strong kitchen brigade
• Create a positive kitchen culture built around high standards, accountability and development
• Work closely with the hotel's F&B and operational teams
• Develop relationships with local producers and suppliers
• Drive food quality, consistency and guest satisfaction
• Manage food GP, payroll, purchasing, stock and waste
• Maintain excellent food hygiene, health & safety and kitchen standards
• Continually evolve the food offering and identify opportunities to enhance the guest experience

What We're Looking For

You will already be an experienced Executive Head Chef, Head Chef or senior hotel chef with a background in a quality, diverse hospitality operation.

Importantly, you will have:

• Strong hotel or high-volume events experience
• Extensive conference, banqueting and wedding exposure
• Experience delivering both volume and quality simultaneously
• A genuine passion for seasonal, locally sourced ingredients
• Strong menu development and culinary creativity
• Excellent kitchen leadership and team development skills
• A thorough understanding of food GP, labour and kitchen controls
• A collaborative approach with Front of House and senior hotel management
• The personality and ambition to take ownership of the food offering

This role would particularly suit a chef who has worked within a branded or structured environment but is now looking for greater culinary freedom and the opportunity to create something of their own.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is more than simply another Executive Head Chef position.

You will inherit a substantial hotel food operation but have the opportunity to shape its future identity - developing the menus, suppliers, team and overall food experience while taking advantage of a fantastic countryside setting and locally sourced ingredients.

For an ambitious Executive Head Chef who loves great produce, high-volume events and creative freedom, this is an opportunity to put your own stamp on a significant hotel operation.

Apply now through JWR for a confidential discussion and further information.