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 procedures
- Setting up the kitchen and preparing for opening
- Recruiting, training and mentoring a team of approximately 10 chefs
- Leading a hands-on kitchen operation across lunch and dinner service
- Managing food quality, consistency, presentation and portion control
- Overseeing ordering, stock, food cost and kitchen controls
- Developing Mediterranean cuisine with Caribbean influences
- Creating a strong pizza offering and maximising the restaurant's pizza oven
- Leading the team through busy service and maintaining high standards
- Supporting events, entertainment and potential Sunday brunch operations
- Building 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 exposure
- Experience developing menus and culinary concepts
- Strong Mediterranean and/or Caribbean culinary knowledge
- Excellent leadership and team-development skills
- A practical understanding of food cost, purchasing and kitchen operations
- The ability to take full ownership of a kitchen operation
- A passion for quality, creativity and guest experience
- A hands-on approach and willingness to work alongside the team
- PackageUSD $6,000–$8,000 gross per month, depending on experience
- Performance-based bonus scheme
- Full expatriate package
- Accommodation provided
- Flights provided
- Work permit provided
- Full-time position in Barbados
- Opportunity 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.
