Executive Chef

Description

Summary: Seeking a creative and leadership-driven Executive Chef to build a kitchen team, design unique Iberian-Eastern fusion menus, and manage operations for a boutique guesthouse. Highlights: 1. Opportunity for artistic creation and brand building in a boutique hotel setting 2. Design unique menus fusing Iberian flavors with Eastern flair 3. Lead kitchen team development and local ingredient sourcing **Job Title:** Executive Chef / Head Chef **Project Name:** Quinta dos Alfinetes Boutique Guesthouse **Location:** Sintra / Lisbon Region, Portugal **Employment Type:** Full\-time 1\. Role Overview We are seeking a highly creative and leadership\-driven Executive Chef for our upcoming boutique hotel (15 rooms). You will be responsible for building the kitchen team from the ground up and designing a unique menu that fuses Iberian (Portuguese/Spanish) flavors with Eastern flair. This is not merely a culinary position, but an exciting opportunity for artistic creation and brand building. 2\. Core Responsibilities * **Menu Development:** Design high\-quality breakfast, afternoon tea, and dinner menus. Focus primarily on Portuguese/Spanish cuisine while cleverly integrating Chinese elements and culinary concepts to create a differentiated dining experience. * **Team Building:** Take charge of the recruitment, training, and daily management of the kitchen team, establishing standardized SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures). * **Local Sourcing:** Leverage your extensive local experience to connect with high\-quality ingredient suppliers in Sintra and the surrounding areas (seafood, direct farm sourcing, etc.), strictly controlling ingredient quality and food costs. * **Operations Management:** Oversee kitchen budget control, inventory management, and the strict implementation of health and safety standards (HACCP) to ensure highly efficient kitchen operations. * **Guest Interaction:** As our boutique hotel emphasizes the service experience, the chef must possess the ability to communicate with high\-end guests and beautifully articulate the design concepts and stories behind the dishes. 3\. Qualifications * **Experience \& Background:** At least 3–5 years of kitchen experience in high\-end restaurants or boutique hotels, with a minimum of 2 years in a team management role. * **Culinary Expertise:** Proficient in both traditional and innovative Portuguese and Spanish cuisines. * **Cross\-Cultural Interest:** A strong interest in or foundational knowledge of Chinese cuisine, with the willingness and ability to incorporate Eastern ingredients and seasonings into Western dishes. * **Language Skills:** Fluent in Portuguese and English (essential for communicating with suppliers and international guests). Basic knowledge of Mandarin Chinese will be considered a massive plus. * **Personal Qualities:** Possess an entrepreneurial spirit, a strong ability to thrive under pressure, and a meticulous, uncompromising attention to detail. Job Type: Full\-time Pay: 2,400\.00€ \- 4,000\.00€ per month Work Location: In person