Executive Head Chef

Executive Head Chef

Gregans Castle Hotel | The Burren, County Clare, Ireland

An exceptional opportunity for an ambitious chef ready to make their mark.

The Opportunity

Gregans Castle Hotel is seeking an exceptional Executive Head Chef with the ambition, creativity and drive to take our culinary offering to the next level.

Set in the extraordinary landscape of the Burren, Gregans Castle is an internationally recognised country house hotel with a distinctive sense of place, a deep connection to its surroundings and a reputation for thoughtful, individual hospitality. Our food should be every bit as distinctive as our setting.

We are looking for more than a talented chef. We want a visionary leader with huge ambition — someone who wants to build something special, challenge themselves, develop their own style and establish Gregans Castle as an outstanding culinary destination.

This is an opportunity for a chef who wants to do more than run a kitchen. It is an opportunity to shape a food identity, inspire a team, champion the best of Irish produce including our 2 acre organic vegetable garden and create memorable dining experiences that bring guests to Gregans Castle specifically for the food.

We want someone who is hungry to achieve, confident in their ideas, uncompromising in their standards and excited by the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy.

The Role

As Executive Head Chef, you will take full ownership of the hotel's culinary direction, leading every aspect of the kitchen & restaurant operation while working closely with the hotel management and ownership team.

You will develop a clear and compelling culinary vision that reflects the character of Gregans Castle, the extraordinary landscape of the Burren and the quality of the produce available throughout Ireland.

You will have the freedom to bring ideas to the table, the responsibility to turn those ideas into reality and the opportunity to build a kitchen culture defined by excellence, creativity, discipline and ambition.

We are looking for someone who sees potential everywhere — in a local ingredient, a dish, a team member, a supplier relationship or the overall guest experience — and has the determination to turn that potential into something exceptional.

Key ResponsibilitiesCulinary Vision and Excellence

• Create and deliver an ambitious, distinctive and evolving culinary identity for Gregans Castle Hotel.
• Develop menus that celebrate seasonality, Irish produce, local suppliers and the unique character of the Burren.
• Strive for exceptional flavour, originality, consistency and presentation across every dining experience.
• Continuously explore new ideas, techniques and ingredients while remaining grounded in quality, restraint and a strong sense of place.
• Establish a clear long-term culinary vision, with the ambition to enhance the hotel's reputation as a destination for exceptional food.
• Monitor culinary trends and international standards, identifying opportunities to innovate without losing the hotel's individuality.

Leadership and Team Development

• Build, lead and inspire a talented, motivated and professional kitchen brigade.
• Create a culture of high standards, accountability, teamwork, creativity and continuous improvement.
• Identify and develop emerging talent, providing coaching and opportunities for progression.
• Set ambitious goals for the kitchen team and lead by example through work ethic, attitude and attention to detail.
• Attract, retain and develop the right people to deliver your culinary vision.
• Foster an environment where talented chefs are encouraged to contribute ideas, take pride in their work and continually raise their game.

Commercial and Operational Performance

• Take responsibility for kitchen budgets, food costs, labour costs, stock control, purchasing and waste management.
• Balance culinary ambition with commercial intelligence, ensuring that creativity translates into a sustainable and profitable operation.
• Work closely with the management team to develop menus, pricing strategies and initiatives that strengthen the hotel's overall performance.
• Establish effective systems and procedures to ensure consistency, efficiency and excellent operational standards.
• Build strong relationships with producers and suppliers, prioritising quality, provenance, seasonality and value.
• Use guest feedback, financial performance and team input to identify opportunities for improvement.

Guest Experience and Reputation

• Ensure that every dish reflects the standards and personality of Gregans Castle.
• Create memorable food experiences that encourage guests to return and recommend the hotel to others.
• Work collaboratively with the front-of-house team to deliver a seamless, knowledgeable and engaging dining experience.
• Contribute ideas that strengthen the hotel's profile, culinary reputation and appeal as a destination in its own right.
• Take pride in the smallest details while never losing sight of the bigger picture.

Sustainability and Sense of Place

• Champion local and Irish producers, seasonal ingredients and responsible sourcing.
• Develop meaningful relationships with farmers, fishermen, growers and artisan suppliers.
• Minimise food waste and promote thoughtful, sustainable kitchen practices.
• Build a culinary offering that feels authentic to the Burren and reflects the richness of the surrounding landscape.

The Person We Are Looking For

Ambition is essential. We want someone who is driven by the desire to achieve something meaningful and who sees this role as an opportunity to take a significant step forward in their career.

You will ideally bring:

• Proven experience as a Head Chef, Executive Chef or senior kitchen leader in a high-quality hotel, restaurant or comparable food-led hospitality business.
• A strong culinary foundation, excellent technical skills and a genuine passion for outstanding ingredients.
• A clear point of view on food, with the confidence and creativity to develop a distinctive culinary identity.
• A powerful work ethic, high personal standards and the determination to achieve ambitious goals.
• The ability to lead, motivate and develop a team while maintaining a positive, professional kitchen culture.
• Commercial awareness and a sound understanding of food costing, labour management and financial performance.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to remain composed under pressure.
• A genuine appreciation for Irish food, local producers, seasonality and the importance of provenance.
• The confidence to make decisions, take responsibility and turn ideas into measurable results.

Most importantly, you will have the hunger to achieve more.

You may already be an established chef looking for the right environment to realise your full potential, or an ambitious rising leader ready to take ownership of a kitchen and prove what you can do.

We are interested in your ability, your mindset, your ideas and your determination to succeed — not simply the titles you have held.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role will mean more than a well-run kitchen.

It will mean:

• Establishing a clear, recognisable and respected culinary identity for Gregans Castle.
• Delivering consistently exceptional food that exceeds guest expectations.
• Building a strong, loyal and talented kitchen team.
• Creating a commercially successful food operation without compromising quality.
• Strengthening the hotel's reputation as a compelling destination for food lovers.
• Developing a long-term culinary vision with the potential to earn wider industry recognition.

We want someone who sets high goals, takes pride in progress and continually asks how things can be better.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to lead the culinary direction of a distinctive and characterful country house hotel.
• The freedom to develop your own ideas and make a meaningful contribution to the hotel's future.
• A setting that offers exceptional inspiration from the landscape, produce and food culture of the Burren and the wider west of Ireland.
• The opportunity to build, shape and develop your own kitchen team.
• A collaborative working relationship with the hotel's leadership, with the opportunity to contribute to wider business strategy.
• A role with genuine scope for personal, professional and creative growth.
• The chance to build a culinary reputation through sustained quality, originality and hard work.
• Accommodation provided
• Guaranteed service charge - €5000.00 in 2026

Remuneration and package will reflect the experience, capability and ambition of the successful candidate.

The Challenge

We are not looking for someone who simply wants to maintain the status quo.

We are looking for someone who wants to push boundaries thoughtfully, elevate standards, inspire people and build a food offering that is unmistakably Gregans Castle.

Someone who is never complacent.

Someone who combines creativity with discipline, ambition with humility, and vision with the determination to deliver.

Someone who understands that excellence is built every day, through the quality of the ingredients, the strength of the team, the consistency of execution and the courage to keep improving.

If you have huge ambition, a clear culinary vision and the drive to build something exceptional, we would love to hear from you.

How to Apply

Please submit your CV along with a covering letter outlining your culinary philosophy, your career ambitions and what you would bring to Gregans Castle Hotel.

We are particularly interested in hearing what you would aspire to achieve here over the next three to five years, and how you would turn that ambition into reality.

Gregans Castle Hotel — an opportunity to create something truly special.

Pay: From €65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Food allowance
• On-site parking
• Sick pay

Application question(s):

• Do you have a car - A car is essential as accommodation is offsite.

Experience:

• of recent Michelin or 3 or More Rosette Kitchens?: 3 years (preferred)
• Senior kitchen management: 3 years (preferred)

Language:

• Fluent/Native English (preferred)

Work authorisation:

• Ireland (required)

Work Location: In person