Head Chef

Head Chef – Restaurant & Banqueting

Crumlin Road Gaol, Belfast

Salary: £45,000–£50,000 per annum, depending on experience
Contract: Full-time, permanent
Reports to: General Manager / Operations Director
Responsible for: Sous Chefs, Chef de Parties, Commis Chefs, Kitchen Porters and casual/event kitchen teams

The Role

We are looking for an experienced, commercially minded and hands-on Head Chef to lead the food operation at Crumlin Road Gaol.

This is a varied role covering both the day-to-day restaurant/café operation and a growing programme of weddings, conferences, private functions, corporate events and large-scale banqueting.

The successful candidate will take full ownership of the kitchen operation, from menu development and food quality through to purchasing, staffing, food margins and compliance.

We are looking for someone who can build a strong kitchen team and consistently deliver excellent food while maintaining tight control of costs.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all kitchen operations across the restaurant/café, events and banqueting business.
• Develop attractive, commercially viable menus appropriate to each area of the business.
• Plan and execute weddings, corporate events, conferences, private functions and high-volume banquets.
• Maintain consistently high standards of food quality, presentation and service.
• Take ownership of food gross profit, purchasing, portion control, wastage and stock management.
• Negotiate and maintain effective relationships with food and equipment suppliers.
• Produce accurate food costings and ensure agreed margins are achieved.
• Manage kitchen labour costs, rotas and staffing levels in line with forecast business.
• Recruit, train, develop and retain a strong kitchen brigade.
• Establish clear kitchen systems, standards, recipes and operating procedures.
• Work closely with the Events and Operations teams to plan menus, timings, staffing and service for functions.
• Attend event planning meetings where required and contribute to the development of wedding and event packages.
• Ensure the kitchen is fully prepared for fluctuations between quieter restaurant periods and high-volume event days.
• Maintain excellent standards of food hygiene, cleanliness and kitchen organisation.
• Ensure full compliance with HACCP, allergen legislation, health & safety requirements and all relevant food-safety regulations.
• Maintain accurate kitchen records and ensure the operation is prepared for inspections at all times.
• Manage kitchen equipment and identify maintenance or capital expenditure requirements.
• Contribute ideas to grow food and beverage revenue and improve the overall guest experience.
• Work as part of the senior management team and take ownership of the commercial performance of the kitchen.

About You

We are looking for an experienced Head Chef or strong Senior Sous Chef ready to take full responsibility for a substantial operation.

You should have proven experience in restaurant and/or high-volume banqueting, ideally including weddings, conferences or large events.

You'll need to be comfortable managing both sides of the role: producing excellent food and running a disciplined, commercially successful kitchen.

You will ideally demonstrate:

• Strong kitchen leadership and people-management skills.
• Experience delivering high-volume functions and banquets.
• Excellent menu-development and food-costing ability.
• Strong understanding of GP, purchasing, stock control, wastage and labour management.
• Excellent organisation and forward planning.
• A calm approach to busy services and large events.
• High standards of presentation and attention to detail.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, allergens and food-safety requirements.
• Ability to recruit, train and motivate a kitchen team.
• Flexibility to work evenings and weekends according to the events calendar.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this position isn't simply producing good food. The Head Chef will be expected to build a well-organised, profitable and dependable kitchen operation.

Key measures will include food GP, kitchen labour percentage, food waste, hygiene/compliance standards, guest feedback, team retention and the successful delivery of restaurant and banquet services.

The Opportunity

Crumlin Road Gaol is a distinctive Belfast venue with the opportunity to develop a food operation spanning casual daytime trade through to weddings, conferences and major events.

This role would suit a Head Chef who wants genuine ownership of an operation and the opportunity to shape its menus, team and future direction.

Indicative package: £45,000–£50,000 + potential performance-related bonus.

Pay: £45,000.00-£52,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Discounted or free food
• Free parking
• On-site parking

Work Location: In person