Private Chef

About the company

Utopia is an ultra-luxury hospitality and lifestyle brand creating a global ecosystem of properties and experiences.

We develop private villa retreats in beautiful locations around the world, each with high-end service. Utopia also offers a wider ecosystem of leisure experiences and services available both to those staying on property and to external visitors.

Utopia designs and builds its properties in-house. Our team works across the full journey: from concept and architecture to construction, interiors, landscape, guest experience, and long-term operation. For architects and designers, this means working on properties from the ground up, with the ability to influence how each place is planned, built, and experienced. For hospitality professionals, it means joining a brand where service is personal, attentive, and built around each guest’s stay.

We’re a young, ambitious team with high standards and a hands-on approach. We value strong ideas, practical thinking, attention to detail, and people who are ready to take responsibility for their part of the work. If you’re interested in architecture, design, hospitality, or guest experience, we invite you to grow with Utopia.

About the role

A private family residence in the hills above Santa Teresa is seeking a Head Chef to lead the kitchen. You will be cooking for two principals and four children, to an exacting standard.

The role is not restaurant work. It is precision cooking for people who eat here every day. The family follows a strict low-sugar, high-protein regime: all cooking is done in clarified butter, industrial seed oils and processed foods are excluded, and salads are always served per request. Everything is made from scratch on the day.

You will own the family's dietary framework completely — not follow it, own it. You will lead a Sous Chef and a kitchen porter, manage supplier relationships, maintain full HACCP documentation, and confirm every service with the General Manager before the first plate leaves the kitchen.

This is a freelance / on-call position, active during the principals' stays at the property. The frequency and duration of engagements may vary throughout the year. Candidates must be available to commit to confirmed dates and deliver the same level of excellence on every occasion, regardless of duration. There is potential for this role to evolve into a permanent position for the right candidate. Occasional travel may also be required as part of the engagement.

Key responsibilities

• Design and execute daily meals, private dinners, and bespoke events, tailoring every experience to the household's preferences, dietary requirements, and seasonal produce.
• Own end-to-end kitchen operations: menu planning, ingredient sourcing, supplier management, stock control, and kitchen hygiene to the highest food safety standards.
• Lead and mentor kitchen staff, building a culture of excellence, precision, and proactive service.
• Adapt seamlessly to the household's schedule, including availability for private events, gatherings, and occasional travel requirements.
• Proactively contribute ideas for seasonal menus, themed dining concepts, and continuous kitchen improvement — bringing initiative to every interaction.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in a private household, five-star hotel, or Michelin-starred restaurant environment, with proven experience in a senior culinary leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience cooking daily to a strict medical or elimination diet
• Fluency in both English and Spanish (written and spoken) — essential for this role.
• Deep expertise across multiple international cuisines, with strong knowledge of nutrition, allergen management, and specialist dietary requirements.
• Current HACCP and food-handler certification
• Absolute discretion, professionalism, and trustworthiness
• A proactive, solutions-oriented mindset with exceptional attention to detail and a natural drive to exceed expectations without being asked.
• Flexibility to adapt to the household's schedule, with openness to travel when required.

Benefits

• We offer a competitive package, a fully equipped premium professional kitchen, a small dedicated team, and a genuine path into senior culinary roles across a growing portfolio of private properties.
• Build and shape the kitchen culture and culinary identity from the ground up.

Due to the nature of this placement, the client's identity is kept strictly confidential. Full details will be shared with shortlisted candidates at the appropriate stage of the process.

By submitting this application, I agree that my personal data will be collected, processed, and retained by the company solely for the purposes of managing and assessing my candidacy.

Notice: This is a remote position based in Costa Rica.