Head Chef

Dakota Newcastle is seeking an inspiring and commercially-minded Head Chef who is passionate about developing people as much as creating exceptional dishes. This role is about leading by example, developing chefing skills through hands-on training, and creating an environment where people want to work and can progress.  If you’re committed to quality, simplicity, and building a strong, engaged team, we’d love to hear from you.

CONTRACT AND PAY RATE

The gross annual salary is £45,000 plus anticipated tronc of £8,000-£10,000 per year, and an annual incentive bonus to earn up to £5,000. This equates to a possible package of up to £65,000 pear year.

The role carries a permanent contract of a minimum of 45 hours per week, across any 5 days out of 7. This role will include working regular weekends.

PRIMARY ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

Carry out managerial responsibilities including providing daily guidance and coaching to the team, attending meetings and communicating with other departments, holding interviews and trial shifts, holding appraisals, and performance management.

• Work closely with the General Manager and F&B Manager to ensure the food offering consistently meets guest expectations and reflects Dakota’s brand identity. Support FOH training to ensure exceptional menu knowledge and service delivery.
• Ensure all dishes are prepared and presented in alignment with Dakota’s menu SOPs, maintaining consistency in quality and visual appeal across all service periods. Introduce seasonal specials that complement the core menu, enhancing the guest experience while staying within brand guidelines.
• Be ultimately responsible for adhering to best practice in Food Hygiene / Safety legislation as well as Health and Safety in the kitchen and leading the team to do so consistently. This includes maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness in the kitchen and strict food safety processes, writing HACCP’s, and maintaining the completion of due diligence documentation to maintain our high food audit scores.
• Be committed to working wholeheartedly as part of the wider hotel team, effectively and positively communicating with all members of the kitchen and front of house team.

Drive kitchen profitability through effective rota planning, stock control, and supplier management. Monitor GP margins and ensure procurement aligns with quality and cost expectations.

BENEFITS

In addition to being part of a culture infused with positivity and opportunity for ongoing development, tangible benefits you could enjoy when you join our team include :

Full terms on our benefits can be found in our Handbook.

ABOUT DAKOTA HOTELS

Dakota is a growing UK-based lifestyle brand, known for our stylish hotels, bustling brasserie Grills and upscale cocktail Bars. Dakota’s story started with two boutique hotels on the outskirts of Edinburgh, in South Queensferry, and Glasgow, in Eurocentral. We have now expanded into prime city centre locations in Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle with Manchester Airport coming soon and more in our pipeline.

Dakota is synonymous for delivering attentive and genuine guest service. We attract hard-working individuals who are passionate about working to the highest standards and have been voted within The Caterer’s Top 15 Best Employers in Hospitality for the last six years in a row. We were also featured within the Top 10 employers in the Sunday Times Best Places to Work in the UK for the last two years.

Eurocentral | Edinburgh | Glasgow | Leeds | Manchester | Newcastle| Manchester Airport (coming soon)

Ideally situated by the Gateshead Millennium Bridge on the quayside, our hotel will boast 118 bedrooms including stunning 33 suites. Dakota Newcastle will host our renowned Bar & Grill, Champagne Room, Cigar Terrace, and an events space for up to 60.

APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS

The successful applicant will have / be :

Demonstrate a passion for quality food and preparation.

APPLY

Please send us your up to date CV.

For more information on our luxury hotel,  v isit our  Careers page  to learn about current opportunities and find your #DreamRolesAtDakota – we’d love to hear from you!