Private Head Chef

Utopia; Barcelona; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Premium kitchen

Dedicated team

Senior culinary path

Job summary

Utopia in Barcelona is seeking a Head Chef to lead a private kitchen for two principals and four children. This is not restaurant work; it demands precision cooking, daily from-scratch meals, and a strict, high-protein, low-sugar regime.

You will manage a Sous Chef and kitchen porter, oversee supplier relationships and HACCP documentation, and coordinate with the General Manager on every service. The freelance/on-call arrangement may evolve into a permanent role, with occasional travel.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in a private household, five-star hotel, or Michelin-starred restaurant in a senior culinary leadership role.
• Experience cooking daily to a strict medical or elimination diet.

Responsibilities

• Design and lead daily meals, private dinners, and bespoke events, tailoring to the household's preferences and dietary needs.
• Own end-to-end kitchen operations: menu planning, sourcing, stock control, and hygiene to top safety standards.
• Lead and mentor kitchen staff, building a culture of excellence, precision, and proactive service.
• Adapt to the household's schedule, including private events and occasional travel.
• Proactively contribute ideas for seasonal menus and dining concepts to improve the kitchen.

Skills

Kitchen leadership

Dietary management

Menu planning

Supplier management

Food safety HACCP

Bilingual English/Spanish

Discretion & integrity

Staff mentoring

Education

Culinary degree

HACCP certification

Food safety training

Job description

A private family residence in the hills above Barcelona 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. Fish is bought and delivered fresh, each morning from a specialist fishmonger; fruit and vegetables from Barcelona's premium organic markets.
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.

• 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.

• 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.