Head Chef

Dalata Hotel Group; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

50% Off F&B in all properties

Room rate employee discount (€/£60) on

SAYE (Save As You Earn) scheme

Pension access

Performance-related bonus

Dalata Academy development

Free employee meals on duty

Extra AL day per year (up to 5 days)

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work Scheme

Staff events & charity

Job summary

Maldron Hotel Liverpool, part of Dalata Hotel Group, is seeking a Head Chef to lead the hotel kitchen, elevate teams and drive exceptional performance.

You will shape team culture, manage budgets, and ensure high standards across all outlets while developing menus that reflect guest preferences and seasonal produce. The role is based on-site with a focus on quality, training and guest satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Experience leading kitchen teams in high-volume environments.
• Strong focus on quality, presentation and consistency.
• Proven ability to manage menus reflecting seasonality and guest preferences.

Responsibilities

• Take day-to-day leadership of hotel kitchen and ensure high standards across outlets.
• Develop and implement menu strategies aligned with guest preferences and commercial goals.
• Lead, motivate and develop kitchen team with coaching and feedback.
• Maintain food quality, presentation and consistency to brand standards.
• Oversee purchasing, stock control and supplier relations within budget.
• Collaborate with operations for conferences, events and banqueting.
• Manage budgets, food/labor costs and waste to meet targets.
• Ensure food safety, HACCP, allergen and health & safety compliance.
• Plan rotas to resource the operation according to business needs.
• Support guest satisfaction and revenue growth with the wider team.

Skills

Leadership

Menu development

Food safety

Communication

Cost control

Staff training

Allergen management

Education

Culinary qualification (desirable)

Job description

Perfectly positioned in the vibrant city centre, Maldron Hotel Liverpool places you right at the heart of the action. Just minutes from iconic landmarks, cultural venues, and major attractions, our team enjoys the best of what the city has to offer. From world-class concerts and sporting events at the M&S Bank Arena to the historic charm of the Royal Albert Dock, there's something for everyone just steps away. Shopping enthusiasts can explore Liverpool ONE, while music lovers can walk in the footsteps of The Beatles with famous sights nearby. Join us and be part of a workplace where city life meets opportunity.

Head Chef

Dalata Hotel Group are currently looking for an experienced Head Chef who is eager to take ownership, elevate their teams, and drive outstanding performance while continuing to grow professionally.

In this position, you will have a unique opportunity to shape your team's culture and success while contributing to the hotel's strategy. If you are looking for your next opportunity or a move in your career into a supportive environment that values innovation and excellence, we invite you to be part of our thriving community at Dalata Hotel Group.

Benefits

• 50% Off F&B in all properties
• €/£60 employee rate on rooms for all Dalata hotel
• 30% off Friends & Family rate SAYE (Save As You Earn Scheme
• Pension access (Ask your HR Manager for local pension information)
• Performance-related bonus plan
• Development Opportunities through our Dalata Academy to support your career journey
• Free employee meals on duty
• Extra AL day for every year worked (5 days to a maximum of 5 days)
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme/Transport Schemes
• Staff Appreciation Initiatives, fun team-building activities and regular charity events

Your Key Duties And Responsibilities

• Take responsibility for the day-to-day leadership and smooth operation of the hotel kitchen, ensuring consistently high standards across all food outlets.
• Develop and implement menu strategies that reflect the hotel’s offering, guest preferences, seasonal produce and commercial objectives.
• Lead, motivate and develop the kitchen team, creating a positive working environment and supporting colleagues through coaching, training and regular feedback.
• Maintain excellent standards of food quality, presentation and consistency, ensuring every dish meets both brand and guest expectations.
• Oversee food purchasing, stock control and supplier relationships, ensuring ingredients are high quality, responsibly sourced and delivered within budget.
• Work closely with the hotel's operational teams to deliver a successful conference, events and banqueting offering, including menu planning and service execution.
• Manage kitchen budgets, food costs, labour costs and waste levels to achieve agreed financial targets without compromising quality.
• Ensure full compliance with food safety, HACCP, allergen management, health and safety, and company standards at all times.
• Plan kitchen rotas and staffing levels effectively, ensuring the operation is appropriately resourced in line with business needs.
• Collaborate with the wider hotel management team to support guest satisfaction, revenue growth and the overall success of the hotel.

Requirements

What You Will Need:

• Previous experience as a Junior Sous Chef, Sous Chef or in a similar senior kitchen role within a hotel or comparable high-volume hospitality environment.
• A genuine passion for food, with an unwavering focus on quality, presentation and consistency.
• A culinary arts qualification or similar is desirable, but not essential where you can demonstrate strong practical experience.
• Proven experience of leading, motivating and developing a kitchen team, helping colleagues perform at their best.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, HACCP, allergen management and health and safety requirements.
• Good commercial awareness, including an understanding of food costs, stock control, waste management and labour planning.
• A positive and ambitious approach, with a genuine desire to continue learning and developing within the role.
• Strong communication and organisational skills, with the confidence to contribute to the hotel's wider operational and commercial strategy.
• The ability to build positive working relationships and influence colleagues at all levels of the business.
• A calm, hands-on and solutions-focused approach, with the ability to maintain high standards during busy services and events.

About Us

Dalata Hotel Group – We bring the heart of hospitality to every hotel we own and operate. We see our growth and expansion plans as a way of spreading our unique way of caring for our guests further around the world, bringing better experiences to more people. Currently, the Dalata difference can be felt at each of our hotels in Ireland, the UK, Germany & the Netherlands, and we'll keep expanding this further, focusing on key UK cities, Dublin and Continental Europe. Helping our people to grow and develop their careers is vitally important to us and is one of our highest priorities. We have many exciting and unique internal development programmes, each crafted to make sure our employees get the learning they need to be able to take the next step in their careers. Dalata Hotel Group Plc is an Inclusive Employer. We actively encourage people from all backgrounds and abilities to apply to be part of our team. However, we understand everyone's needs are different; therefore, if you require any accommodations with this application process, please highlight your needs when you are completing your application process.