Head Chef

Avoca; Dublin; On-site; EUR 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Continuous Professional Development

Employee Assistance Programme

Subsidised Meals

Family Policies

Life Assurance Benefit

Cycle to Work Scheme

Health & Wellness Programmes

Employee Referral Programme

Job summary

Avoca in Dublin is seeking an experienced Head Chef to take full ownership of the kitchen and food production operation at Monkstown. You will lead the team, protect food standards, and drive commercial performance across café, restaurant, and food hall formats.

Reporting to the General Manager, you will manage food costs, margins, labour and stock, develop Sous Chefs, ensure HACCP compliance and maintain high quality standards across Avoca’s diverse food offering.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading a professional kitchen or food production operation.
• Strong culinary leadership and the ability to build capable, accountable kitchen teams.
• Sound commercial judgement with confidence managing food cost, margin, Labour, stock, and waste.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, allergens, food safety, kitchen controls, and quality standards.
• A visible, hands‑on approach with strong planning, communication, and problem‑solving skills.
• The ability to lead different food models and collaborate with front‑of‑house and site management teams.
• Relevant culinary qualifications and food safety certification are preferred. Strong experience and capability will also be considered.

Responsibilities

• Lead all kitchen and food production activity, delivering consistent Avoca food quality and presentation.
• Own food cost, gross margin, Labour, productivity, purchasing, stock, waste, and budget performance.
• Build a capable kitchen team, manage performance, develop Sous Chefs, and maintain succession and cover.
• Ensure full compliance with HACCP, allergens, food safety, traceability, labelling, cleaning, and audits.
• Take full accountability for kitchen stock, equipment, pans, knives, utensils, maintenance, and replacement.
• Develop and recommend dishes and seasonal offers within Avoca’s food direction and costing process.
• Plan production, food availability, events, functions, seasonal peaks, and staffing.
• Investigate food-related customer complaints and supplier quality issues and implement corrective action.
• Where applicable, manage production for other Avoca locations through to correct dispatch handover.
• Work with the General Manager and relevant operational managers to grow sales and improve the food offer.

Skills

Kitchen leadership

Food cost management

HACCP knowledge

Team development

Planning & scheduling

Education

Culinary qualifications

Job description

Location: On site / Dublin, Ireland
job type: Permanent / Full-time
Sector and subsector: Hospitality | Chefs
Salary: Competitive salary

Lead the kitchen. Develop the team. Drive the food business.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Take full ownership of an Avoca kitchen and food production operation, leading the team, protecting food standards, and driving commercial performance.

About Avoca

Established in 1723, Avoca has grown from a historic weaving mill in County Wicklow into one of Ireland's most distinctive and best-loved lifestyle brands.

Quality, creativity, and craftsmanship remain at the heart of Avoca. Our food teams bring together Café, Restaurant, Food Hall, Retail, and production operations to create memorable customer experiences.

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced Head Chef to take full ownership of the kitchen and food production operation at the Avoca, Monkstown site.

The model may include a Café, Restaurant, Food Hall, food for Retail, production for other Avoca locations or a combination of these.

Reporting directly to the General Manager, you will lead the kitchen team and work closely with the Food & Beverage Manager, Restaurant Manager and/or Café Manager where those roles exist.

What You'll Do

• Lead all kitchen and food production activity, delivering consistent Avoca food quality and presentation.
• Own food cost, gross margin, Labour, productivity, purchasing, stock, waste, and budget performance.
• Build a capable kitchen team, manage performance, develop Sous Chefs, and maintain succession and cover.
• Ensure full compliance with HACCP, allergens, food safety, traceability, labelling, cleaning, and audits.
• Take full accountability for kitchen stock, equipment, pans, knives, utensils, maintenance, and replacement.
• Develop and recommend dishes and seasonal offers within Avoca’s food direction and costing process.
• Plan production, food availability, events, functions, seasonal peaks, and staffing.
• Investigate food-related customer complaints and supplier quality issues and implement corrective action.
• Where applicable, manage production for other Avoca locations through to correct dispatch handover.
• Work with the General Manager and relevant operational managers to grow sales and improve the food offer.

What You'll Bring

• Proven experience leading a professional kitchen or food production operation.
• Strong culinary leadership and the ability to build capable, accountable kitchen teams.
• Sound commercial judgement with confidence managing food cost, margin, Labour, stock, and waste.
• Strong knowledge of HACCP, allergens, food safety, kitchen controls, and quality standards.
• A visible, hands‑on approach with strong planning, communication, and problem‑solving skills.
• The ability to lead different food models and collaborate with front‑of‑house and site management teams.
• Relevant culinary qualifications and food safety certification are preferred. Strong experience and capability will also be considered.

Why Join Avoca?

You will join a business with more than 300 years of heritage and a forward-looking approach to food, retail, hospitality, and customer experience. Alongside working with an amazing team, eligible team members may access:

• Continuous Professional Development
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Subsidised Meals
• Family Friendly Policies
• Life Assurance Benefit
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Health & Wellness Programmes
• Employee Referral Programme

AVOCA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER