Executive Chef

Mandarin Oriental; Roma; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Mandarin Oriental, Rome seeks an Executive Chef to lead all culinary operations across its luxury outlets, ensuring exceptional food quality and team performance. You will drive the culinary vision, manage budgets, and deliver memorable dining experiences aligned with Mandarin Oriental standards.

You will oversee menu development, guest satisfaction, and a high-performing team, while upholding food safety and sustainability in a vibrant, luxury hospitality setting in Rome.

Qualifications

• Ten years or more of progressive culinary leadership in luxury hotels, resorts or renowned restaurants.
• Strong experience leading large, high-performing culinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee all culinary operations across restaurants, bars, room service and events.
• Develop and execute the hotel's culinary strategy, ensuring innovation and consistency.
• Drive food quality, presentation and guest satisfaction while upholding Mandarin Oriental standards.
• Lead, coach and develop a talented culinary team with focus on performance and growth.
• Monitor food trends and guest preferences to continuously enhance menus and concepts.
• Collaborate with cross-functional leaders to deliver exceptional guest experiences and financial results.
• Manage food and labour costs to meet budgets and profitability targets.
• Oversee purchasing, supplier relationships and sourcing to optimise quality and cost.
• Ensure food safety, hygiene and regulatory compliance across all outlets.
• Maintain inventory controls and sustainability initiatives in kitchen operations.
• Lead menu development, recipes, and culinary innovation across venues.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Budget management

Menu development

Food safety HACCP

Team leadership

Operational excellence

Strategic vision

English & Italian

Job description

Are you a master of craft? Do you thrive in a team that succeeds together, demonstrating integrity and respect while acting responsibly? Do you embrace a growth mindset? We invite you to become a fan of the exceptional. Mandarin Oriental is the award-winning owner and operator of some of the most luxurious hotels, resorts and residences located in prime destinations around the world, with a strong development pipeline. Increasingly recognised for creating some of the world’s most sought-after properties, the Group provides legendary service inspired by Asian heritage whilst representing the very cutting-edge of luxury experiences. Mandarin Oriental, Rome will offer a rare urban retreat set across ten 19th-century villas, surrounded by lush gardens yet only moments from the city’s iconic landmarks. The hotel will feature 108 elegantly designed rooms and suites, many with private terraces or gardens, crafted by renowned designers Gilles & Boissier. With six distinctive restaurants and bars, including a rooftop Mandarin Bar with sweeping city views, the property will blend tranquil residential charm with contemporary Roman sophistication.

About The Job

The Executive Chef is responsible for leading all culinary operations across the hotel, ensuring exceptional food quality, creativity, consistency and financial performance. Reporting to the Hotel Manager, this role will drive the culinary vision for the property, oversee all kitchen operations and inspire a high-performing team to deliver memorable dining experiences that reflect the standards and values of Mandarin Oriental.

As Executive Chef, you will be responsible for the following duties:

• Lead and oversee all culinary operations across restaurants, bars, in-room dining, banqueting and special events.
• Develop and execute the hotel's culinary strategy, ensuring innovation, creativity and consistency across all dining experiences.
• Drive excellence in food quality, presentation and guest satisfaction while maintaining Mandarin Oriental standards.
• Lead, inspire and develop a talented culinary team through coaching, training, succession planning and performance management.
• Monitor food trends, market developments and guest preferences to continuously enhance menus and dining concepts.
• Partner closely with the Director of Restaurants, Bars & Experiences and other operational leaders to deliver exceptional guest experiences and commercial success.
• Manage food cost, labour cost and kitchen productivity to ensure budgetary and financial objectives are achieved.
• Oversee purchasing activities, supplier relationships and product sourcing to maintain quality while optimising costs.
• Ensure all food production, preparation and storage practices comply with food safety regulations and company policies.
• Maintain effective inventory controls and minimise waste through strong operational discipline and sustainability initiatives.
• Lead menu development, recipe management and culinary innovation across all outlets.
• Maintain kitchen facilities and equipment to the highest standards of cleanliness, hygiene and operational efficiency.
• Support the planning and execution of VIP events, special functions and unique dining experiences.
• Foster a positive and collaborative culture that promotes colleague engagement, wellbeing and continuous improvement.
• Contribute as a key member of the Hotel Leadership Team, supporting the successful opening and ongoing evolution of Mandarin Oriental, Rome.

As Executive Chef, We Expect From You

• A minimum of 10 years of progressive culinary leadership experience within luxury hotels, resorts or renowned standalone restaurants.
• Proven success leading large, high-performing culinary teams in a luxury hospitality environment.
• Strong experience managing multiple restaurant concepts, banqueting operations and high-volume food production.
• Demonstrated ability to create innovative, market-leading dining experiences and culinary concepts.
• Strong commercial acumen with experience managing food costs, labour costs, budgets and profitability.
• Comprehensive knowledge of food safety regulations, HACCP principles and hygiene standards.
• Exceptional leadership, coaching and people development skills.
• Strong organisational, planning and problem-solving abilities with excellent attention to detail.
• Experience working in international and multicultural environments.
• Strong command of written and spoken English and Italian.
• A genuine passion for culinary excellence, innovation and luxury hospitality.

Our Commitment To You

• Learning & Development. Your success is our success. We craft unique learning and development programmes for various stages in your career so that you grow, continuously.
• MOstay. When you work as hard as our colleagues do, it's important to take time off. As a member of the #MOfamily, you can stay with us wherever you go in the world. The MOstay programme offers complimentary nights and additionally attractive rates on rooms for you and your loved ones.
• Health & Colleague Wellness. Finding the right work-life balance is important. Your wellbeing matters to us. A variety of health benefits and wellness programmes are offered to all our colleagues, globally.

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