Head Chef Ottolenghi

Mandarin Oriental; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff meals

Uniform/laundry service

Pension fund contribution

Discounted stays at properties

F&B discount card

Learning and development programs

Job summary

Mandarin Oriental is seeking a Head Chef in Amsterdam to lead a high-volume, quality-led kitchen and drive culinary excellence. You will recruit, train and manage all kitchen roles, refine our culinary concept, and ensure outstanding guest experiences in a 100-seat restaurant within a luxury hotel setting.

You will mentor your brigade, balance creativity with operational and commercial awareness, and collaborate closely with front-of-house teams to deliver memorable, innovative menus.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef in a high-volume, quality-led restaurant.
• Love for fresh, seasonal produce with the ability to transform it into memorable dishes.
• Strong leadership skills and a hands-on approach.
• Ability to balance creativity with operational and commercial awareness.

Responsibilities

• Lead the kitchen with passion, creativity, and precision.
• Recruit, train, motivation and performance manage all kitchen roles.
• Participate in the refinement of our culinary concept.
• Oversee day-to-day operations, ensuring excellence in quality, presentation, and consistency.
• Mentor and develop your brigade, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration.
• Work closely with front-of-house and management to deliver an unforgettable guest journey.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Menu development

Operational excellence

Education

HACCP Certification

Head Chef / Senior Sous Chef experience

100-seat restaurant experience

Job description

Since opening its doors in Amsterdam, Ottolenghi has become a destination for vibrant, ingredient-led dining inspired by the flavours of the Mediterranean and Middle East. Our focus is now on continuously refining the culinary experience and delivering exceptional service that seamlessly combines the creativity of Ottolenghi with the legendary hospitality standards of Mandarin Oriental.

As Head Chef, you will lead this journey, driving culinary excellence, inspiring a talented team, and ensuring every guest experience is memorable, innovative, and consistently exceptional.

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

• Lead the kitchen with passion, creativity, and precision.
• Recruit, train, motivation and performance manage all kitchen roles.
• Participate in the refinement of our culinary concept.
• Have experience in leading a 100 seats restaurant.
• Have a HACCP Certification.
• Maintain seasonal menus with a bold, produce-driven approach and surprising flavour combinations.
• Oversee day-to-day operations, ensuring excellence in quality, presentation, and consistency.
• Mentor and develop your brigade, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration.
• Work closely with front-of-house and management to deliver an unforgettable guest journey.

As Head Chef, We Expect From You

• Proven experience as Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef in a high-volume, quality-led restaurant.
• A love for fresh, seasonal produce and the ability to transform it into memorable dishes.
• Strong leadership skills and a hands-on approach.
• The ability to balance creativity with operational and commercial awareness.

Our Commitment To You

• A salary in scale VIII of the Horeca CAO.
• Excellent career progression with an iconic, luxury, global hotel brand. A lot of our colleagues joined us at the beginning of their career and are now leading their own teams and divisions.
• Fantastic learning and development opportunities for all levels of staff, with targeted development programs to get you ready for the next step in your career.
• Discounted stays at our beautiful properties across the Group.
• Multiple additional benefits, such as supplemented staff meals, uniform/laundry service, ticket raffles and a 50% contribution to your pension fund.
• F&B Discount Card - discounts at restaurants at high-end hotels in Amsterdam.
• Discounted collective health insurance and weekly personal training sessions.

This is more than a job - it's your stage to set a new culinary benchmark in Amsterdam.

For any questions, reach out to us via [phone].

Please ensure eligibility to work in the Netherlands and secure housing in Amsterdam prior to applying. Due to high application volume, we will respond only to candidates meeting these criteria.