Head Chef

Dakota Eurocentral is seeking an inspiring and commercially-minded Head Chef who is passionate about developing people as much as creating exceptional dishes. This role is about leading by example, developing chefing skills through hands-on training, and creating an environment where people want to work and can progress.  If you’re committed to quality, simplicity, and building a strong, engaged team, we’d love to hear from you.

CONTRACT 

The gross annual salary is based on experience - please let us know expectations in your application. The role also receives tronc payments and a performance based bonus.

The role carries a permanent contract of a minimum of 45 hours per week, across any 5 days out of 7. This role will include working regular weekends. 

PRIMARY ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Carry out managerial responsibilities including providing daily guidance and coaching to the team, attending meetings and communicating with other departments, holding interviews and trial shifts, holding appraisals, and performance management. 

• Work closely with the General Manager and F&B Manager to ensure the food offering consistently meets guest expectations and reflects Dakota’s brand identity. Support FOH training to ensure exceptional menu knowledge and service delivery.
• Ensure all dishes are prepared and presented in alignment with Dakota’s menu SOPs, maintaining consistency in quality and visual appeal across all service periods. Introduce seasonal specials that complement the core menu, enhancing the guest experience while staying within brand guidelines. 
• Be ultimately responsible for adhering to best practice in Food Hygiene/Safety legislation as well as Health and Safety in the kitchen and leading the team to do so consistently. This includes maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness in the kitchen and strict food safety processes, writing HACCP’s, and maintaining the completion of due diligence documentation to maintain our high food audit scores. 
•  Be committed to working wholeheartedly as part of the wider hotel team, effectively and positively communicating with all members of the kitchen and front of house team. 

• Drive kitchen profitability through effective rota planning, stock control, and supplier management. Monitor GP margins and ensure procurement aligns with quality and cost expectations.

BENEFITS  

In addition to being part of a culture infused with positivity and opportunity for ongoing development, tangible benefits you could enjoy when you join our team include:

• Special discounts on stays and dining at any Dakota
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program which includes free private mental health support and counselling sessions, video GP consultations and private prescription services, as well as access to daily rewards to be cashed out for shopping vouchers
• Support from our inhouse Mental Health Champions
• Additional holiday day on the first anniversary of your employment
• Family-friendly flexible working options
• Meals on duty and uniforming
• Bonuses to recommend a friend to join our team and every time you are mentioned on Trip Advisor
• Accredited, certified compliance training given on employment
• Access to a suite of external, certified resources via our Learning Management System
• Supportive continuous professional development culture with an annual appraisal and objectives, or a Personal Development Plan
• Opportunities to undertake both internal and external training courses, including potential for in-house Apprenticeships

ABOUT DAKOTA HOTELS 

Dakota is a growing UK-based lifestyle brand, known for our stylish hotels, bustling brasserie Grills and upscale cocktail Bars. Dakota’s story started with two boutique hotels on the outskirts of Edinburgh, in South Queensferry, and Glasgow, in Eurocentral. We have now expanded into prime city centre locations in Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle with Manchester Airport coming soon and more in our pipeline.

Dakota is synonymous for delivering attentive and genuine guest service. We attract hard-working individuals who are passionate about working to the highest standards and have been voted within The Caterer’s Top 15 Best Employers in Hospitality for the last six years in a row. We were also featured within the Top 10 employers in the Sunday Times Best Places to Work in the UK for the last two years, where our inclusive culture was spotlighted. 

 As recent winners of The Cateys ‘People Team of the Year’, we have award-winning internal training programmes within Dakota Academy fostering continuous development and ongoing training. As a result, over 75% of our leaders have been promoted internally and, for five consecutive years, a member of our team has won a prestigious Acorn Award awarded by The Caterer to the ‘Top 30 under 30’ in the industry, demonstrating our success in developing talent. 

 Eurocentral | Edinburgh | Glasgow | Leeds | Manchester | Newcastle| Manchester Airport (coming soon)

Our location, Parklands Ave, Motherwell ML1 4WQ, is just off the M8 motorway in Maxim Business Park at the Eurocentral Junction, we are a 92-bedroom boutique hotel which boasts a destination Bar & Grill restaurant as well as a newly built wedding events space.

Our location is easily accessible by car and we offer complimentary parking for both employees and guests. Additionally, there are frequent buses using the CityLink 900 route, only 20 minutes from Buchanan St Bus Station directly to our hotel.
  

Dakota Hotel based in Eurocentral by Motherwell.
Located just off the M8 motorway in Maxim Business Park at the Eurocentral Junction, we are a 92 bedroom boutique hotel which boasts a destination Bar & Grill restaurant as well as a newly built wedding events space.
Our location is easily accessible by car and we offer complimentary parking for both employees and guests. Additionally, there are frequent buses using the CityLink 900 route, only 20 minutes from Buchanan St Bus Station directly to our hotel. 

APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS 

The successful applicant will have/be: 

• A minimum of 8 years professional cooking experience in restaurant of a high calibre.
•  A minimum of 2 years experience as a Sous Chef or above.
• A minimum of two years experience in stock management and purchasing, and cooking to high standards.
• Trained and knowledgeable in food hygiene to level 2 or above, HACCP and allergens.
• Experience in using rota writing and using procurement systems
• Experience in preparing a kitchen for food hygiene audits and maintain food safety documentation.
• Demonstrate a passion for quality food and preparation.
• Be computer literate with an ability to use Microsoft Office programs.
• An enthusiastic individual who will promote our culture of positivity.  
• Be task oriented with a great pride for the work they do and attention to detail. 
• Flexible with shift patterns and available around the needs of our business.  
• Successful candidates must demonstrate having researched our brand and a genuine desire to be part of our team.  

APPLY 

Please send us your up to date CV.  

For more information on our luxury hotel, visit our Careers page to learn about current opportunities and find your #DreamRolesAtDakota – we’d love to hear from you!