Lead the Kitchen of Our Exciting New Cork City Opening
Following the continued success of Salty Dog Ballycotton, we are delighted to be bringing the brand to Cork City with the opening of our newest restaurant on McCurtain Street.
We are seeking an experienced, passionate, and driven Head Chef to lead our kitchen team and help establish Salty Dog Cork as one of the city's leading food destinations.
This is a unique opportunity to join from the very beginning, build a strong kitchen culture, and play a key role in shaping the future success of the business.
About You
We're looking for someone who:
- Is passionate about food, hospitality, and delivering exceptional guest experiences
- Leads by example and thrives in a fast-paced kitchen environment
- Has strong leadership and team development skills
- Takes pride in consistency, presentation, and quality
- Is highly organised and commercially aware
- Understands food costing, stock control, and labour management
- Can inspire and develop a high-performing kitchen team
- Maintains the highest standards of cleanliness, food safety, and compliance
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead all kitchen operations and daily service
- Recruit, train, develop, and manage the kitchen team
- Ensure consistency and quality across all dishes
- Manage food margins, stock control, ordering, and wastage
- Create a positive, professional, and productive kitchen culture
- Ensure full compliance with HACCP and food safety standards
- Work closely with senior management to achieve business objectives
- Assist with menu development and seasonal specials
- Maintain labour costs in line with budget expectations
- Drive continuous improvement across all kitchen operations
Essential Requirements:
- Previous experience as a Head Chef in a high-volume restaurant environment
- Strong leadership and people management skills
- Excellent knowledge of food safety and kitchen compliance
- Experience managing food costs, GP margins, and labour budgets
- Ability to perform under pressure while maintaining high standards
- Strong organisational and communication skills
- Eligibility to work in Ireland
What We Offer:
- Opportunity to lead the kitchen of a brand-new restaurant opening
- Competitive salary package
- Company pension scheme
- Career progression opportunities within a growing hospitality group
- Ongoing training and professional development
- Supportive senior management team
- The opportunity to build and shape your own kitchen team from the ground up
Application Process:
First-stage interviews will take place between Monday, 29th June - Sunday, 5th July 2026.
The successful candidate will commence employment on 1st August 2026 and will be instrumental in preparing the restaurant for launch and building the kitchen team ahead of opening.
If you are an ambitious chef with a passion for great food, strong leadership, and creating exceptional dining experiences, we would love to hear from you.
Apply today with your CV and a brief cover letter outlining your experience and why you would be a great fit for Salty Dog Cork.
Pay: €45,000.00-€50,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Employee discount
Work Location: In person
