Executive Chef

Hilton Istanbul Airport will open its doors in 2025.

Hilton İstanbul Airport will be the first Hilton brand at the Airport zone in Türkiye with 491 rooms and three F&D venues.

We are looking for the Executive Chef for this unique property

What will I be doing?

As Executive Chef, you are fully responsible for building a kitchen team and developing the reputation of the hotel through the production of excellent quality food throughout the hotel, and the development of a high-quality kitchen brigade. An Executive Chef will oversee the operational management of the kitchen and Team Members. Specifically, an Executive Chef will perform the following tasks to the highest standards:

• Lead of the kitchen brigade and ensure ongoing development of Team Members
• Identify an effective approach to succession planning
• Create menus that meet and exceed customers' needs and conform to brand standards
• Ensure the consistent production of high-quality food through all hotel food outlets
• Develop positive customer relations through proactive interaction with Guests, Team Members, contractors, and suppliers
• Resolve, promptly and completely, any issues that may arise in the kitchen or related areas among Guests and Team Members
• Manage department operations, including budgeting, forecasting, resource planning, and waste management
• Manage all aspects of the kitchen including operational, quality and administrative functions
• Actively seek verbal feedback from customers on a regular basis and respond to all guest queries in a timely and efficient manner
• Ensuring adequate resources are available according to business needs
• Manage the provision of food to Food and Beverage outlets and taking action where necessary to ensure compliance with current legislation
• Control costs without compromising standards, improving gross profit margins and other departmental and financial targets
• Ensure team members have an up-to-date knowledge of menu items, special promotions, functions and events
• Maintain good communication and work relationships in all hotel areas
• Ensure that staffing levels are maintained to cover business demands
• Ensure monthly communication meetings are conducted and post-meeting minutes generated
• Manage staff performance issues in compliance with company policies and procedures
• Recruit, manage, train and develop the kitchen team
• Comply with hotel security, fire regulations and all health and safety and food safety legislation
• Ensure maintenance, hygiene and hazard issues are dealt with in a timely manner
• Manage financial performance of the department so all planning is in line with hotel objectives
• Manage food control systems are adhered to them so margins are on target in a pro-active way
• Regular review of all menus with Food and Beverage manager to confirm offerings are in line with market trends
• Be environmentally aware
• Ensure food wastage program is adhered to so that margins are on target

What are we looking for?

An Executive Chef serving Hilton brands is always working on behalf of our Guests and working with other Team Members. To successfully fill this role, you should maintain the attitude, behaviours, skills, and values that follow:

• Previous, relevant experience as an Executive Chef or a high-performing Sous Chef in a first-class property, required
• Excellent leadership skills
• A creative approach to the production of high-quality food
• A business focused approach to managing a hotel kitchen• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to build relationships, internal and external, to the hotel and the Company
• Excellent planning and organizational skills
• Ability to multi-task and meet deadlines
• A current, valid, and relevant trade qualification

It would be advantageous in this position for you to demonstrate the following capabilities and distinctions:

• Previous opening experience and running/developing/managing highest quality a la carte restaurants & bars
• A certification in management
• Proficiency with computers and computer programs, including Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook

What will it be like to work for Hilton?

The future of hospitality is bright at Hilton: a leading global hospitality company with a diverse portfolio of world-class brands. Dedicated to filling the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality, we have welcomed more than 3 billion guests in our more than 100-year history. Hilton is proud to have an award-winning workplace culture, and we are consistently named among one of the World’s Best Workplaces. We support the mental and physical wellbeing of all Team Members, so they can Thrive, thanks to innovative programs and benefits such as workplace flexibility, career growth and development, and our Go Hilton Team Member Travel discount program. Hilton prioritizes understanding and integrating our Team Members’ unique perspectives and voices—along with those of our Guests, Owners, Suppliers, and Partners—to cultivate a diverse and inclusive environment for all. Check out the Hilton Careers blog and Instagram to learn more about what it’s like to be on Team Hilton