Executive Chef

Job Opening: EXECUTIVE CHEF

The opening is for the role of Executive Chef at Umed Bhawan Palace, Kotah - a heritage hotel in Kota, Rajasthan, India.

Prerequisites:
- Education: Degree / Diploma in Hotel Management or Culinary school; any additional certifications in food & beverage welcome
- Experience: 10-15 years of total work experience in hotel / restaurant kitchens, including a minimum of 5 years in a leadership role (Executive Chef, Head Chef, or Executive Sous Chef, or similar)
- Key Technical Skills:

- Menu Innovation & Strategy: Proven expertise in menu planning, development, and engineering, balancing heritage, innovation, profitability, and market trends.
- Financial & Resource Management: Strong command of cost control, inventory management, and efficient procurement/vendor management to maximize profitability.
- Operational Excellence: Experience overseeing multi-outlet kitchen operations, ensuring seamless execution across restaurants and banquets.
- Language Proficiency: Fluency in English and Hindi (both written and spoken).
- Leadership & Team Development: Demonstrated ability in leading, training, and managing culinary teams to maintain exceptionally high culinary and presentation standards.

Key Tasks & Responsibilities:

- Menu Development & Presentation: Lead the creation and evolution of food & beverage menus, emphasizing Rajasthani, Indian, and Western cuisines with a blend of tradition and innovation, ensuring impeccable food presentation consistent with fine dining standards.
- Kitchen Operations & Standards: Oversee comprehensive daily kitchen operations, implementing and rigorously monitoring SOPs, ISO, and FSSAI compliance, while upholding the highest hygiene, food safety, and quality standards for all raw ingredients and cooked food.
- Team Leadership & Development: Lead, and develop a high-performing culinary team, encompassing shift management, hiring, training, and demonstrating advanced cooking techniques and equipment usage.
- Financial & Inventory Management: Strategically manage all kitchen-related expenses, including food cost, uniforms, and tools, while leading the procurement of premium ingredients, monitoring inventory levels, and implementing strategies to control costs and reduce wastage.
- Guest Experience & Feedback: Ensure exceptional guest dining experiences by regularly interacting with guests personally, managing special dietary needs, and proactively reviewing guest feedback to implement continuous culinary improvements.
- Strategic Alignment & Profitability: Align culinary strategies with overall hotel objectives, participating in budgeting and P&L management to drive revenue growth and enhance the overall guest experience.
- Inter-departmental Collaboration: Foster strong inter-departmental collaboration, providing culinary leadership and seamless coordination with the F&B Service, Events, and Stores & Purchasing teams to ensure smooth operations and successful execution of all culinary endeavors.

Apply
- (1) Resume; (2) Current / latest pay slip; (3) Notice Period Details

About the Property

Umed Bhawan Palace, Kotah is a heritage hotel owned and operated by the Royal Family of Kotah. The

property was initially operated by ITC Hotels (under the WelcomHeritage brand) up to March 2023, and is

now operating with a new management team since late-2023, following substantial renovations.

Umed Bhawan Palace currently has 32 rooms and suites, a multi-cuisine restaurant “The Dahlia”, a bar

“The Swinton Bar”, two indoor banquet halls, and one large outdoor banquet venue. The Palace is

surrounded by greenery - making it an oasis of calm within the confines of the city, while still being very

centrally located (less than 10 minutes from railway station i.e. Kota Junction).

Kota is a ~6 hour drive from Delhi, ~3.5 hour drive from Jaipur & Udaipur, and is very well connected by rail.

**Benefits**:

- Provident Fund

Schedule:

- Rotational shift
- Weekend availability

Ability to commute/relocate:

- Kota, Kota, Rajasthan: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (required)

**Language**:

- Hindi, English (preferred)

Work Location: In person