HEAD CHEF AT A MICHELIN GUIDE-RECOMMENDED RESTAURANT IN REYKJAVÍK

HEAD CHEF AT A MICHELIN GUIDE-RECOMMENDED RESTAURANT IN REYKJAVÍK

Are you ready to make your mark on one of Iceland’s most exciting culinary destinations?

We are seeking a creative and ambitious Head Chef for a well-established fine dining restaurant in Reykjavík. Selected by the MICHELIN Guide, the restaurant offers contemporary Icelandic cuisine with strong roots in the country’s culinary heritage.

This is a rare opportunity to lead a dedicated kitchen team, develop your own culinary direction and work with some of the Nordic region’s most distinctive ingredients.

ABOUT THE RESTAURANT

The restaurant serves modern Icelandic cuisine, with seasonality, sustainability and local ingredients at its heart. The menus evolve with the seasons, showcasing the best Iceland has to offer—from fish, shellfish and lamb to wild herbs, seaweed and produce from local suppliers.

The restaurant has recently moved to new premises with a larger, upgraded kitchen. The incoming Head Chef will have considerable creative freedom to develop the menus and help shape the restaurant’s future culinary direction.

THE ROLE

As Head Chef, you will have overall responsibility for the kitchen’s culinary direction and operations. You will lead the team in its daily work, ensuring consistently exceptional standards throughout every service.

Your responsibilities will include:

Leading, developing and motivating the kitchen team

Creating seasonal menus

Maintaining quality and consistency throughout every service

Establishing clear planning, structure and efficient kitchen workflows

Working closely with local, sustainably sourced ingredients

Further developing the restaurant’s identity and culinary direction

Creating a professional, safe and inclusive kitchen culture

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for a creative, ambitious chef who is confident in a professional kitchen. You have a strong fine dining background and understand the precision, quality and attention to the overall guest experience expected at MICHELIN Guide level.

You may already be working as a Head Chef, or you may be an outstanding Sous Chef ready to take the next step into a leadership role.

We believe you bring:

Substantial experience in fine dining or another high-level culinary environment

Experience in menu development and working with seasonal ingredients

A clear, hands-on leadership style

The ability to bring structure, quality and a positive working atmosphere to the kitchen

A genuine interest in sustainability and local ingredients

The ability to balance creativity with quality, financial discipline and reliable operations

Strong communication skills in an international working environment

Experience at a Michelin restaurant or an equivalent culinary level is an advantage, but potential, leadership and ambition can be equally important.

A KITCHEN WITH A STRONG TRADITION OF WOMEN IN GASTRONOMY

For the past ten years, the restaurant’s kitchen has been staffed by an all-female team. The restaurant is deeply committed to supporting women in gastronomy and creating opportunities for female chefs to develop into leaders.

We want to continue building a workplace where women can grow, make an impact and take on culinary leadership roles. We welcome qualified applicants of all genders and select candidates based on their skills, leadership, motivation and potential.

WHAT’S ON OFFER

A key leadership role at a restaurant recommended by the MICHELIN Guide

Considerable creative freedom to shape the menus and culinary direction

A larger, recently upgraded restaurant kitchen

Access to unique Icelandic ingredients and local producers

The opportunity to lead and develop an ambitious kitchen team

An international career opportunity in Reykjavík

Accommodation options, discussed individually

Salary, start date and other terms by agreement

ABOUT REYKJAVÍK

Reykjavík offers a rare combination of urban creativity, a vibrant restaurant scene and spectacular natural surroundings. The sea, mountains, hot springs and some of the Nordic region’s most exciting ingredients are all close at hand.

For the right person, this is more than a new job. It is an opportunity to create something of your own while discovering a new country, a new food culture and a new way of life.

HOW TO APPLY

The recruitment process is managed by Wildcard Untap, which helps hospitality businesses find skilled specialists and leaders through proactive search, personal dialogue and professional judgement.

Please send your CV and a brief introduction outlining your experience, leadership approach and culinary philosophy to:

jobb@wildcarduntap.com

Please use the subject line: “Head Chef – Reykjavík”

Applications will be reviewed and interviews held on an ongoing basis. All applications will be treated confidentially.