Head Chef, La Mare Wine Estate
Job Title: Head Chef
Reports to: Managing Director
Direct Reports: Chefs and Kitchen Team
Salary: Competitive and dependent on experience
About La Mare Wine Estate
Nestled in the heart of Jersey’s serene countryside, La Mare Wine Estate & Distillery is a working 20-acre estate producing award-winning wines, spirits, artisan products, and local delicacies under the Genuine Jersey mark. With vineyards, orchards, a distillery, and estate kitchens, the site is also one of the island’s leading visitor attractions and a sought-after venue for weddings, corporate events and private dining.
Our commitment to sustainable production, traditional methods, and exceptional visitor experiences makes La Mare a uniquely rewarding place to work and dine.
The Role: Head Chef
We are seeking a talented, creative, and hands-on Head Chef to lead our growing culinary operation. From developing elevated menus for weddings and corporate events to managing our daytime estate café and seasonal production kitchens, this is a dynamic and varied role for a leader who thrives on quality, efficiency and innovation.
This is an exciting opportunity to shape the food offering across multiple departments and help tell the story of the estate through flavour.
Key Benefits
- Straight daytime shifts as standard, with evening work limited to key events
- 5-day working week (occasional 6th day during peak season)
- 4 weeks’ paid holiday per year, including a festive closure from 23rd December to the first week of January
- Opportunity to lead innovation across food offerings, including new product development
- Work within a supportive leadership team passionate about sustainability and local produce
Core Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Management
- Recruit, train, schedule and manage the kitchen team to ensure smooth daily operations
- Inspire a positive kitchen culture, with a focus on high standards and staff development
- Conduct regular team meetings and performance reviews
Culinary Oversight & Menu Development
- Oversee all food preparation for estate café, private dining, weddings and corporate events
- Collaborate with the Managing Director and Head of Sales to create tailored menus for events and seasonal offerings
- Contribute to the estate’s broader food production during quieter periods (e.g. chocolate, preserves and bakery operations)
Financial & Operational Management
- Monitor and manage kitchen budgets, including food and staffing costs
- Set food specifications and purchasing protocols
- Control portion sizes and minimise waste to meet financial targets
- Ensure accurate costing and assist with menu pricing
Quality, Safety & Standards
- Maintain exemplary hygiene and food safety standards across all operations
- Uphold the estate’s reputation for quality and consistency in all culinary output
- Stay compliant with all relevant health and safety legislation
Collaboration
- Work closely with front-of-house and events teams to ensure seamless service delivery
- Support broader estate initiatives and help integrate La Mare’s values into the food offering
Person Specification
Qualifications & Experience
- Formal culinary training (Degree or Diploma preferred)
- Proven experience as Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef in a high-volume, quality-driven environment (restaurant, banqueting or events)
- Experience managing food budgets in excess of £100,000 per annum
Skills & Attributes
- Excellent culinary and presentation skills, with a flair for creating memorable dishes
- Strong leadership and team-building capabilities
- Financial acumen with the ability to manage costs and margins
- Excellent organisational, time management, and communication skills
- Creative, adaptable and open to experimenting with seasonal and local produce
- A genuine passion for food provenance, sustainability, and artisan production
Apply
If you’re ready to take the next step in your culinary career and lead a team at one of Jersey’s most iconic destinations, we’d love to hear from you.
Please send your CV and a short covering letter directly to Tim Crowley, Managing Director – [email protected]
