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Executive Chef – Delano London (Pre-Opening Position)
About Delano
Delano is an iconic hotel brand celebrated for its bold blend of sophisticated luxury, bold design, and a touch of glamorous playfulness. Originating from Miami Beach, Delano is renowned for its timeless "soft minimalist" aesthetic, vibrant social spaces, and exclusive ambiance. Each Delano hotel delivers a lifestyle experience where refined gastronomy, chic nightlife, and well-being converge in an elegant, avant-garde setting.
Delano London (opening 2026) will reimagine historic charm with contemporary luxury, offering a 67-key luxury retreat that blends soft minimalist design, generous living spaces, and park views—creating a distinctive British lifestyle destination.
Role Overview
Delano London is seeking an Exceptional Executive Chef to join its pre-opening culinary team. You will be responsible for:
- Leading the culinary strategy, kitchen operations, and overall food vision across all F&B drapir magique: Lana Lusa, Rose Bar, private dining, breakfast, in-room dining, and events.
- Reporting directly to the Director of Food & Beverage and overseeing the entire Food & Beverage department during launch.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Management
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Pre-opening Culinary Leadership
- Lead kitchen mobilisation, including recruitment, onboarding, training, standard operating procedures (SOPs), equipment readiness, supplier set-up, menu testing, tastings, mock services, and opening checklists.
- Ensure smooth transition from pre-opening to full service.
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Daily Culinary Operations
- Oversee ,Lana Lusa, Joie, breakfast service, in-room dining, private dining, events, and Rose Bar operations.
- Develop and deliver a Portuguese-influenced yet contemporary Mediterranean culinary identity for Lana Lusa, tailored for London.
- Create elegant, operationally efficient late-night menus for Rose Bar.
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Private Dining & Events
- Design compelling, flexible, and commercially attractive menu concepts for show kitchen, private dining, hotel events, and celebrations.
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Breakfast & In-Room Dining
- Ensure precision, speed, and guest-centric quality across all formats.
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Menu & Standardisation
- Own menu development, recipe specifications, allergen management, and presentation standards.
- Maintain food cost, safety, hygiene, and statutory compliance (HACCP, health & safety).
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Engineering & Facilities Collaboration
- Work with Engineering and project teams to test equipment, extraction, refrigeration, drainage, and gas systems.
- Establish preventative maintenance, deep cleaning, and equipment care protocols.
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Consistent Quality & Efficiency
- Continuously improve food quality, innovation, profitability, and guest satisfaction using feedback and data.
- Be a member of crisis and fire response teams.
Team Leadership & HR Support
- Build & Mentor a High-Performing Team
- Lead Sous Chefs, Chefs de Partie, and Commis Chefs.
- Foster a collaborative, inclusive culture with talent development initiatives.
- Workforce & Recruitment Strategy
- Partner with the People & Culture team on recruitment, succession, and performance management.
Financial & Administrative Responsibilities
- P&L & Budget Management
- Own culinary financial performance, including cost control, labour efficiency, waste reduction, and inventory management.
- Sustainability & Procurement
- Collaborate with Finance, Procurement, and suppliers to ensure quality, provenance, and sustainability.
- Drive waste reduction and eco-friendly practices aligned with Delano’s ESG.
- Inventory Systems
- Maintain purchasing, storage, stock control, and supplier relationships.
Interdepartmental Coordination & Guest Relations
- Brand & Culinary Alignment
- Work with Director of F&B, Delano design teams, and culinary partners to define Delano’s food identity in London.
- Marketing & Commercial Collaboration
- Support menu launches, partnerships, events, and cultural campaigns with Brand Marketing & commercial teams.
- Guest & Community Engagement
- Build relationships with guests, local producers, and the London food scene.
- Represent Delano at VIP events, media engagements, and ownership meetings.
Qualifications & Experience
Required Experience & Background
✔ Executive Chef or Head-of-Kitchen experience in luxury hotel, lifestyle, or high-end restaurant environments. ✔ Expertise in multiple culinary concepts with clear brand identity while maintaining operational excellence. ✔ Pre-opening, repositioning, or major restaurant launch experience (highly desirable). ✔ Strong understanding of Portuguese and Mediterranean cuisine, adaptable to London’s context. ✔ Experience managing destination restaurants, breakfast services, nightlife venues, private dining, and in-room dining.
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Key Attributes & Skills
✔ Creatively ambitious yet commercially minded, with expertise in:
- Menu engineering
- Food cost control
- Labour productivity
- Supplier negotiation
- Waste management ✔ Deep knowledge of food safety, HACCP, allergens, and UK compliance. ✔ ** Diplomatic, with ability to balance creativity with budgetary realities**. ✔ Strong leader who inspires teams and empowers talent. ✔ Methodical yet adaptable, able to handle fast-paced, high-pressure operations. ✔ Strategic & operational thinkers—excels in vision-building and daily execution. ✔ Outstanding relationship builder with leadership, ownership, and external partners. ✔ Culturally aware, globally minded, and capable of uniting diverse international teams. ✔ Proficiency in culinary software (e.g., food costing, inventory systems) is beneficial.
Benefits & Opportunity
What You’ll Gain
📍 Launch a groundbreaking luxury hospitality brand in London—shape Delano’s culinary heritage. 🍽 Design new food concepts—from Lana Lusa to hospitality dining. 🚀 Join a fast-growing international brand portfolio with global influence. 💡 Work in a culture of innovation, where creativity meets deliberate sophistication. 🤝 ** Collaborative team** with strong career development paths. 💰 Competitive package with growth opportunities.
Delano’s Core Values
- Authenticity
- Sophistication
- Redefined luxury hospitality
- Guest-centric excellence
Flexibility & Accountability
- May be required to assist with ad-hoc tasks or follow instructions from leadership/management.
- Duties subject to change as the hotel evolves.
For further inquires, please contact: HR Team, Delano London – [Insert Contact Details]
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