Executive Chef

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Responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the Culinary Department, working closely with Food & Beverage and Member Services. This role collaborates with the Executive Sous Chef and Sous Chefs to ensure efficient kitchen operations, high culinary standards, and exceptional member experiences. The Executive Chef leads staffing, training, and performance management while fostering a positive and productive work environment.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POSITION:

Leadership and Team Management

Promote a culture of excellence in food, beverage, and hospitality.

Lead and motivate the culinary team to maintain high morale and performance.

Conduct regular meetings with kitchen leadership to ensure alignment and communication.

Support training and development programs for all culinary staff.

Assist in performance evaluations and provide coaching and feedback.

Ensure compliance with hiring, onboarding, and disciplinary procedures.

Culinary Operations and Quality Control

Supervise daily food procurement, inventory rotation, and freshness standards.

Collaborate with culinary leadership to maintain and elevate food quality and presentation.

Conduct daily spot checks for taste, presentation, and menu accuracy.

Maintain and update recipe database for consistency and cost control.

Monitor portion control, waste reduction, and kitchen productivity.

Ensure kitchen hygiene, equipment maintenance, and staff grooming standards.

Work closely with stewarding to maintain cleanliness and organization.

Guest Experience and Feedback

Review guest counts, VIP lists, and communicate relevant information to the team.

Address and resolve guest concerns related to food quality or service.

Gather and respond to feedback to improve culinary offerings.

Ensure all dishes meet quality standards in taste and presentation.

Administrative and Strategic Responsibilities

Assist in setting departmental goals and objectives.

Maintain effective communication with other departments.

Support cost control efforts and vendor management.

Ensure confidentiality of club operations and member information.

Monitor labor costs and adjust staffing based on business volume.

Maintenance and Safety

Request maintenance and repair of kitchen equipment as needed.

Ensure compliance with safety, hygiene, and cleanliness standards.

Train staff on safety protocols and proper equipment handling.

Coordinate with stewarding to manage equipment inventory and replacements.

REQUIRED ATTITUDES/ BEHAVIORS

Proactive and solution-oriented mindset.

Passion for culinary excellence and innovation.

Strong leadership and team-building skills.

Commitment to continuous improvement and staff development.

Respectful and collaborative approach.

High attention to detail and quality standards.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, ABILITIES, and/ or SKILLS

8–10 years of experience in high-end resorts, hotels, or clubs.

Strong financial and cost management skills.

Experience in luxury hospitality and culinary operations.

Knowledge of food safety standards and F&B systems.

Excellent communication and organizational skills.

Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends and holidays.

Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop culinary teams.

Valid Food Handling Certification (Carné de Manipulación de Alimentos) as required by local health authorities.

COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESS IN THE ROLE

Teamwork – Fosters a collaborative and supportive team environment.

Communication – Clearly conveys expectations and feedback.

Strategic Thinking – Aligns culinary operations with business goals.

Decision Making – Makes informed and timely decisions.

Innovation – Continuously improves culinary offerings and processes.

Customer Service – Ensures guest satisfaction through quality and responsiveness.

Organization – Maintains structured and efficient kitchen operations.

REQUIRED EDUCATION

Culinary degree or equivalent professional certification.

Bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts preferred.

HEALTH AND SAFETY NEEDS

Ability to lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.

Frequent standing, walking, talking, and hearing.

Occasional climbing, stooping, kneeling, and crouching.

Ability to work in hot, humid, and fast-paced environments.

Compliance with safety and hygiene regulations.

Occasional exposure to outdoor weather conditions.

Exposure to high heat, noise, and kitchen equipment.

About Us

About the Project - Zapotal Beach Club

Zapotal Golf & Beach Club is located on the North Pacific shore of Costa Rica in the heart of the Gold Coast. Costa Ricans are known for their Pura Vida attitude- a “pure life” with low stress, good times, and the great outdoors. Guanacaste is one of National Geographic’s five Blue Zones and retains its allure as one of the most hospitable places in the world. Members can enjoy ad-ventures on sea and land, a leisurely round on the 18-hole Tom Fazio golf course, delight in lo-cal organic meals, and indulge in a spa treatment or a workout. Take this friendliness and infuse it into a one-of-a-kind private family community, and you get pure magic. It’s the Discovery way. Our employees use their personal talent, passion, and resources to meaningfully integrate with diverse cultures and communities to provide the highest level of guest service and be a part of creating memorable experiences. For more information about our club, please visit:

About Discovery Land Company

Founded in 1994 by Michael S. Meldman, Discovery Land Company specializes in building luxu-ry residential private club communities and resorts worldwide. We have grown to be the prem-ier player in the high-end resort residential niche with 20 world-class projects in our portfolio. Our communities are distinct with their own architectural styles, world-class amenities, and high levels of service.

We don’t build buildings, but rather we build settings where families can create intergenera-tional memories and enrich their lives in exquisite and untouched sanctuaries. These settings offer a casual and comfortable sense of community through outstanding clubhouses, premier golf courses, welcoming staff, world-class culinary offerings, and outdoor pursuits. To ease and enrich your experiences, Discovery holds itself to the highest service standards. Every decision we make is driven by one fundamental objective: to make the time you spend with the people you care about most not merely enjoyable, but memorable.

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