Head Chef – Italian Cuisine (Addis Ababa)

About the role

The First Group Hospitality is seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead the kitchen of Castelli's Restaurant, one of Addis Ababa’s most storied Italian dining venues. The role combines preserving the restaurant’s heritage with elevating food quality, consistency and commercial performance.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the Castelli's kitchen, ensuring classic Italian production, preparation and presentation meet the highest standards.
• Develop and refresh a seasonal menu rooted in Italian heritage, covering antipasti, handmade pasta, filled pasta, mains, sides and dolci.
• Control food cost through portion control, purchasing discipline, waste management, yield monitoring and stock rotation.
• Maintain hygiene, sanitation and food safety standards, including proper storage, labeling and rotation of all food items.
• Coordinate with the Food & Beverage team on promotions, private dining, wine pairings and aperitivo experiences.
• Recruit, train, coach and develop kitchen staff, managing schedules and performance appraisals.
• Monitor kitchen performance and intervene immediately on any deviations in quality, consistency, timing or cost.
• Handle guest complaints professionally and support service recovery.

Required profile

• Minimum 2 years’ experience as a Head Chef, Chef de Cuisine or Senior Sous Chef in a comparable restaurant or hotel environment.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive culinary experience in quality restaurants or hotels, preferably specializing in Italian cuisine.
• Extensive expertise in classic Italian cuisine, fresh pasta, seasonal produce and traditional techniques.
• Strong knowledge of food cost control, recipe costing and hygiene standards.