Executive Chef
Let’s Go Lisbon!
Opening in 2027, The Standard, Lisbon marks our long-anticipated arrival in one of Europe’s most happening cities. Located at Palácio Santa Clara, the hotel rises above the colourful alleyways of Alfama—Lisbon’s most picturesque neighbourhood—offering front-row views of the river. Built atop the ancient College of St. Francis Xavier, which served as the Portuguese Royal Navy Hospital for over 200 years, the property is being reimagined by acclaimed architect Samuel Torres de Carvalho. His design respects the building’s heritage while looking ahead to a bold, unconventional Lisbon.
Anchored in food, music, art, and culture, The Standard, Lisbon brings our signature design and experience-driven philosophy to Portugal. With 170 guestrooms and 24 adjacent apartments, the expansive property features vibrant spaces for day- and nightlife programming. The ground floor welcomes guests and locals with a lobby lounge, pharmacy bar, all-day dining restaurant, and multiple terraces, gardens, and a pool deck. Upstairs includes a café, spa, gym, and event spaces. The rooftop bar and terrace are poised to become a neighbourhood destination.
As we enter the pre-opening phase, we’re now looking for an Executive Chef who will embody our culture and bring our vision to life.
Your Role
As the Executive Chef for The Standard, Lisbon, you are the creative and operational leader of our culinary programme, overseeing all food production, menu development, kitchen operations, and culinary experiences across the property. As a key member of the hotel’s preopening leadership team, you will guide the design, buildout, mobilisation, and launch of all kitchens, ensuring that our culinary vision, operational standards, hiring strategy, HACCP compliance, and preopening critical path are fully delivered on schedule.
This role sits at the heart of The Standard’s cultural DNA. You will bring bold creativity, strong operational discipline, a love for local ingredients, and a flair for storytelling through food. With an all-day dining restaurant, multiple bars, a rooftop destination bar, cafe, terraces, gardens, pool deck, events, in room dining and a vibrant nightlife programme, you will craft menus and concepts that blend Lisbon’s culinary heritage with the playful, irreverent, unexpected spirit of The Standard.
You are responsible for leading a diverse brigade of chefs. Your leadership ensures consistency, quality, innovation, and excellence across all culinary touchpoints from guest dining to pop ups, special events, cultural programming, and F&B activations, to deliver a world class food offering. This is not a standard Executive Chef position. You will need deep creativity, stamina, passion for culture, and the ability to lead in a fast paced, high volume, lifestyle environment while embodying our “Anything but Standard” ethos.
Do you have what it takes to be our Executive Chef at The Standard, Lisbon...
A minimum of 3 years’ experience as an Executive Chef, ideally gained within a similar Lifestyle Hotel or large 5-star hotel in Lisbon or Portugal.
In addition to this you may also have…
• Previous experience in opening hotel properties of a similar scale, particularly those with more than four outlets;
• Extensive experience in menu development, concept creation, and the successful implementation of new culinary concepts;
• Experience working in fine dining, high-volume, and high-quality establishments;
• Strong knowledge of international cuisine (knowledge of Latin American cuisine is a plus);
• A strong guest-focused mindset and the ability to positively influence the guest experience;
• Strong HACCP and food safety knowledge;
• Ability to manage food costs, payroll, and budget;
• Extensive knowledge of local and global suppliers;
• Demonstrated ability to implement effective food waste management strategies while optimizing costs and maintaining the highest quality standards;
• Experience managing Kitchen, Pastry and Stewarding teams;
• Excellent leadership skills;
• The ability to mentor and support the development of team members;
• Committed to continuous learning and self-improvement, both in technical expertise and leadership competencies;
• Good verbal and written communication skills in English.
If you think you have what it takes to be our Executive Chef and shape our culinary identity at The Standard, Lisbon we’d love to hear from you!
All applicants must be eligible to live and work in the European Union. Documented evidence of eligibility will be required from candidates prior to commencing employment.
