Head Chef Wanted – Mantaray Island Resort, Fiji

Mantaray Island Resort, a boutique island resort in the Yasawa Islands, Fiji, is seeking an experienced and hands-on Head Chef to lead our kitchen team and shape the guest dining experience.

About the role

This is a hands-on leadership role suited to a chef who leads from the front, sets the standard, and isn't afraid to get stuck in during service. We're looking for someone proactive, adaptable, and passionate about hospitality, who understands the realities of running a kitchen on a remote island. From unpredictable resupply to working with what's fresh and available locally. Experience in a remote or island location is a strong plus, and the successful candidate must be comfortable with the demands of island life.

Responsibilities

Lead and mentor the kitchen team, managing daily operations and service standards

 Design and evolve menus that showcase fresh, local Fijian produce

Oversee kitchen budgets, ordering, and stock control in a remote-island setting, including planning around limited and infrequent resupply

Maintain high standards of food safety, hygiene, and kitchen compliance

 Uphold occupational health and safety (OHS) standards throughout the kitchen, including safe equipment use, hazard management, and staff safety training

Manage kitchen staff onboarding, training, rostering, and performance

Manage a multicultural kitchen team, navigating differences in work styles, communication norms, and expectations around pace and hierarchy

Collaborate closely with resort management on guest experience, special events, and dietary requirements

Control food costs and wastage while maintaining quality and guest satisfaction

Foster a positive, disciplined, and solutions-oriented kitchen culture

Key Requirements

Proven experience as a Head Chef, running a kitchen from the front

Strong leadership, communication, and organisational skills. Able to train, motivate, and manage a team

A very hands-on approach, comfortable working service alongside the team

  Demonstrated experience managing and motivating multicultural teams, with sensitivity to differing work ethics, communication styles, and cultural expectations

  Experience with kitchen budgeting, ordering, and stock control

Sound understanding of food safety, hygiene, and compliance standards

Strong understanding of occupational health and safety (OHS) practices in a commercial kitchen environment

Adaptable and resilient, comfortable with the realities of living and working in a remote island location (limited resupply, off-grid lifestyle, small team)

A genuine love of island life and hospitality

Advantageous

●     Previous experience working in a remote or island resort environment

●     Experience designing menus around local and seasonal produce

●     Experience managing multicultural kitchen teams

●     Basic understanding of generators, off-grid kitchen equipment, or logistics in remote settings

Qualifications & Experience

●     Formal culinary qualification and/or several years' experience in a Head Chef or senior chef role

●     Proven ability to train, motivate, and manage kitchen staff

●     Experience delivering high food and service standards in a resort, boutique, or quality hospitality setting

●     Comfortable living and working in a remote island environment

What We Offer

●     A competitive salary package

●     Accommodation and meals provided on-island

●     Relocation support for the right candidate

●     The experience of working and living on a stunning private island in Fiji

●     A close-knit team and a genuinely unique lifestyle opportunity

Location: Mantaray Island Resort, Yasawa Islands, Fiji

To apply: Send your CV and a short cover note to vacancy@mantarayisland.com

For more information about the resort, please visit www.mantarayisland.com

Applications close 3rd November