Chalet Iona - Chef / Chalet Manager Couple

Overview

Chalet Iona and Chalet Margaux have live-in accommodation suited to a Chef/Chalet Manager couple.

Chalet Iona is a gorgeous, spacious chalet set in a secluded, end of village location in the Meribel Valley with extraordinary views and wonderful facilities. Chalet Iona is a stunning and very peaceful mountain retreat, approx. a 10-15 minute drive to Meribel centre.

Chalet Margaux is based in the heart of Courchevel 1850. It is a charming ski-in ski-out family home with beautiful hand painted interiors, elegant indoor jacuzzi and generous master suite, it makes for a wonderful luxury escape in one of Europe's most exclusive resorts.

For both of these chalets, you need to be willing to make an effort to socialise and stay in touch with the rest of the team, but also happy to be relatively independent.

The chalets are run by a chef/chalet manager couple who live in, and are jointly responsible for the day to day running of the chalet, including cooking/cleaning/housekeeping and for ensuring that the needs of the guests are met at all times. Assisting you will be two chalet assistant/drivers.

The job is physically and emotionally demanding and you need to be good at working together and as part of a team. You must have extremely high work standards, be customer-focused, self-motivated, take pride in your work at all times and be conscientious.

Overview - Chalet Manager

The Chalet Manager is jointly responsible for the day to day management of the assigned chalet, ensuring that the guests' needs are met at all times while maintaining the Company's very high standards. His/her main main role is one of hostess, waitress and chambermaid. (All of the cooking is done by the chalet's professional chef)

He/she has an overall coordinating role in the chalet, takes the lead in all customer-facing issues and, once guests are in resort, has primary responsibility for the success of their holiday. The Chalet Manager supervises the work of the Chalet Assistant/Driver, also any relief / support staff working in the chalet and also coordinates / supports the work of the Chef.

No shopping or budgeting duties

Previous Experience - Chalet Manager

Must have significant prior hands-on experience in the hotel and catering industry, in waitressing / stewardessing roles (chamber-maiding is also useful!) in high level establishments (e.g., super-yachts, 5* hotels, 2 AA rosette level restaurants).

Must be good at working as part of a team, both in leadership and supporting roles.

Must have extremely high work standards, be customer-focused, self motivated, take pride in your work at all times and be conscientious and highly organised.

While previous chalet work or spoken French is not a requirement, it can be an advantage.

Previous supervisory experience is highly desirable.

Main Duties - Chalet Manager

Service : General

Creates a warm, friendly and welcoming atmosphere for all guests

Is available to answer any questions, or resolve any problems that the guests may have, always aiming to do whatever they reasonably can to ensure that guests have the best possible skiing holiday, whether on or off the slopes. To enable this, is knowledgeable about the resort, its facilities, the Purple Ski website and the Staff Manual.

Refers any complaints to Resort Manager

Helps clients arrange servicing and/or hire of ski equipment, also ski lessons etc. as required

Ensures that all guests are provided with welcome literature and emergency contact cards.

Ensures an effective handover to the relief team (who provide cover on your day off) so that the standard of service is maintained

Leads in the coordination and resolution of all matters relating to the day to day running of the chalet, the assignment of work within the chalet team and the well-being of the guests

Service : Housekeeping

Ensures that excellent standards of hygiene and cleanliness are maintained in/around the chalet at all times, including at end of season. Cleans and tidies the following areas daily (kitchen, food storage areas and dining room/area are the chef's responsibility):

Vacuums and/or mops floors/carpets in all rooms and corridors

Refreshes sofa and other cushions

Makes beds

Tidies guests' bedrooms

Cleans bathroom sanitary-ware and surfaces on changeover day

Cleans interior and exterior of windows as necessary

Carries out bedroom turn-down service during evening dinner service

On changeover day, works closely with all others on the chalet team to do whatever is needed to ensure a smooth and pleasant transition for the guests and efficient changeover for staff. Changes all linen and towels, thoroughly cleans chalet.

Changes bath and hand towels mid-week

Washes and irons "small" linen such as napkins, tablecloths, chef's whites, tea towels etc

Washes up and polishes all glasses, crockery, cutlery and pans etc

Counts and bags up used linen/laundry ready for collection, labels bags, completes checklist(s). When clean laundry is returned, verifies receipts against the checklist and puts it away. Reports any issues (loss/damage etc.)

In conjunction with the chef and others in the team, sets up and closes down the chalet at the start and end of the season

Ensures that all household equipment is maintained in the best possible condition; reports and arranges any repairs and replacements promptly to the Maintenance Manager.

Service : Meals/Drinks/Other

Helps the chef in the preparation of breakfast as required. Also serves, clears and washes up.

Lays out and clears away afternoon tea.

Helps the chef in the preparation of menus, packed lunches, children's high teas and dinner as required.

Lays table for, serves and clears, dinner (including canapés etc.)

Lays out and clears coffee and after-dinner drinks and petit fours in the evening

Stocks up the guests' bar/fridge

Ensures that a bowl of fresh fruit is available to guests at all times

Receives, arranges and maintains fresh flowers each week

Administration

Helps the chef manage stocks of all items/requirements for the chalet, including helping to prepare and submit orders to the Supplies Manager on a timely basis, perform stock takes and explain any exceptional usage as requested.

Prepares and maintains an inventory of all household equipment as required/requested

Maintains an inventory of all linen, and ensures that future weeks' requirements can be met

Collects payment as necessary for lift passes, massages and other sundry purchases

Encourages guests to sign the visitors' book

Overview - Chef

The Chef works alongside the Chalet Manager and the Chalet Assistant/Driver to manage his/her assigned chalet on a day to day basis, ensuring that the guests' needs are met at all times while maintaining the Company's standards. The chef's primary responsibility is for the provision of exceptional quality food and drinks.

We truly aim to deliver the best food in the Alps, and arguably succeed in this - we won The Times Chalet Chef 2010 award - "upmarket catergory", but our standards have improved hugely even since then. We are serious about our food and have very high standards!

Take a look at some photos (snaps - not professional!) from previous years to give you an idea of what we do / look for.

Working essentially as a private chef, you need to tailor your food to meet your customers' needs and wishes, which can be challenging, but you also have immense freedom to work on your own dishes, show your creativity and flair.

No shopping is required! However you are responsible for ordering chalet supplies and managing within a (generous) budget.

Previous Experience - Chef

Applicants should hold a recognised cooking qualification and MUST demonstrate at least 4 years experience in the professional kitchens of restaurants of 3 AA rosette standard / 1 Michelin star or similar, having held chef de partie or more senior positions.

Previous chalet work is not required and while spoken French is not necessary, it can be an advantage.

Good communication and team working skills are essential.

Main Duties - Chef

Service : General

Contacts guests (party leaders) by telephone before their arrival to introduce yourself and confirm/determine/discuss any special dietary and other special requirements

Helps make birthdays and anniversaries special

On changeover days, helps to welcome guests and arrange servicing and/or hire of ski equipment, ski lessons etc. as required

Is available to answer any questions, or resolve any problems that the guests may have, always aiming to do whatever they reasonably can to ensure that guests have the best possible skiing holiday, whether on or off the slopes. To enable this, is knowledgeable about the resort, its facilities, the Purple Ski website and the Staff Manual.