Head Chef & Front-of-House Manager (Zanzibar)

About the role

Mzima House is a small, exclusive luxury property in Zanzibar, a private three-house retreat for up to 10 guests, preparing for a soft opening in November 2026 and an official opening in December. It is looking for flexible, entrepreneurial hospitality professionals to join its management team. The role suits a management couple, with one partner leading culinary operations and the other day-to-day hospitality and property operations; individual applications are also welcome.

Key responsibilities

• Culinary: develop and manage a seasonal full-board menu, create Mediterranean, Asian and seafood-inspired dishes, manage purchasing, food costs and kitchen stock, recruit, train and supervise the kitchen team, and create personalised dining experiences.
• Front-of-house and property: oversee the day-to-day running of the property, welcome and host guests and build relationships with them, support housekeeping, purchasing, maintenance and staff management, set service standards and operating procedures, prepare weekly management reports and support budgeting and cost control, and identify and coordinate maintenance solutions.
• Both roles require collaboration across departments, training and developing the local team, being hands-on and flexible, and helping create a warm, personalised guest experience.

Required profile

• Approximately 3-5 years of relevant hospitality experience.
• Experience in East African hospitality is ideal; experience in boutique hotels, camps, lodges or small properties preferred.
• Strong culinary experience for the chef.
• Energetic, enthusiastic, creative and proactive, warm and confident with guests.
• Flexible and comfortable in an informal, hands-on environment and in a quieter island setting.
• Open to all nationalities.