Job Ref: DAK1162
Branch: Dakota Manchester Airport
Location: Dakota Manchester Airport, Manchester
Salary/Benefits: Earnings are up to £15.56 per hour, paid weekly (inclusive of the anticipated tronc payment).
Contract type: Permanent
Hours: Full Time
Shift pattern: Any four or five days out of seven. Shift times may vary, with standard finishing times around 11:00 and on rare occasions 02:00am
Hours per week: The role carries a permanent contract of a minimum of 37.5 hours per week
Posted date: 03/04/2026
Closing date: 31/07/2026
Seeking a skilled Chef and hard-working individual to join our Kitchen Team in the role of Grill Chef, with a planned start date of 1st June 2026.
CONTRACT PAY
Earnings are up to £15.56 per hour, paid weekly (inclusive of the anticipated tronc payment).
This role carries a permanent contract with typical hours being a minimum of 37.5 hours per week. You will typically work any four or five days out of seven, depending on business needs.
Shift times may vary, with standard finishing times around 11:30pm, and on rare occasions, shifts may extend until 2:00am.
PRIMARY ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES
- Be confident in working a busy service and be able to run at least two different sections within the kitchen.
- Prepare and cook dishes according to the specification as set out by the Head Chef. This pertains to all menus including a la carte, room service, breakfast, bar food, bar snacks, events, and guest amenities.
- Carry out prep work throughout any allocated section of the kitchen with the ability to maintain excellent knife skills.
- Be able to multi-task and work through busy service times.
- Carry out a full clean down of the kitchen and maintain an immaculate working environment.
- Be committed to working wholeheartedly as part of the team, effectively communicating with all members of the kitchen and front of house team.
- A strong understanding and ability to adhere to Health Safety and Food Hygiene legislation.
- Display a willingness to learn and support across different areas of the Kitchen.
APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS
The successful applicant will have/be:
- A minimum of 2 years professional cooking experience in a full-service restaurant as a Commis Chef or Demi Chef.
- Have experience and the ability to carry out food preparation of fish and meats.
- Demonstrate a passion for quality food and preparation.
- Be hardworking and a team-player.
- Previous qualifications in Food Safety are preferred, although training in Health Safety, Allergens, and Food Hygiene standards and procedures will be given.
- An enthusiastic individual who will promote our culture of positivity.
- Be task oriented with a great pride for the work they do and attention to detail.
- Flexible with shift patterns and available around the needs of our business.
- Successful candidates must demonstrate having researched our brand and a genuine desire to be part of our team.
HOW TO GET HERE
Dakota Manchester Airport is at 7 Enterprise Way, Manchester, M90 4AD
- Train: About a 10 minute walk from Manchester Airport station, with frequent direct services from Manchester Piccadilly and across the North West.
- Tram: Metrolink Blue Line runs from Victoria via Central Manchster to the airport main station (approximately 10 minute walk away)
- Bus: Bee Network routes (43, 103, 130, 199, 248, 288, 313, 368) serve the airport; some stop a few minutes from the hotel, others at the main station (approximately 10 minutes walk away)
- Car: No on-site team parking; public transport is recommended.
- Cycling: Good local routes; secure bike storage available at the team entrance.
WHAT WE OFFER
In addition to being part of a culture infused with positivity and opportunity for ongoing development, tangible benefits you could enjoy when you join our team include:
FINANCIAL
- Special discounts on stays and dining at any Dakota
- Bonuses to recommend a friend to join our team and every time you are mentioned on Trip Advisor
- Additional holiday day on the first anniversary of your employment
- Meals on duty and uniforming
WELLBEING
- Access to our Employee Assistance Program which includes free private mental health support and counselling sessions, video GP consultations and private prescription services, as well as access to daily rewards to be cashed out for shopping vouchers
- Support from our inhouse Mental Health Champions
- Family-friendly flexible working options
- Participation in meaningful initiatives such as Macmillan Cancer Support Coffee Morning and the Walk for Wellbeing, Supporting causes that matter while connecting with colleagues
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
- Accredited, certified compliance training given on employment
- Access to a suite of external, certified resources via our Learning Management System
- Supportive continuous professional development culture with an annual appraisal and objectives, or a Personal Development Plan
- Opportunities to undertake both internal and external training courses, including potential for in-house Apprenticeships
Full terms on our benefits can be found in our Handbook.
ABOUT DAKOTA HOTELS
Dakota is a growing UK-based lifestyle brand, known for our stylish hotels, bustling brasserie Grills and upscale cocktail Bars. Dakota’s story started with two boutique hotels on the outskirts of Edinburgh, in South Queensferry, and Glasgow, in Eurocentral. We have now expanded into prime city centre locations in Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, and Newcastle with more in our pipeline.
Dakota is synonymous for delivering attentive and genuine guest service. We attract hard-working individuals who are passionate about working to the highest standards and have been voted within The Caterer’s Top 15 Best Employers in Hospitality for the last five years in a row. We were also featured within the Top 10 employers in the 2024 Sunday Times Best Places to Work in the UK, as well as being awarded the Spotlight Award for Best Places to Work for LGBTQIA+ employees.
As recent winners of The Cateys ‘People Team of the Year’, we have award-winning internal training programmes within Dakota Academy fostering continuous development and ongoing training. As a result, over 75% of our leaders have been promoted internally and, for four consecutive years, a member of our team has won a prestigious Acorn Award awarded by The Caterer to the ‘Top 30 under 30’ in the industry, demonstrating our success in developing talent.
APPLY
Please send us your up to date CV.
We’re preparing to open our largest hotel yet, Dakota Manchester Airport, launching in early summer 2026. This brand-new property will feature our signature Bar Grill and deliver the exceptional guest experience Dakota is known for.
