Hotel Operations & Culinary Director, Europe

Imagine working at a company whose ultimate mission is to send people on the adventure of a lifetime!

At Polar Latitudes Expeditions, we operate globally with modern vessels dedicated to polar expeditions in the Arctic and Antarctica. We specialize in unique and educational journeys where sustainability, authenticity, and quality are always at the forefront.

We are establishing our new brand with entities in Denmark, the USA, and Australia, supported by an ambitious growth plan aimed at making us the preferred choice for both customers and partners. You should therefore be comfortable navigating constant change.

About the Role: Hotel Operations & Culinary Director

We are looking for a Hotel Operations & Culinary Director to own onboard hotel operations and the culinary product across our fleet. You can be based anywhere in Europe, with frequent travel to our Copenhagen head office and approximately five months per year onboard our vessels.

You will build the culinary concept, write the menus, develop the service structures and manage the budget. You will then sail with our ships to make sure it is delivered on every vessel, working closely with the Hotel Manager onboard and with the hotel crew directly on service standards.

We work with an international hotel management and catering partner for onboard hotel and food and beverage services. The role is the link between that partner and PLX, and your responsibilities are delivered in collaboration with their shipboard teams. You will report to the Chief Operating Officer.

Key Responsibilities

• Owning the fleet culinary concept, menu cycles, and presentation standards, adapted to each operating region
• Overseeing onboard hotel operations across the fleet, covering restaurant, bar, housekeeping and public area service standards
• Developing the service structure for each venue, and working directly with the hotel crew onboard on training and delivery
• Owning fleet brand standards, standard operating procedures and operational targets for hotel and food and beverage
• Managing supply logistics, provisioning schedules and delivery windows in remote gateways
• Working with charter and group clients on catering options, including Chinese, Indian and other international menus, functions, celebrations and onboard parties
• Managing the culinary budget, food cost per guest per day, waste reduction and annual hotel and catering budgets
• Conducting galley and quality audits during vessel visits, with written findings to the ship and the office
• Mentoring Executive Chefs, Hotel Managers and onboard teams, and building the training that keeps quality consistent
• Providing the culinary and hotel input to our newbuild projects, including galley design and service model

Your Profile
• Minimum 6 years in senior culinary, food and beverage or hotel operations roles, including at least 3 years in a multi property, fleet or corporate role
• A culinary background is a requirement
• Senior experience in luxury hotels or resorts and onboard cruise or expedition ships
• Hotel operations experience, including developing service structures and training onboard hotel, restaurant and housekeeping teams
• International culinary breadth, and the ability to adapt a concept to local product and local taste
• Proven financial capability in food cost management, budgeting, provisioning and inventory control
• Commercial experience in onboard revenue, packages, upselling and spend per guest
• Working knowledge of HACCP, United States and Canadian Public Health, and maritime food safety requirements
• Fluent written and spoken English, and the flexibility to travel approximately five months per year and live onboard
• Based in Europe, or willing to relocate, with the right to work in the region

Why Join Polar Latitudes Expeditions?

At Polar Latitudes Expeditions, you will become part of a close knit team where there is a short path from idea to action.

We have retained some of the speed and flexibility from our startup years but are now in the middle of an exciting transition, building more structure and scalable solutions, without losing the fun and informal atmosphere of everyday life.

We offer a workplace with competitive salary and employment terms that reflect your skills and experience.

Ready for your next career adventure?

Apply now by submitting your CV and cover letter in English as soon as possible.

We look forward to hearing from you!