Kendrick Recruitment

Chef & Front of House Couple | Private Members' Club | Upper East Side, Manhattan

Kendrick Recruitment is proud to be partnering with a distinguished private members' club, discreetly located within a beautiful five-storey townhouse on Manhattan's prestigious Upper East Side, in the search for an exceptional Chef & Front of House Couple to take joint responsibility for the day-to-day running of the Club.

This is a rare opportunity to become part of a genuinely unique and intimate environment where discretion, warmth and exceptional hospitality are valued above volume. With approximately 280 members, the Club operates at a relaxed and considered pace, offering a refined, home-away-from-home experience to a loyal membership.

The Club

The Club's intimate dining room accommodates a maximum of approximately 25 guests and hosts official Club dinners two to three times per month, along with occasional private member dinners and cocktail parties.

There are approximately six events per month in total, with no breakfast or lunch service. The Club also operates an honesty bar and has five member bedrooms, supported by an established housekeeper.

The successful couple will work together to ensure the Club operates smoothly, with one partner leading the culinary offering and the other overseeing Front of House, member relations and general Club coordination.

Chef Responsibilities

• Plan and prepare all Club dinners, private member dinners and cocktail parties.
  
• Deliver consistently high-quality cuisine suited to a discerning membership.
  
• Develop menus and contribute ideas for Club dinners and private functions.
  
• Manage kitchen stock, ordering and supplier relationships.
  
• Monitor food costs and maintain appropriate stock levels.
  
• Maintain impeccable kitchen hygiene, food safety and presentation standards.
  
• Collaborate closely with the Front of House partner to ensure seamless service.
  
• Adapt menus according to member preferences and special requirements.
  
• During quieter periods, there may be scope to work part-time at a local restaurant to broaden culinary exposure and add variety.
  

Front of House Responsibilities

• Warmly welcome members and their guests, creating a personalised and welcoming Club experience.
  
• Oversee the honesty bar and ensure accurate member chits and transactions.
  
• Maintain consistently high service standards.
  
• Coordinate reservations for the dining room, member bedrooms and private events.
  
• Assist with day-to-day bookkeeping and administrative duties.
  
• Record transactions and allocate expenses accurately.
  
• Manage approximately 150–300 monthly transactions, primarily relating to bar chits, dinners and Club outings.
  
• Liaise with the housekeeper, suppliers and external service providers.
  
• Ensure the Club is consistently presented to an impeccable standard.
  
• Assist with the coordination and smooth running of member events.
  
• Build strong, professional relationships with members while maintaining absolute discretion.
  

Candidate Profile

• A professional couple with complementary skills — one Chef and one Front of House / Club Manager.
  
• US Citizens or Green Card Holders only – essential.
  
• Proven experience within private members' clubs, luxury hospitality, private estates, fine dining or a similarly high-end environment.
  
• Warm, personable and naturally discreet.
  
• Comfortable working within a private, member-focused environment.
  
• Strong organisational skills and excellent attention to detail.
  
• Comfortable with light administration, financial recording and bookkeeping-style duties.
  
• Professional, polished and well presented.
  
• Flexible and willing to support one another across the Club's operations.
  
• Long-term minded and interested in becoming part of a stable and highly personal environment.
  
• Genuine appreciation for refined hospitality and exceptional service.
  

What's On Offer

• Combined base salary of approximately USD $166,000 per annum — approximately $83,000 per person.
  
• Target annual bonus of approximately one-third of salary, providing combined earning potential of USD $200,000+ per annum.
  
• Studio apartment provided at 41 East 63rd Street, between Park and Madison Avenue — considerably above the $500 per person monthly accommodation value used for tax purposes.
  
• Food provided while on duty.
  
• Health insurance contribution of USD $1,300 per month, per person.
  
• Additional pay of USD $25 per hour for hours worked outside the regular schedule, including Club dinners, member events and private functions.
  
• Members hosting private events may request additional service, which is paid directly by the member on a mutually agreed basis.
  
• Working hours structured around one partner being on duty during any eight-hour shift within the 8:00am–8:00pm, Monday–Friday window.
  
• Weekends are generally free unless a member requests service for a private event.
  
• Approximately 10 US Federal Holidays.
  
• Club closure from 24 December – 2 January.
  
• The entire month of August off.
  
• A refined, low-volume, high-quality working environment.
  
• Genuine autonomy and long-term stability.
  
• Exceptional lifestyle setting in one of Manhattan's most prestigious neighbourhoods.
  

To apply: Please send both CVs with the subject line:

Chef & Front of House Couple – Manhattan

All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

If you do not hear from us within 7 working days, please consider your application unsuccessful.