RHEA Recrutement, a recruitment agency specialising in luxury hospitality and fine dining, is looking for:

RESTAURANT MANAGER / HEAD SOMMELIER H/F

SWITZERLAND | PERMANENT CONTRACT | NEW FINE-DINING OPENING

RHEA Recrutement is supporting the opening of a new fine-dining restaurant in Switzerland and is looking for a Restaurant Manager / Head Sommelier to join the project from the very beginning.

This intimate, independently run restaurant, with approximately 35 covers, has a clear ambition: to deliver an exceptional gastronomic experience and build a destination with the long-term objective of earning a Michelin star.

We are therefore looking for a strong personality who can take full ownership of the front-of-house operation while creating and developing the wine identity of the restaurant.

You will join a close-knit team of 4 people in the dining room and 8 in the kitchen, in an environment where teamwork, knowledge sharing and high standards are at the heart of the project.

OPENING HOURS

Tuesday & Wednesday: Dinner only
Thursday, Friday & Saturday: Lunch & dinner

YOUR ROLE

As a true right-hand person to the management and key partner to the Chef, you will be responsible for the smooth running of the dining room, team management and the overall guest experience.

At the same time, you will take full responsibility for creating and developing the restaurant’s wine programme.

Your responsibilities will include:

FRONT-OF-HOUSE MANAGEMENT

• Oversee all front-of-house operations and ensure an outstanding level of service
• Organise and coordinate the team’s daily activities
• Lead, train and support team members
• Contribute to recruitment and team development
• Ensure the highest service standards and guest experience
• Welcome, advise and build relationships with local and international guests
• Maintain consistently high standards of service, attention to detail and hospitality
• Actively contribute to the development and reputation of the restaurant

SOMMELLERIE

• Build the wine list from the ground up
• Define the identity and philosophy of the wine selection
• Create a signature wine cellar with a strong gastronomic and Michelin-star ambition
• Select wineries, estates, winemakers and producers
• Develop strong relationships with suppliers and producers
• Oversee wine purchasing, stock management and cellar operations
• Create food & wine pairings in close collaboration with the Chef
• Train the team on wines and wine presentation
• Continuously develop the selection in line with the seasons and the evolution of the cuisine

A WINE CELLAR TO CREATE & AN IDENTITY TO BUILD

One of the key attractions of this opportunity is that everything is still to be created.

The wine cellar will be built from scratch, with plans to develop a selection of approximately:

400–500 wine references
60–80 Champagne and sparkling wine references

The cellar will be equipped with 11 EuroCaves and supported by a substantial opening budget.

You will therefore have genuine freedom to build a personal, coherent and ambitious wine selection, develop strong relationships with winemakers and producers, and play a direct role in shaping the restaurant’s identity.

THE IDEAL PROFILE

We are looking for an experienced professional who can move confidently between management, hospitality, fine dining and wine.

Ideally, you will have:

• Proven experience as a Restaurant Manager, Front-of-House Manager, Maître d’Hôtel and/or Head Sommelier
• Experience within a fine-dining or Michelin-starred establishment
• Excellent knowledge of wines, Champagne and food & wine pairings
• Strong team management and leadership experience
• A genuine passion for hospitality and exceptional service
• Natural leadership skills and the ability to inspire and unite a team
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a polished presence suited to a high-end gastronomic environment
• Strong organisational skills, autonomy and attention to detail
• A commercial mindset and a genuine desire to contribute to the development of the restaurant
• Fluent French and English

Above all, we are looking for a passionate, committed and refined professional, with a genuine sense of hospitality and the ability to bring a strong vision to life.

THE OFFER

• Permanent contract
• Very attractive salary package
• 13th-month salary
• 5 weeks’ holiday
• 3 days closed per week
• A close-knit, human-sized team
• A work schedule designed to provide a healthy work-life balance
• An ambitious fine-dining project with the clear objective of earning a Michelin star
• Genuine autonomy and the opportunity to leave your mark on the creation and development of the restaurant
• Days off: Sunday and Monday, with daytime breaks on days when dinner service is scheduled
• Start date: mid-September / early October

A RARE OPPORTUNITY

This position is ideal for a professional who is looking for more than simply managing an established dining room, and who wants to play an active role in building a new gastronomic house and shaping its identity from day one.

You will have the opportunity to build and develop the team, establish service standards, create the wine list, develop relationships with producers and work closely with the Chef to shape and evolve the overall gastronomic experience.

A particularly comprehensive and exciting opportunity for a professional looking to take a central role in a new fine-dining venture in Switzerland, with a clear ambition focused on excellence.

RHEA Recrutement is handling this search with the utmost confidentiality.

📩 Interested in being part of this exciting new adventure?

Please send your CV and references to:

rhearecrutement@gmail.com