Hospitality and Retail recruitment
Hospitality and Retail
Hotel, restaurant, leisure and retail leaders, chefs and front of house professionals for Ireland and abroad.
What sets this desk apart
- One named consultant on every search
- Employment permit support for chefs and managers
- Seasonal and permanent hiring
How we recruit
Hospitality is a people business, and the best operators know that a great general manager or head chef changes everything. We recruit hotel and restaurant management, culinary teams, events and leisure professionals and retail leaders for independent operators, groups and international brands. We also support employers bringing skilled hospitality professionals to Ireland under the employment permit system.
Roles we recruit
- Hotel General Manager
- Food and Beverage Manager
- Head Chef and Sous Chef
- Front Office and Rooms Division Manager
- Events and Sales Manager
- Restaurant Manager
- Retail Store and Area Manager
- Spa and Leisure Manager
Where hiring gets stuck
Hiring in hospitality is hard. Here is where it sticks.
- 01
Chefs are in short supply
SOLAS listed chefs as a shortage occupation in its National Skills Bulletin 2025, and a kitchen without a strong head chef loses staff and customers. We search in Ireland and across the EEA first and, where the role supports it, help you recruit through the employment permit system.
- 02
Wage costs keep rising
The Employment and Recruitment Federation's Labour Market Monitor for Q2 2026 put the minimum wage at €14.15 from January 2026 and hourly labour costs up 17.4% over three years. We focus on the managers and chefs who hold teams together, because a settled team is the surest way to control cost.
- 03
Managers who move on
A general manager or head chef who leaves after a season takes standards, staff and regulars with them. We ask why candidates left each previous post, check references with former owners and operators, and tell candidates the truth about hours, ownership and the property before they accept.
- 04
Nowhere to live
In tourist areas and cities, an offer can fail because the candidate cannot find housing nearby. We raise accommodation in the first conversation, look for candidates already living within reach and tell you when staff accommodation or relocation help would decide the hire.
Open in the market
Hospitality roles employers are advertising now.
These roles are being advertised by employers in Ireland. FH Recruitment has not been instructed on them. If one suits you, tell us which. With your agreement we approach the employer on your behalf, and nothing is sent anywhere without your say so.
Questions
Hospitality hiring, answered.
Practical answers to the questions employers and candidates ask most.
Can we hire a chef from outside the EEA on an employment permit?
It can be done, and the Department of Enterprise decides each application. SOLAS listed chefs as a shortage occupation in its National Skills Bulletin 2025. From 1 March 2026 the standard General Employment Permit minimum salary is €36,605, according to the Department, and other conditions can apply to particular grades and employers. Thresholds, eligible occupations and quotas change, so check the Department's current rules before relying on them. We check eligibility at the start and support you through the application.
How do we keep chefs and hospitality managers from leaving?
Start with why people go. In CIPD Ireland's HR Practices in Ireland 2026 report, published in May 2026, employers across all sectors named career progression (71%) and cost of living (41%) as the top reasons for leaving. In hospitality that points to rosters that are honoured, a visible next step, fair handling of tips and help with housing or transport where you can give it. We ask candidates what made them leave their last job and tell you plainly if your offer has the same problem.
How do we replace a hotel general manager or head chef discreetly?
Do not advertise. A public advert tells your team, your competitors and the person in the post. A confidential search works from an agreed brief: we approach named individuals directly, describe the property without identifying it until there is real interest and ask candidates to keep the conversation private. You see a short list with our notes on each person. We agree the announcement and handover plan with you before an offer is made.
Can I get a chef job in Ireland from abroad, and do I have to pay an agency?
You may be able to work in Ireland on an employment permit if an employer offers you an eligible role, and the Department of Enterprise makes that decision. You should not pay anyone for a job. In a Migrant Rights Centre Ireland survey of 1,019 permit holders that closed in February 2026, 35% said they had paid a recruitment fee, at an average of €5,476, and MRCI notes that agencies are not allowed to charge such fees. We never charge candidates at any stage.
Other sectors
Hiring in hospitality?
Brief a named consultant who will run your search from start to finish. We aim to send a first shortlist within 48 hours on permanent searches.