Head Chef

Lucia Marbella; Marbella; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Service charge

Career development

Job summary

Lucia Marbella Beach Club is seeking a seasoned Head Chef to lead culinary operations within the Nikki Beach Hospitality Group. You will oversee menu development, quality, and cost control while driving a high-volume, luxury dining program.

You will collaborate with regional and corporate chefs, manage a diverse team, and uphold food safety standards to deliver exceptional guest experiences in Marbella. Fluency in Spanish and strong English are highly desirable.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of progressive culinary experience.
• 2–3 years in a senior kitchen leadership role (Head Chef/Executive Sous).
• Experience in luxury hospitality, premium beach clubs, or high-end dining concepts.
• Strong knowledge of Mediterranean cuisine and seasonal ingredients.
• Proven ability to lead multicultural culinary teams in high-volume environments.
• Excellent food cost management, budgeting, inventory control and profitability.
• Solid HACCP knowledge and food safety compliance.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute innovative menus aligned with Lucia concept, in collaboration with the Regional and Corporate Chef.
• Maintain exceptional food quality, presentation, consistency, and guest satisfaction.
• Incorporate seasonal, locally sourced ingredients while preserving the concept's identity.
• Lead daily kitchen operations, ensuring efficiency and smooth service.
• Oversee food costs, inventory, purchasing, stock control and waste reduction.
• Mentor and develop a high-performing culinary team.
• Collaborate with General Manager and F&B leadership to deliver outstanding guest experiences.

Skills

Kitchen leadership

Menu development

Budgeting

Food cost control

Mediterranean cuisine

HACCP knowledge

Staff training

Guest satisfaction

Spanish (language)

English (proficiency)

Job description

Join the Nikki Beach Hospitality Group!

Position: Head Chef – Lucia Marbella Beach Club
Location: Marbella, Spain
Contract: Full-time, permanent, year-round
Start Date: Ideally January 2027, with earlier availability welcomed

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced, creative, and passionate Head Chef to lead the culinary operations at Lucia Marbella Beach Club.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key leadership role in shaping the culinary identity of Lucia, delivering exceptional dining experiences that reflect the concept's vibrant Mediterranean spirit and commitment to luxury hospitality.

Working closely with the Regional and Corporate Executive Chef, the Head Chef will oversee all aspects of kitchen operations, from menu development and culinary innovation to team leadership, financial performance, and operational excellence.

The ideal candidate combines exceptional culinary expertise with strong leadership and business acumen, thriving in a dynamic, high-volume luxury hospitality environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute innovative menus aligned with the Lucia culinary concept, in collaboration with the Regional and Corporate Chef.

• Ensure exceptional standards of food quality, presentation, consistency, and guest satisfaction.

• Incorporate fresh, seasonal, and locally sourced ingredients while maintaining the concept's culinary identity.

• Continuously identify opportunities to enhance the dining experience through creativity and innovation.

• Maintain consistency in culinary execution across all services, including peak operational periods and special events.

• Oversee daily kitchen operations, ensuring efficiency, organization, and seamless service delivery.

• Manage food costs, inventory, purchasing, stock control, and waste reduction to achieve financial targets.

• Monitor kitchen budgets and operational performance, implementing improvements where necessary.

• Coordinate with suppliers to ensure product quality, availability, and cost efficiency.

• Ensure compliance with food safety, HACCP, hygiene, and health and safety regulations.

• Recruit, train, mentor, and develop a high-performing culinary team.

• Foster a positive, collaborative, and professional working environment that encourages creativity, accountability, and excellence.

• Manage team scheduling, staffing levels, and productivity according to operational requirements.

• Conduct regular performance evaluations and identify opportunities for professional development.

• Lead by example, maintaining high standards of professionalism, discipline, and teamwork.

• Work closely with the Regional and Corporate Chef to ensure alignment with the group's culinary standards and strategic objectives.

• Collaborate with the General Manager, F&B leadership, and service teams to deliver an exceptional guest experience.

• Support special events, private functions, and culinary activations.

• Respond proactively to guest feedback and continuously improve culinary offerings.

What we offer

• Full company benefits package, including service charge and other applicable benefits.
• Opportunities for professional growth and career development within an internationally renowned luxury hospitality group.

What We're Looking For

• Minimum 5–7 years of progressive culinary experience, including at least 2–3 years in a senior kitchen leadership position such as Head Chef or Executive Sous Chef.

• Proven experience in luxury hospitality, premium beach clubs, upscale restaurants, or internationally recognized dining concepts.

• Strong understanding of Mediterranean cuisine, seasonal ingredients, and contemporary culinary trends.

• Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate multicultural culinary teams in high-volume environments.

• Excellent knowledge of food cost management, budgeting, inventory control, and kitchen profitability.

• Strong understanding of HACCP, food safety regulations, and operational best practices.

• Exceptional organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.

• Creative, proactive, and hands-on leadership style with meticulous attention to detail.

• Ability to remain composed and deliver consistent results under pressure.

• Fluency in Spanish and professional working proficiency in English are highly desirable.

• Flexibility to work according to operational requirements, including weekends and holidays.

Why Join Nikki Beach?

Established by Jack and Lucia Penrod, Nikki Beach Hospitality Group epitomizes barefoot luxury hospitality, curating transformative lifestyle experiences through its global collection of iconic beach clubs, hotels, resorts, residences, dining concepts, and pop-ups. Recognized among the world's best beach clubs and resorts, the brand continues to expand into new destinations and concepts, including Lucia, a restaurant and beach concept introduced in 2024.

For our team members, this means the chance to be part of a hospitality group with a celebrated 25-year legacy and an exciting future. Joining Nikki Beach Hospitality Group offers opportunities for growth and international exposure, with the ability to build a career across some of the world's most sought-after destinations. As part of the Nikki Beach family, you will help shape unforgettable moments and contribute to the future of luxury hospitality.

Ready to bring your culinary vision to Lucia Marbella Beach Club? We would love to hear from you!

Compensation: Competitive salary