Executive Chef

The NICI Lymington; Pennington; On-site; GBP 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Job summary

THE NICI New Forest seeks an exceptional Executive Chef to lead the culinary operation, setting the food vision across the resort and driving excellence in every dish and service.

You will manage a high‑volume kitchen, develop seasonal menus, and nurture talent while maintaining cost controls and safety standards to reflect THE NICI brand’s premium dining experience.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as an Executive Chef or Head Chef in a high‑quality hotel, restaurant or resort.
• Strong experience managing a multi-outlet or high‑volume kitchen operation.
• Creative approach to menu development with strong commercial awareness.

Responsibilities

• Lead culinary operation for THE NICI New Forest, setting standards across all outlets.
• Develop menus reflecting the brand identity and seasonal produce.
• Nurture talent, recruit, train and manage performance in the kitchen.
• Ensure food safety, hygiene, cost controls and GP targets are met.
• Collaborate with hotel leadership to deliver an exceptional guest experience.

Skills

Executive leadership

Food cost control

Menu development

People management

Education

Culinary degree

Job description

About THE NICI Collection

THE NICI Collection is a luxury lifestyle hotel group inspired by some of the world’s most iconic destinations, bringing exceptional hospitality, outstanding food and drink, and unforgettable guest experiences to some of the UK's most desirable locations.

Following the success of THE NICI Bournemouth, the collection has continued to grow with THE NICI Newquay and, most recently, THE NICI New Forest.

Set within 23 acres on the banks of the Lymington River, THE NICI New Forest is a beautiful waterfront retreat where laid-back luxury meets the natural beauty of the New Forest.

At the heart of the resort is Martha's, our signature restaurant inspired by the relaxed sophistication of the Hamptons. Nostalgic American-led culinary vision meets seafood grill then sprinkle some coastal influence and a focus on seasonal produce, Martha's is all about great food, relaxed dining and memorable experiences.

Elm's Cafe, is our all day dining concept American diner comfort food with health conscious options and our juice bar for out thousand strong spa member, the space is always buzzing with DJ's at weekends and the capacity to deliver 500+ covers per day.

The Role

We are looking for an exceptional Executive Chef to lead the culinary operation at THE NICI New Forest.

This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious and creative chef to take ownership of the food vision across the resort, leading the kitchen team and ensuring that every dish, service and guest experience reflects the quality and personality of THE NICI brand.

You will be responsible for setting culinary standards, developing menus, nurturing talent, H&S complicence and creating a kitchen culture where great food and great people come together.

We are looking for a chef who is as passionate about people and leadership as they are about food.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead and inspire the kitchen team across the New Forest operation
• Set and maintain exceptional standards of food quality, presentation and consistency
• Develop innovative, seasonal menus that reflect the THE NICI New Forest identity
• Champion local, seasonal and sustainable produce wherever possible
• Work closely with the wider hotel leadership team to deliver an outstanding overall guest experience
• Drive the culinary vision for the New Forest resort and support the development of future food and beverage concepts
• Oversee kitchen operations, ensuring smooth and efficient service across all outlets and events
• Take full responsibility for food cost, GP, menu engineering, purchasing and stock control
• Build strong relationships with suppliers and ensure quality and consistency of produce
• Lead recruitment, training, development and performance management within the kitchen team
• Create a positive, ambitious and collaborative kitchen culture
• Ensure full compliance with food safety, health and safety and company standards
• Stay ahead of food trends while ensuring the operation remains commercially successful
• Work closely with the Food and Beverage Director to continually improve the guest experience

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience as an Executive Chef, Head Chef or senior culinary leader within a high-quality hotel, restaurant or resort environment
• Strong experience managing a multi-outlet or high-volume kitchen operation
• A genuine passion for fresh, seasonal and quality-led cooking
• A creative approach to menu development with strong commercial awareness
• Excellent leadership and people-management skills
• The ability to inspire, develop and retain a talented kitchen team
• Strong understanding of food cost, GP, purchasing and kitchen controls
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to remain calm under pressure
• High standards of food hygiene and health & safety
• A natural eye for detail and consistency
• A confident, hands-on leadership style
• Most importantly, someone who understands that exceptional hospitality starts with exceptional people

Why THE NICI?

This is an opportunity to join one of the UK’s most exciting and fast-growing luxury lifestyle hotel groups at a pivotal moment in its development.

You’ll have the opportunity to make your mark on a brand-new destination, shape the culinary identity of THE NICI New Forest and build a team and operation you can be proud of.

We believe our people are at the heart of everything we do. We invest in our teams, recognise great work and create opportunities for development and progression across THE NICI Collection.

If you’re an ambitious chef who wants to create something distinctive, lead from the front and be part of an exciting new chapter for THE NICI, we’d love to hear from you.

Compensation: Competitive salary