Sous Chef

Hand Picked Hotels; Brockenhurst; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary + service charge

Full-time role 5 days a week

Company pension scheme

Life assurance

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Hand Picked Hotels is seeking a Sous Chef at Rhinefield House Hotel & Spa to lead and develop the kitchen team in a luxury setting. You will oversee day-to-day kitchen operations and contribute to maintaining our high standards of service and quality.

Based at Rhinefield House, you’ll be part of a renowned portfolio known for its 4-red-star status, fine dining, and dedicated guest experiences. The role offers progression toward Head Chef with training and development opportunities.

Qualifications

• Excellent knowledge and experience of the kitchen within a quality driven hotel/restaurant environment.
• Enthusiastic and willing to take on new responsibilities with flexibility.
• Ability to impart knowledge to junior team members.
• Keep up with latest culinary trends and show willingness to learn.
• High emotional intelligence and a guest-focused mindset.

Responsibilities

• Lead kitchen operations and manage a team in a busy hotel kitchen.
• Support progression from Sous Chef to Head Chef with development opportunities.
• Handle office tasks and paperwork related to kitchen management.
• Participation in people management training and development programs.
• Deliver high-quality, personalised guest dining experiences.

Skills

Kitchen management

Leadership

Mentoring juniors

Trend awareness

Guest experience focus

Job description

Hand Picked Hotels is a beautiful collection of 21 privately owned, luxury country houses and coastal retreats, each hand picked for their individuality. Architecturally distinctive and quintessentially British, every hotel boasts an extraordinary location, from Scotland to the Channel Islands, offering breath taking views, from vast countryside to expansive beaches, to lush woodlands. With every need taken care of, the team at each hotel ensures every guest has a magical experience, encouraging them to return time and time again.

Hand Picked Hotels was founded in 2001 by owner and Chairman, Julia Hands MBE. Whilst each hotel is individual, every property fulfils the company values of family, individuality, community and care, ensuring a hand picked experience for every guest and employee.

We are currently recruiting for a Sous Chef at Rhinefield House Hotel & Spa, part of Hand Picked Hotels.

Known locally as the 'Jewel in the Forest', Rhinefield House is an award-winning luxury hotel steeped in natural beauty, hidden deep within the New Forest National Park. Rhinefield House is proud to be the only AA four red star hotel in the New Forest. The hotel has 50 bedrooms, including three feature suites, an outdoor pool, a small health suite and a 2 AA Rosette fine dining restaurant & bar. It is a popular wedding and Afternoon Tea venue with beautiful gardens and grounds.

Are you an experienced Chef looking to progress your Kitchen Management experience?

We know the step from being a Sous Chef to Head Chef can be a big one so here at Hand Picked Hotels we aim to equip our Sous Chefs with the skills they need to take that step.

From involvement in office and paperwork responsibilities, to people management training courses and development with your culinary skills, we will help give you the exposure you need to develop your career as a Chef. And of course alongside all of that you get to do what you do best, create fantastic food and lead the team in our professional kitchens.

About You

• To be considered for this role you will have excellent knowledge and experience of the kitchen within a quality driven hotel, restaurant, or hospitality environment.
• You will be enthusiastic and willing to take on new responsibilities. Adopt a flexible approach to assist in different areas of the kitchen as business and guest needs dictate.
• You will have the ability to impart your knowledge to the junior members of the team
• Your finger will be on the pulse of all the latest trends, and have the desire to learn the next big thing
• Having a high level of emotional intelligence, you will be able to anticipate our guests needs ensuring they receive a Hand Picked experience.
• It is essential you can demonstrate how you would be able to deliver our guest experience standards at Hand Picked Hotels, which includes the ability to go above and beyond to ensure guests have a high-quality, personalised, and magical experience that they remember, recommend, and return to time and time again.

Our Benefits Include

• A highly competitive salary package plus a share of service charge.
• This is a Full-Time role working 5 days out of 7 including weekends on a rota basis, 40 hours per week, which may vary depending on business needs.
• Company pension scheme with a generous employer contribution.
• Life assurance scheme.
• Employee Assistance Program to support you with whatever life throws at you.
• Company Sickness Scheme Benefit.
• 28 days holiday per year including bank holidays, increasing to 33 days including bank holidays with length of service.
• Forward career progression, with access to our In House and external training programs, including apprenticeships up to level 7, which are all supported by our learning and development team.
• £30 staff stays with Hand Picked Hotels per room Bed & Breakfast & 25% discount on all food & drink. Yes, it’s as good as it sounds! Annual loyalty awards (like afternoon teas and overnight stays)
• Online retail discount platform offering thousands of savings with high street retailers and restaurants as well as a health and well-being platform.
• Opportunity to make lifelong friendships and be part of team that celebrates Diversity and Inclusion.

Hand Picked Hotels is an Equal Opportunities employer. Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.