At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the kitchen team, ensuring high-quality food and safety standards.
- Company: Join a vibrant hospitality business passionate about real cooking and fresh ingredients.
- Benefits: Enjoy overtime pay, staff discounts, paid breaks, and 28 days holiday.
- Why this job: Be part of a supportive team with great opportunities for personal development and career growth.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Sous Chef or Junior Sous Chef with strong kitchen skills required.
- Other info: Participate in exciting staff events and competitions, plus enjoy Christmas and Boxing Day off!
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
You love real cooking. We love real cooking. Customers love real cooking. It’s a no-brainer so you wonder why so many other places don’t do it. We do it, and you’ll be doing it with us - fresh, customer led, and with high-quality ingredients.
As Sous Chef, you’ll be the Head Chef’s go-to for support, leading and engaging the kitchen team to deliver 14 great shifts week in, week out. You’ll be leading shifts, making sure the kitchen runs effectively and safely. You’re as relentless as us about the detail, so you’ll be all over things like stocks, Health & Safety and Hygiene, manning the pass to ensure our food goes out on-spec and on-time, and always upholding 5* kitchen standards. You’ll be on it.
The Good Stuff
- Overtime pay for every hour worked over contracted hours!
- Staff food on every shift
- 50% off staff discount to enjoy outside working hours from day one
- Paid breaks
- 28 days holiday (inclusive of Bank Holidays) pro rata
- Enhanced maternity and paternity pay after 2 years service
- The most talked-about staff party in hospitality - Loungefest!
- Competitions and incentives (like jetting off on an all expenses paid trip with one of our suppliers)
- Company pension scheme
- Long service awards
- Power over your pay with Wagestream
- Emotional and practical support via the Licenced Trade Charity
- Great opportunity for personal development and career progression in a fast growing business
- Achievable bonuses
- Tips shared equally across the team, based on hours worked
- Christmas and Boxing Day off!
What you’ll bring
You are probably an existing Sous Chef, or perhaps a Junior Sous Chef/Assistant Kitchen Manager that is looking to take the next step in their career. You will have experience of working with fresh ingredients and be able to demonstrate good chef/kitchen skills (food prep hot and cold, cleaning, knife skills, good hygiene practices).
Your work ethic is rolling your sleeves up and getting stuck in and leading from the front; playing an active role in delivering excellent kitchen and food standards as part of a high performing team. Extremely driven and relentless at deconstructing the can’t mentality. Familiar with KPIs and making decisions in the absence of the Head Chef considering labour; stock; food safety requirements plus others.
Epic communication skills with the ability to manage stakeholders and build rapport and trust (that would be with our Ops Chefs and Ops Managers). Strong knowledge of best practice around rota scheduling, sales and labour forecasts, reporting, recruitment, HR etc. You will have demonstrated successful delivery of training and recruitment for kitchen teams including Apprentices, KPs, Chefs, Junior Sous Chefs and Sous Chefs.
Sous Chef employer: The Lounges
Contact Detail:
The Lounges Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Sous Chef
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with our kitchen culture and values. Understanding our commitment to fresh, high-quality ingredients and customer-led cooking will help you align your passion with what we do, making you a more appealing candidate.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your leadership skills during the interview. As a Sous Chef, you'll be leading the kitchen team, so be prepared to discuss your experience in managing shifts and training staff, highlighting any successful outcomes from your previous roles.
✨Tip Number 3
Brush up on your knowledge of health and safety regulations. Being well-versed in these practices not only demonstrates your professionalism but also shows that you can maintain our 5-star kitchen standards.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your experience with KPIs and decision-making in the absence of the Head Chef. This will illustrate your ability to manage kitchen operations effectively and ensure smooth running during busy shifts.
We think you need these skills to ace Sous Chef
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience as a Sous Chef or in similar roles. Emphasise your skills with fresh ingredients, kitchen management, and any leadership roles you've held.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for real cooking and your commitment to high kitchen standards. Mention specific experiences that demonstrate your ability to lead a team and maintain hygiene and safety.
Highlight Key Skills: In your application, focus on key skills mentioned in the job description, such as communication, training delivery, and knowledge of KPIs. Use examples to illustrate how you've successfully applied these skills in previous roles.
Show Enthusiasm for the Company: Research the company and express your enthusiasm for their approach to cooking and customer service. Mention any values or practices they have that resonate with you, showing that you're a good cultural fit.
How to prepare for a job interview at The Lounges
✨Show Your Passion for Real Cooking
Make sure to express your love for cooking with fresh ingredients during the interview. Share specific examples of dishes you've created or techniques you've mastered that align with the company's focus on quality and customer-led cooking.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
As a Sous Chef, you'll be leading the kitchen team. Be prepared to discuss your experience in managing shifts and how you motivate and engage your team. Highlight any successful training or mentoring you've provided to junior chefs.
✨Know Your Health & Safety Standards
Familiarise yourself with health and safety regulations relevant to the kitchen environment. Be ready to discuss how you ensure compliance and maintain hygiene standards, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions about how you would handle specific kitchen scenarios, such as managing stock levels or dealing with a busy service. Think through your decision-making process and be ready to explain your rationale.