Sous Chef - Harlow

Sous Chef - Harlow

Harlow Full-Time 30000 - 42000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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Lounge Café Bars

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the kitchen team, ensuring high-quality food and safety standards.
  • Company: Join a vibrant hospitality group passionate about real cooking.
  • Benefits: Enjoy overtime pay, staff discounts, paid breaks, and 28 days holiday.
  • Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team and elevate your culinary career.
  • Qualifications: Experience as a Sous Chef or Junior Sous Chef with strong kitchen skills.
  • Other info: Great opportunities for personal development and exciting staff events.

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.

The Good Stuff

  • Overtime pay for every hour worked over contracted hours!
  • Staff food on every shift
  • 50% off food and drinks (including alcohol) from day one at all three of our brands - Lounge, Cosy Club and Brightside
  • 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 - Harlow employer: Lounge Café Bars

As a Sous Chef at our Harlow location, you'll be part of a vibrant and supportive work culture that values real cooking and high-quality ingredients. We offer competitive benefits including overtime pay, generous staff discounts, and opportunities for personal development and career progression in a fast-growing business. Join us for an exciting culinary journey where your skills will be recognised and rewarded, all while enjoying a fantastic work-life balance with holidays and memorable staff events.
Lounge Café Bars

Contact Detail:

Lounge Café Bars Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Sous Chef - Harlow

Tip Number 1

Get to know the kitchen culture before you apply! Check out our social media and see what we're all about. It’ll help you vibe with us during interviews.

Tip Number 2

Network like a pro! Chat with current or former staff on LinkedIn or at events. They can give you insider tips that might just land you the job.

Tip Number 3

Show off your skills in the kitchen! If you get a chance, do a trial shift. It’s a great way to demonstrate your passion for real cooking and how you fit into our team.

Tip Number 4

Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative!

We think you need these skills to ace Sous Chef - Harlow

Fresh Ingredient Preparation
Chef Skills
Food Hygiene Practices
Knife Skills
Health & Safety Compliance
Kitchen Management
Team Leadership
Communication Skills
Stakeholder Management
KPI Familiarity
Rota Scheduling
Sales and Labour Forecasting
Training Delivery
Recruitment Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion for Cooking: When you're writing your application, let your love for real cooking shine through! Share your experiences with fresh ingredients and how you’ve contributed to a high-quality kitchen environment. We want to see that you’re as passionate about food as we are!

Highlight Your Leadership Skills: As a Sous Chef, you'll be leading the kitchen team, so make sure to showcase your leadership experience in your application. Talk about times you've supported your team or taken charge during busy shifts. We’re looking for someone who can engage and motivate others!

Be Detail-Oriented: We’re all about the details, from hygiene practices to food safety. In your application, mention specific examples of how you maintain high standards in the kitchen. This will show us that you’re relentless about upholding our 5* kitchen standards!

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s super easy, and you’ll be one step closer to joining our fantastic team. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to work with us!

How to prepare for a job interview at Lounge Café Bars

Know Your Ingredients

Make sure you’re well-versed in the types of fresh ingredients you’ll be working with. Be ready to discuss your experience with sourcing, preparing, and cooking with these ingredients. This shows your passion for real cooking and aligns with the company’s values.

Showcase Your Leadership Skills

As a Sous Chef, you’ll need to lead the kitchen team effectively. Prepare examples of how you’ve successfully managed shifts, trained staff, or resolved conflicts in the kitchen. Highlighting your leadership style will demonstrate that you can support the Head Chef and maintain high standards.

Be Prepared for Practical Questions

Expect questions about health and safety, hygiene practices, and kitchen operations. Brush up on relevant regulations and be ready to explain how you ensure compliance in your kitchen. This will show that you’re detail-oriented and serious about maintaining 5* kitchen standards.

Communicate Like a Pro

Strong communication skills are key in a busy kitchen. Think of examples where you’ve built rapport with team members or managed stakeholders effectively. Being able to articulate your thoughts clearly will help you stand out as a candidate who can thrive in a collaborative environment.

Sous Chef - Harlow
Lounge Café Bars
Location: Harlow
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