At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the kitchen team, ensuring high-quality food and safety standards.
- Company: Join a vibrant hospitality group known for real cooking and fresh ingredients.
- Benefits: Enjoy overtime pay, staff meals, discounts, and 28 days holiday.
- Other info: Great opportunities for personal development and exciting staff events.
- Why this job: Be part of a passionate team and elevate your culinary career.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Sous Chef or Junior Sous Chef with strong kitchen skills.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 35000 £ 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 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.
If you want to find out more about us, follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram @thelounges.
Sous Chef - Sittingbourne employer: Lounge Café Bars
Join a vibrant and passionate team as a Sous Chef in Sittingbourne, where we prioritise real cooking with fresh, high-quality ingredients. Our supportive work culture fosters personal development and career progression, complemented by fantastic benefits such as overtime pay, generous staff discounts, and the most talked-about staff party in hospitality. With a focus on teamwork and excellence, you'll thrive in an environment that values your contributions and encourages you to lead from the front.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Sous Chef - Sittingbourne
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the kitchen team before your interview! If you can, pop in for a casual chat or even a trial shift. This shows you're genuinely interested and gives you a feel for the vibe.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your passion for fresh cooking during the interview. Share your favourite recipes or experiences with high-quality ingredients. We love hearing about your culinary journey!
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready to discuss how you handle kitchen challenges. Whether it's managing stock or ensuring hygiene standards, we want to know how you keep things running smoothly under pressure.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to get noticed and shows you’re serious about joining our team. Plus, we love seeing applications from enthusiastic chefs like you!
We think you need these skills to ace Sous Chef - Sittingbourne
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, managed shifts, or trained new staff. We’re looking for someone who can engage and inspire others!
Be Detail-Oriented:We’re all about the details, so don’t forget to mention your knowledge of Health & Safety, Hygiene, and kitchen standards. Include specific examples of how you’ve maintained these standards in your previous roles. It’s all about keeping our kitchen running smoothly!
Apply Through Our Website:Ready to join us? Make sure to apply through our website for the best chance of getting noticed! We love seeing applications that come directly from our site, so don’t miss out on this opportunity to be part of our amazing team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Lounge Café Bars
✨Know Your Ingredients
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of fresh ingredients and cooking techniques. Be ready to discuss your experience with various dishes and how you ensure quality in every plate. This shows your passion for real cooking, which is a big deal for the company.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Sous Chef, you'll be leading a team, so highlight your leadership experience. Prepare examples of how you've motivated your kitchen team in the past, especially during busy shifts. This will demonstrate that you're not just about cooking but also about creating a positive kitchen environment.
✨Be Prepared for Health & Safety Questions
Since maintaining high standards of hygiene and safety is crucial, expect questions around these topics. Familiarise yourself with relevant regulations and be ready to share how you've implemented best practices in previous roles. This will show that you take these responsibilities seriously.
✨Communicate Effectively
Epic communication skills are key in this role. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. Think about how you can build rapport with the interviewers, as they’ll want to see that you can manage relationships within the kitchen and beyond.
