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- Tasks: Lead a passionate kitchen team, creating fresh, high-quality dishes daily.
- Company: Join a vibrant hospitality group known for real cooking and a supportive culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy overtime pay, 50% off food, paid breaks, and a fantastic staff party!
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team, making customers happy with your culinary skills.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Head Chef, Kitchen Manager, or Sous Chef with strong kitchen skills required.
- Other info: Opportunities for personal development and career progression in a fast-growing business.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 42000 £ per year.
Job Details
Head Chef – Colchester
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. We also love our real people who run Lounges. The person who runs these brilliant people has to be super-brilliant, and that\’ll be you. Your standards will be as high as ours, but exactly how you do it will be unique to you.
You\’ll be doing it your way. You\’ll be part of a dedicated, supportive team, working from our flexible all-day menu to give people food that\’ll make their day. It\’ll be your responsibility to make each dish to spec, in a clean and safe kitchen, and to make sure all prep and par is completed for each shift. You\’ll be helping every customer leave happy. Which they tend to do. Thanks to your great food.
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 Head Chef, Kitchen Manager or Sous Chef looking for your first step into a Head Chef role.
- 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.
- Familiar with managing through clear KPIs and making decisions considering labour; stock; food safety requirements plus others.
- You will have worked in kitchen environments where you\’re required to report on various metrics including GPs; labour/house; food preparation.
- 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 or @life.at.loungers on TikTok and Instagram
Company
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Head Chef - Colchester employer: SLM COMMUNITY LEISURE CHARITABLE TRUST
Contact Detail:
SLM COMMUNITY LEISURE CHARITABLE TRUST Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Chef - Colchester
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with our menu and the types of dishes we serve. This will not only help you during the interview but also show your genuine interest in our culinary approach and customer satisfaction.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees on platforms like LinkedIn. They can provide insights into the company culture and expectations, which can be invaluable when preparing for your interview.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and how you manage kitchen teams. We value a hands-on approach, so think of examples where you've successfully led a team through challenges.
✨Tip Number 4
Research the latest trends in the culinary world, especially those related to fresh ingredients and customer preferences. Being knowledgeable about current trends can set you apart as a candidate who is forward-thinking.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Chef - Colchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience as a Head Chef, Kitchen Manager, or Sous Chef. Emphasise your skills in working with fresh ingredients and your ability to maintain high kitchen standards.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for real cooking and your leadership style. Mention specific examples of how you've successfully managed kitchen teams and delivered excellent food standards.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your application, focus on your experience with KPIs, food safety requirements, and training kitchen staff. This will demonstrate your capability to manage a busy kitchen effectively.
Showcase Your Personality: Let your personality shine through in your application. The company values unique approaches, so share what makes your cooking style and leadership different from others.
How to prepare for a job interview at SLM COMMUNITY LEISURE CHARITABLE TRUST
✨Show Your Passion for Real Cooking
Make sure to express your love for real cooking during the interview. Share specific examples of how you've used fresh ingredients and your approach to creating customer-led dishes. This will resonate well with the company's values.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
As a Head Chef, you'll be leading a team. Highlight your experience in managing kitchen staff, training new recruits, and maintaining high standards. Be ready to discuss how you motivate your team and ensure everyone is working towards common goals.
✨Know Your KPIs
Familiarise yourself with key performance indicators relevant to kitchen management. Be prepared to discuss how you've successfully managed labour costs, stock levels, and food safety requirements in previous roles. This shows you're results-driven and understand the business side of the kitchen.
✨Prepare Questions About the Company Culture
Research the company culture and values before the interview. Prepare thoughtful questions about their approach to staff development, team dynamics, and how they celebrate successes. This demonstrates your genuine interest in becoming part of their team.