junior sous chef

wagamama ltd; Watford; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Biweekly pay and tips

50% off for friends and family

Free meals on shift

Early access to earned pay (Wagestream

Pension scheme

Holiday allowance

Training

Cycle to work scheme

Discounts at TRG brands

Long service awards

Disability confident employer

Job summary

wagamama is hiring a junior sous chef to join our full-time team in Watford, where we prioritise fresh ingredients and dishes made to order. You’ll support leading shifts and the kitchen team, ensuring quality and high performance across the kitchen.

You’ll work closely with management to run a vibrant kitchen, coach your team, and drive continuous improvement with a Kaizen mindset while maintaining health and safety standards.

Qualifications

• Lead shifts and kitchen team to maintain high standards.
• Understand health and safety standards and kitchen financials (gross profit, stock, labour).
• Help the team grow and be proud of their work.

Responsibilities

• work closely with the management team to run a vibrant and high-performing kitchen
• maintain food quality and kitchen vibes sky-high
• helping your team feel seen, supported, and proud of what they do
• nurturing your team to grow, not just hit targets
• thinking with a Kaizen mindset - constantly spotting the little ways we can do things better, then making them happen

Skills

Team leadership

Kaizen mindset

Coaching

Food safety

Kitchen management

Job description

junior sous chef | full time

at wagamama, food is life. our kitchens are all about fresh food, prioritising good ingredients and serving dishes that are made to order every time. as a junior sous chef, you’ll support leading the shifts, and the kitchen team while making sure every bowl is something to be proud of

what you’ll be doing

• working closely with the rest of the management team to run a vibrant and high-performing kitchen

• making sure food quality and kitchen vibes stay sky-high

• helping your team feel seen, supported, and proud of what they do

• nurturing your team to grow, not just hit targets

• thinking with a kaizen mindset - constantly spotting the little ways we can do things better, then making them happen

you’ll love this role if you...

• are passionate about supporting your team and helping others be the best they can be and maintaining high standards

• are ready to manage the line, planning shifts to make sure we have the right cover, and love working with the team and coaching on the go

• understand your kitchen’s food, health and safety standards, with comprehension of the financial performance of a kitchen including gross profit, stock control and labour cost

• love to celebrate success with your team, recognising what drives individuals and their needs

what you’ll get

• a culture that backs your growth, wellbeing and individuality

• biweekly pay and a share of tips

• 50% off for friends and family

• free meals on shift

• early access to earned pay with wagestream

• 26 weeks full pay and 13 weeks half pay for new parents

• 30% off at other TRG brands (brunning & price pubs, barburrito + more)

in addition to this, we offer the usual benefits such as pension scheme, holiday, training, cycle to work scheme, retail and leisure discounts, discounted gym memberships and long service awards

we’re proud to be a disability confident employer. no matter where you’re from or who you are, you’ve got a seat at our bench