Operations Chef - South Coast

Loungers plc; Peacehaven; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading hospitality group is seeking an Operations Chef to manage multiple sites in Peacehaven. Responsibilities include hiring and developing kitchen talent, ensuring compliance with health and safety standards, and actively participating in operational improvements. Ideal candidates will have substantial experience in multi-site hospitality and a passion for leading teams. Competitive salary and opportunities for rapid career progression are offered.

Benefits

Competitive salary + annual bonus

Company car allowance

Excellent opportunities for career growth

Discount on food from day 1

Annual staff events

Qualifications

• You have multi-site hospitality experience in bars, restaurants, or cafes.
• You are likely an HC/Kitchen Manager, Operations Chef or similar role.
• Experience in motivational leadership and managing large teams.

Responsibilities

• Hire and develop kitchen talent at all levels.
• Engage with local communities and lead operational excellence.
• Ensure kitchens meet Lounge's standards and processes.

Skills

Leadership

Attention to detail

Team motivation

Operational management

Multi-site management

Job description

Overview

£45000.00 - £50000.00/year Our Lounge Operations Chefs play a pivotal role in the success of our business. Working alongside an Operations Manager you will manage an area of c.8-10 sites maximum, remaining close to our teams and our customers every day. Your team is your absolute number 1 priority, including spotting amazing talent, placing aces in the right places, celebrating success, and developing great managers through training, coaching and mentoring. We are about unrelenting standards and strive for customers to leave happy.

Responsibilities

• Relentlessly hire great kitchen talent to join Lounge at all levels, with a focus on building a high performing and loyal team of Heads Chefs and Sous Chefs.
• Develop your team by understanding individual drivers, setting clear priorities for each site, and fostering a culture of honest two-way feedback between yourself and Head Chefs.
• Visit sites regularly to participate in service, train and coach kitchen teams, and have the biggest impact through hands-on involvement. Most sites should be visited at least once a week.
• Develop the capability and confidence of Head Chefs through clear development plans and opportunities to grow, ensuring they prioritise developing their own kitchen teams.
• Know menu specs and kitchen processes inside-out to spot issues or opportunities during visits and be prepared to work hands-on when needed, including food prep or managing the pass on busy periods.
• Ensure kitchens deliver the Lounge commitments, including fair rotas and regular feedback conversations (121s every 6 months) and other initiatives that make Lounges a unique place to work.
• Lead training and engagement of kitchen teams to deliver seamless menu changes and improved food quality.
• Plan and execute operational coverage across 14 Great Kitchen Shifts, ensuring the right people on the right shifts, with backup plans, accurate forecasting, ordering and rotas.
• Engage with the local community in partnership with your Ops Manager through initiatives such as food banks or LoungeAid.
• Develop, plan and execute all operational aspects for your Lounges with close attention to detail in your kitchens, teams, customers, standards and processes.
• Find ways to add your own footprint to leadership while delivering Ops expectations back of house.
• Conduct high-impact, hands-on visits to demonstrate what good looks like and lead from the front.
• Collaborate daily with your Operations Manager on P&Ls, rota management, shift reporting, team/talent risks, and rollout of Company initiatives.
• Deliver daily and weekly Ops Chef expectations, including timely rota submission, order acceptance, stock takes, and related tasks.
• Provide daily reporting on kitchen performance, including shifts, stock levels, PARs, safety concerns and other details; maintain obsessive attention to detail in all aspects of operations.
• Own kitchen health and safety standards and practices, ensuring site leaders uphold guidelines to keep teams and customers safe (allegens processes, deep cleans, labeling, etc.).
• Drive KPIs such as customer wait times, net promoter scores, gross profit, and food safety expectations (EHO, NSF).

Who We Look For

• You believe in yourself, your leadership, your team, and our cause, and can deliver a great experience with high standards every day.
• You are honest and own up to issues, communicating openly.
• You genuinely care for your team and can motivate and develop them to reach their aspirations.
• You command attention to detail across stocks, rotas, labor, H&S, and site operations.
• You never settle for second best and seek continuous improvement for every site and every opportunity.
• You lead with your own style and bring out the best in people.
• Location readiness: You are likely an HC/Kitchen Manager, Operations Chef or Area/Regional Chef in bars, restaurants, cafes, or related settings with fresh food experience.
• You have multi-site hospitality experience across bars, restaurants, or cafes, and are comfortable balancing management duties with hands-on work in whites.
• You have held senior leadership roles in large turnover, single or multi-site contexts and motivated large teams; you are familiar with managing through KPIs and making commercial decisions to meet EBITDA and revenue targets.
• You are driven to grow and make a big impact, whether from front-of-house or back-of-house experience.
• You are comfortable being involved in the detail across multiple priorities.
• You may be transitioning from front-of-house or back-of-house roles and are willing to be involved in both the people and kitchen operations.

Benefits

• Competitive salary + annual achievable bonus paid 2x a year.
• Opportunity to participate in the Loungers Management Share Plan programme.
• Company car allowance, full expenses and mileage provided.
• Excellent opportunities for personal development and career progression in a fast-growing business.
• Annual Ops trip to somewhere sunny. 50% discount on food from day 1.
• Great staff events and Loungefest.