JFK Lounge Chef

Swissport International AG; New York (NY); On-site; USD 81,000 - 99,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Retirement plan

Tuition reimbursement

Vision insurance

Job summary

Swissport International AG in a premium airport lounge environment seeks an experienced Chef to lead on-site kitchen operations, prepare fresh meals, and deliver elevated dining for travelers in a fast-paced setting.

You will coach team members, including those without formal kitchen experience, maintain food safety standards, and collaborate with management on menu updates while ensuring guest satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Chef or Sous Chef in a high-volume environment such as airport lounge, hotel, restaurant, or similar setting.
• Strong knowledge of food safety and sanitation standards.
• Demonstrated ability to train, mentor, and develop team members with varying levels of culinary experience.
• Culinary training or equivalent experience is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and present fresh, high-quality food in line with company standards.
• Execute composed menu offerings with consistency and attention to detail.
• Ensure food safety, sanitation, and hygiene standards are strictly followed.
• Manage daily kitchen operations, including prep, service, and closing.
• Monitor inventory, place orders, and support cost control and waste reduction.
• Collaborate with management on menu updates and seasonal offerings.
• Train, coach, and support lounge team members, including staff without prior kitchen experience, to ensure consistent execution of food standards.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and efficient kitchen environment.
• Work closely with front-of-house teams to ensure a seamless guest experience.

Skills

Chef experience

Team leadership

Staff training

Food safety

Job description

Are you ready to take flight in a dynamic and fast-paced aviation industry? As a global leader in aviation services, Swissport provides Ground Handling, Cargo Handling, and Passenger Services to over 300 million passengers annually.

Our mission is simple – “To provide the aviation industry with consistent and tailor-made solutions around the globe, for a better customer experience.”

We believe that our people are what differentiates us from our competition. At Swissport, we are driven by our core values of Show You Care, Do the Right Thing, and Win as a Team, and we are currently seeking dedicated individuals, who align with these values, to join our team at various locations across the globe.

Job Summary

We are looking for a passionate and experienced Chef to join our team in a premium airport lounge environment. In this role, you will be responsible for preparing fresh, high-quality meals on-site while delivering an elevated dining experience for travelers in a fast-paced, hospitality-driven setting.

This position is ideal for a culinary professional who thrives in a dynamic environment and enjoys coaching and developing team members, including those without formal kitchen experience.

The expected pay rate is $90,000.00/year. Full-time employees are offered a range of health and wellness benefits as well as 401(k) with company match paid vacation time, sick time, and company paid holidays.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and present fresh, high-quality food in line with company standards
• Execute composed menu offerings with consistency and attention to detail
• Ensure food safety, sanitation, and hygiene standards are strictly followed
• Manage daily kitchen operations, including prep, service, and closing
• Monitor inventory, place orders, and support cost control and waste reduction
• Collaborate with management on menu updates and seasonal offerings
• Train, coach, and support lounge team members, including staff without prior kitchen experience, to ensure consistent execution of food standards
• Maintain a clean, organized, and efficient kitchen environment
• Work closely with front-of-house teams to ensure a seamless guest experience

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience as a Chef or Sous Chef in a high-volume environment (airport lounge, hospitality, hotel, restaurant, or airport experience preferred)
• Strong knowledge of food safety and sanitation standards
• Demonstrated ability to train, mentor, and develop team members with varying levels of culinary experience
• Ability to simplify processes and provide clear guidance to non-specialist staff
• Strong communication, leadership, and teamwork skills
• Ability to work efficiently under pressure while maintaining high standards
• Culinary training or equivalent experience is an asset

Schedule Requirements

• Flexible availability required (including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays)

What we offer

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

At Swissport, we believe in diversity, equal opportunity, and the power of our values to drive our success. We are committed to providing a workplace that fosters inclusion and where all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Visit our website at www.careers.swissport.com to learn more about Life at Swissport.

Join Swissport today and be part of a team that connects the world of aviation.