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 circa 8 sites (a nod to our unique determination to drive amazing attention to detail) remaining close to our teams and our customers every day.

We open a Lounge every 10 days, and the South West has a pipeline of new openings across the year, which is why we are currently looking for Operations Chefs to join us as we expand the areas due to growth.

What makes a Lounge is the people that work there and therefore your team will be your absolute number 1 priority, spotting amazing Chef talent; having aces in the right places, celebrating success; creating a real buzz and a sense of belonging for our team, plus developing great Head Chefs and leaders through training, coaching and mentoring.

We’re about unrelenting standards, we absolutely love people who never settle, and our ultimate goal is that every customer leaves happy.

Who Do We Look For?

Ideally, you will already have multi-site hospitality experience as an Operations Chef/Area Chef from another business, although we are open to Head Chefs who are looking for their first gig in an area role.

We are looking for people who will...

You Believe. In yourself and your leadership, in your team, in bringing people together and in our cause. You believe that delivering a great experience, making our customers leave happy and our teams loving what they do 14 shifts a week is achievable day in-day out.
You’re honest: And have the strength of character to own up to what's not going right and tell it like it really is.
Care for your team: You genuinely care about the people that work for you and make it show. You know how to keep your team motivated and engaged and how to get the best out of them flexing your leadership style accordingly.
Command the detail: You’re all over the stocks, rotas, labour, H&S, lightbulbs, the nooks and crannies of the sites – delivering uncompromising standards both front and back of house, and knowing what part everyone plays. Ultimately you get it done.
Never settle: For second best that is. You obsess about learning from yesterday and getting better, in each site, every single day from every opportunity and helping your team to do the same. We’re not a 24/7 business, but we do expect hard work and commitment.
Do it your way: You lead your team and your businesses through your own unique style and personality, making it your own. You don’t look for robots but recruit and develop people that bring their true selves to work.

Where are you now?

You are probably an Operations Chef, Area Chef or Senior Head Chef with experience of leading kitchens within bars or restaurants with fresh food
Multi-site experience isn’t essential, but is preferred
Even though you’re in a management role, you balance your time between managing and getting stuck in. We want people who still want to be part of the buzz of delivering awesome old school hospitality. Not management through emails.
You will have been in senior leadership positions in a large turnover single site or multi-site capacity and have demonstrated inspiring and motivating large teams

The Good Stuff

Competitive salary + annual achievable bonus paid 2x a year.
Opportunity to participate in the Loungers Management Share Plan programme.
£5,000 Company car allowance.
Full expenses and mileage provided.
Great opportunity for personal development and career progression in a fast growing business.
Annual Ops trip to somewhere sunny. Honest!
50% discount on food from day 1.
The best staff party - Loungefest (see our video).

The Loungers Ltd jobs

Operations Chef