Assistant General Manager

The Company:

Vapiano is a laid-back Italian restaurant, making the ultimate handmade fresh pasta, pizza and insalata in over 130 locations around the world and 6 here in the UK. Our restaurants are like nowhere else; spacious, full of natural light with plenty of seats – think sharing tables and lounge seating. You can sit where you like and stay as long as you want. The laid-back vibes and great music make us one of the places to go and eat. Our service is relaxed, inviting and casual, just like our locations, with orders usually taken by via QR codes at the table, and table service from the team following on from there. We are a growing hospitality company with multiple locations planned to open each year ahead.

The Role:

If you have a few years of experience as a kitchen manager in a restaurant business you will (hopefully) already understand the role well, however for us, the key responsibilities you will have are:

• Experience - ensuring that the Vapiano food culture is strong in your kitchen. Speed, safety and spec - always on point and delivered by a happy team on every shift. We really mean this, it isn't just lip service; check out our reviews!

• People - In line with the General Manager, you will lead, manage and have accountability for the kitchen team in the restaurant.

• Performance - Because it's not a business if it doesn't make money! Though you will have tons of support from your General Manager, you need to be able to work effectively and diligently to hit Customer Feedback, GP and labour targets and manage kitchen spending to within P&L line budgets.

What this role is:

You will be the culinary heart of our restaurant, working closely under the General Manager to deliver the kitchen operations. Exceptional food quality that aligns with our brand’s standards, while also meeting our financial objectives, including revenue and EBITDA targets. You will lead our kitchen team with a hands-on approach, fostering a culture of excellence, efficiency, and continuous improvement. You will work closely with both front-of-house management and your kitchen team to ensure a seamless dining experience for our guests in a low-ego environment. Your leadership will ensure the kitchen operates smoothly, maintaining the highest standards of food safety, preparation, and presentation, and you'll act as a cornerstone in maintaining the harmony and direction of our kitchen operations.

You will likely have:

• Real previous kitchen management experience in a high-volume branded operation.

• Worked in larger branded operations, but spent some time in a smaller growing business too.

• A real, natural presence when working.

• A confident, outgoing, fun and caring demeanour - kind by default, but not to a fault.

• Excellent attention to detail and a real ability to get the right things done at the right time.

• A personal love of the art of hospitality; you actually delight in food service and making people happy.

The package:

• 50% off food at any Vapiano restaurant for up to 4 people once a month

• Free meals while working

• Company pension scheme

• Benefits website (Vcare) with discounts on lots of major retailers (Apple, Odeon and many more!)

• Cycle to work scheme

• 28 days holiday per year

• A share of tips 

• Annual team party and plenty of social events

• Regular incentives and competitions

• Employee Assistance Programme

• 24/7 phone line for a Private GP

• Fun skills development with access to our gamified learning platform

• Actual career progression opportunities (we are an established restaurant business with regular openings planned each year.)