Head Chef

• Formal Chef/Culinary School training or relevant Chef qualification
• Previous experience within a fine-dining, upmarket/luxury hospitality establishment or wine farm environment
• Proven exposure to high-quality food preparation and service standards
• Experience in high-volume, event, picnic, corporate or off-site catering
• Strong knowledge of food production, menu planning, recipe development and culinary techniques
• Knowledge of food costing, stock control, portion control and wastage management
• Strong leadership and team-development capabilities.
• Ability to remain calm and effective under pressure
• A hands-on, accountable and solutions-focused approach.
• Flexible to work shifts, weekends, public holidays and event schedules when required

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Oversee daily kitchen and food production operations across picnics, events, meetings and functions
• Coordinate menu requirements, production and service logistics
• Maintain exceptional standards of food quality, taste, presentation, temperature and consistency
• Develop and adapt seasonal menus while maintaining the brand's culinary identity
• Conduct tastings and quality checks and assist with recipe development
• Coordinate culinary operations for VIP, corporate and high-profile events
• Work closely with Events and Front of House teams to ensure seamless service delivery
• Manage food costing, procurement, stock control, yields and wastage
• Oversee stock takes, stock transfers, returns and variance reconciliation
• Lead, mentor and develop junior chefs and event culinary teams
• Conduct pre-event briefings and maintain a professional, accountable kitchen culture
• Ensure compliance with HACCP, food safety, hygiene and Health & Safety standards
• Oversee correct food transportation, storage and temperature control for off-site functions
• Respond to guest feedback and resolve culinary or operational issues professionally

PLEASE NOTE: Thank you for your interest in this position. We will review your application and contact you if you are suitable

Due to the amount of applications we receive for each position, we are unable to respond to each one individually. Please accept your application as unsuccessful if you had no feedback within 7 days of applying. Your CV will remain on our database and we will be in touch for other suitable positions.

*** In the meantime, please download our EBOOK which will hopefully help you understand our process and how we work.

When applying, ensure your CV is in WORD or PDF format, and not scanned. Scanned CV’s will not be considered. If you are unable to apply through the link we have provided, please upload your CV to our website http://www.istaffrecruitment.co.za/jobs.

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