Executive Chef (In Search of South African Chef to be based at Newrest Nigeria)

Newrest; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 450 000 - 600 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food services company based in Johannesburg seeks a Culinary Manager responsible for developing menus, ensuring culinary quality, and training kitchen staff. The ideal candidate will have at least 10 years of experience, a diploma in cookery, and proficiency in Microsoft Office. This role involves collaboration with various teams to maintain high standards in food preparation and presentation.

Qualifications

• 10 years of experience in the culinary field.
• Fully competent in Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Develop menus and recipes for clients.
• Lead the menu presentation process.
• Conduct quality checks and maintain culinary excellence.
• Support food audits preparation and completion.

Skills

Organization & Efficiency

Leadership

Problem Solving

Communication

Production Planning

Education

Culinary / hospitality diploma or Degree in Professional Cookery

Relevant Qualifications in Production Management

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Commercial Activities

Develop menu and recipes for presentation through the completion of the initial grids for proposal.

Providing menus recommendations in line with clients or commercial requests when needed while always considering the current production plan for optimisation.

Create recipes and check the correct deployment into Winrest system.

Review of new recipes prior costing into Winrest system by the costing team.

In charge of the clients’ food sampling process with the support of the Units Executive Chefs based on commercial requirements.

Address gustative complaints with the support of the Units Executive Chefs (meat over cooked, missing or wrong item, etc...).

Lead the menu presentation process

Cycle Change Preparation

Review cycle change specifications (datasheet or menu grid when the latter not available).

Attend the cycle change meeting while having received the grids min 2 weeks prior that meeting.

Adjust products with supply chain based on availability and other elements.

Carry out training of hot and cold kitchen to the team on critical elements of the cycles and dry run when required.

Quality Control and Culinary Excellence

Carry out quality checks as per Chef table process as well as internally through the tasting station. Address and correct any deviation observed.

Develop any other additional control method to ensure the high quality of the meals.

Represent the culinary lead in terms of taste, platting and specification compliance.

Check constantly the recipes compliance in Winrest (correct ingredient used, correct pictures…) and contact the Costing Manager for correction when needed.

Procurement Related

Address any quality / specification with the National purchasing manager.

Sign off product specification for the Procurement team, especially on high cost and high yield items.

General

Support other countries within Newrest network when required.

Work closely with Production Managers in implementing and maintaining a Production Plan, completing projects, training the team of the hot and cold kitchens, etc…

Ensure that the utmost care is taken during preparation of food, considering taste, quality, garnishing, attention to detail and presentation.

Work closely with the Training Officer to determine the training needs of the staff.

Develop training material and conduct on the job training.

Have a significant input in food cost reduction and wastages.

Support actively food audits preparation and completion.

Participate to the cooks’ skills assessment prior recruitment.

Profile

Qualifications

Culinary / hospitality diploma or Degree in Professional Cookery

Relevant Qualifications in Production Management

Fully Competent in Microsoft Office

Experience

• 10 Years’ Experience

Skills

• Organization & Efficiency
• Leadership
• Problem Solving
• Communication
• Production Planning

Competencies

Ability to communicate and delegate with the team under your supervision

• Ability to meet deadlines

Ability to present and interact efficiently with Internal Clients