EXECUTIVE HEAD CHEF *LUXURY 5-STAR HOTEL, KZN

PTY; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Career Growth, Hospitality Recruitment is seeking an Executive Head Chef for a luxury 5-star hotel in Kwa-Zulu Natal. The role leads the kitchen brigade, develops menus, trains staff, and ensures high-quality, cost-efficient dining experiences.

You will manage forecasting, budgeting and stock control while maintaining exceptional guest relations and operational standards. The ideal candidate has 10+ years in senior chef roles within luxury hotels, a Diploma in Food Preparation and Culinary Arts,

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years senior chef experience in luxury hotels.
• Diploma in Food Preparation and Culinary Arts.
• Strong guest relations, budgeting and kitchen administration.
• Ability to create innovative menus and implement traditional dishes.
• Experience with stock management and software tools.

Responsibilities

• Manage kitchen and brigade, forecast, budget, and control costs.
• Ensure high quality, timely dishes, and portion control.
• Maintain floor presence during peak times and engage with guests and staff.
• Train and develop team members; coach and monitor learning outcomes.
• Create seasonal menus aligned with owner’s vision and events.
• Oversee staff restaurant and ensure compliance with standards.
• Oversee stock, store, and purchasing processes; optimize pricing.
• Ensure profitability of the department and support other departments when needed.

Skills

Leadership

Kitchen management

Budgeting

Staff training

Menu development

Food quality control

Communication

Education

Diploma in Food Preparation and Culinary Arts

Tools

Stock management system

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

EXECUTIVE HEAD CHEF *LUXURY 5-STAR HOTEL, KZN

Kwa-Zulu, EC, South Africa Career Growth, Hospitality Recruitment

About the job EXECUTIVE HEAD CHEF *LUXURY 5-STAR HOTEL, KZN

Career Growth, Hospitality Recruitment are looking to hire a commendable Executive Chef to manage the kitchen and its brigade at this 5‑star luxury hotel. The executive chef attracts and retains staff, maintains a cooperative relationship with team members, optimises staff productivity, and serves as a replacement in team members' absence. You will train staff to use new recipes, cooking techniques and equipment, and oversee cooks performing food preparation. You will oversee the delivery of food supplies, prepare special dishes, and supervise overall kitchen operations during dinner service.

To ensure success you will ensure your team delivers high‑quality, cost‑effective dishes promptly. Top candidates are creative, service‑oriented, and level‑headed.

Minimum Experience and Qualification Required:

• Minimum of 10 years previous senior chef experience in a luxury hotel
• Diploma in Food Preparation and Culinary Arts
• Excellent Guest relations skills
• Good knowledge of planning, budgeting, and kitchen administration
• Proven ability to create innovative dishes as well as being able to implement traditional established dishes
• Exposure to a Stock Management System
• Mature, responsible well‑presented individual who can problem solve
• Individuals must display creativity and flair and the ability to provide guidance to others and be able to evidence good business acumen, excellent communication skills, and a strong work ethic.
• Organised and detail‑oriented
• Computer literate with working knowledge of Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel
• Able to work flexible hours, weekends, and holidays

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Executes the strategic plan including forecasting, budget management, profit and loss accountability, cost control, and inventories for kitchen and outlets
• Verifies that all food production areas provide food items prepared and presented according to set standards at all times, monitoring for taste, visual appeal, quality, and established portions.
• Ensuring constant floor presence during peak operational times; interacting with both staff and guests constructively, fostering positive relationships; and taking personal responsibility for every guest and staff situation, seeing it through to its solution.
• Being actively involved in the training and development of each team member by supporting their learning through on‑the‑job application and coaching, making them available for all appropriate training opportunities, and holding the team member to account for the learning that they have successfully assimilated.
• To maintain the integrity of all kitchen systems
• To create and implement innovative menus for all outlets seasonally as well as menus for all special events which reflect your style but are in line with the Owners vision and include traditional dishes prescribed by the owner from time to time
• To take ownership of the Staff Restaurant ensuring that there is fresh healthy quality food served daily in line with RCH staff restaurant standards and that a minimum 7‑day rotating menu is in place to ensure variety, and ensuring that the staff restaurant is clean and hygienic at all times, and in conjunction with the Food and Beverage Manager must ensure that it is set up with sufficient operating equipment
• Responsible to ensure that the food store, freezer, fridge, dry store, chemical room, and gas room are managed and controlled in line with Hotel stock control practices ensuring sufficient stock, minimal wastage, and best pricing.
• To ensure that all purchase orders are checked by a senior member of the kitchen team (Sous chef or higher) and that the Food Store Clerk manages the food store correctly, and where necessary ensuring he receives assistance.
• Must take complete responsibility for the profitability of the department.
• Perform other tasks and assist in other departments whenever reasonable and deemed necessary by Management.