Executive Pastry Chef - High-End Events

Placements24; George; Híbrido; ZAR 350.000 - 520.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

State-of-the-art kitchen facilities

Portfolio building opportunities

Career advancement

Descripción de la vacante

Placements24 in George, Western Cape, seeks an Executive Pastry Chef to lead the pastry section of a prestigious catering and events kitchen. Design and execute exquisite desserts and baked goods for high-profile events, setting standards for quality, presentation, and flavour.

Based in George, you will mentor a pastry team, collaborate with the Executive Chef on seasonal menus, ensure hygiene and safety, manage inventory and costs, and stay ahead of pastry trends.

Formación

• 7+ years pastry experience with 3+ years in a leadership role.
• Formal culinary or pastry arts qualification.
• Expertise in sugar work, chocolate tempering, and bread making.
• Strong costing, inventory management and waste reduction.
• Ability to lead under pressure in a high-volume catering setting.

Responsabilidades

• Conceptualize and execute a wide range of pastries for events.
• Lead, train and mentor the pastry team to strict standards.
• Collaborate with Executive Chef to develop seasonal menus.
• Maintain hygiene, food safety and sanitation in the pastry kitchen.
• Manage pastry inventory and costs to ensure profitability.
• Stay abreast of pastry trends and innovations for menu development.
• Oversee dessert prep and presentation for events, ensuring timely delivery.
• Conduct quality checks on all finished pastry items.

Conocimientos

Pastry leadership

Dessert expertise

Food safety HACCP

Costing & inventory

Team mentoring

Educación

Pastry arts qualification

Descripción del empleo

About the Role

Our client, a prestigious catering and events company operating in George, Western Cape, is actively seeking an exceptionally talented and innovative Executive Pastry Chef. This role is ideal for a creative culinary artist with a passion for crafting exquisite desserts and baked goods for high-profile events. You will be responsible for leading the pastry section of our client's kitchen, setting the standard for quality, presentation, and flavour. Based in George, you will have the opportunity to showcase your skills by developing unique pastry offerings that complement our diverse event menus. This position requires a blend of artistic flair, technical expertise, and strong leadership to manage a dedicated pastry team and ensure seamless execution of all dessert requirements. We are looking for someone who can bring innovative ideas to the table and contribute significantly to our client's reputation for culinary excellence in the Western Cape.

Key Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, design, and execute a wide range of high-quality pastries, cakes, breads, and plated desserts for events.
• Lead, train, and mentor the pastry team, ensuring adherence to recipes, techniques, and presentation standards.
• Collaborate with the Executive Chef and catering team to develop seasonal and event-specific pastry menus.
• Maintain impeccable standards of hygiene, food safety, and sanitation in the pastry kitchen.
• Manage pastry inventory, control costs, and optimize ingredient sourcing to ensure profitability.
• Stay abreast of current pastry trends, techniques, and innovations, incorporating them into menu development.
• Oversee the preparation and finishing of all dessert items for events, ensuring timely delivery and perfect presentation.
• Conduct quality control checks on all finished pastry products before they leave the kitchen.
• Manage equipment and ensure all pastry tools and machinery are well-maintained and in good working order.
• Contribute creative ideas for dessert stations and interactive pastry experiences.

Requirements

• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience as a Pastry Chef, with at least 3 years in a leadership role, preferably in a high-volume catering or fine dining environment in or near George.
• Formal culinary or pastry arts qualification from a recognized institution.
• Demonstrated expertise in classic and contemporary pastry techniques, sugar work, chocolate tempering, and bread making.
• Strong understanding of food costing, inventory management, and waste reduction.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced kitchen environment.
• Creative flair and a keen eye for detail in presentation.
• Knowledge of food safety and HACCP principles.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and public holidays as required by event schedules in George.
• A portfolio showcasing a diverse range of high-quality pastry creations is highly desirable.

Benefits

• An attractive annual salary of R .
• Opportunities for creative input and menu development.
• Access to state-of-the-art kitchen facilities in George.
• Contribute to high-profile events and build an impressive portfolio.
• Supportive and collaborative work environment.
• Potential for career advancement within the company.