Executive Sous Chef: Lead Kitchen, Elevate Guest Experience

Protea Hotels by Marriott®; Durban; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Protea Hotels by Marriott® in Durban seeks an experienced Executive Chef to oversee daily kitchen operations, lead a skilled culinary team, and ensure high-quality guest experiences while maintaining budget targets. You will supervise all kitchen areas, develop staff, ensure sanitation and food safety standards, and drive menu development to enhance guest satisfaction in a fast-paced hotel environment.

This leadership role requires hands-on cooking, cost control, and strategic planning to

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED; 4 years experience in the culinary, food and beverage, or related professional area.
• Or 2-year degree from an accredited university in Culinary Arts, Hotel and Restaurant Management, or related major; 2 years experience in the culinary, food and beverage, or related professional area.

Responsibilities

• Manages kitchen shift operations and ensures compliance with all Food & Beverage policies, standards and procedures.
• Estimates daily production needs on a weekly basis and communicates production needs to kitchen personnel daily.
• Assists Executive Chef with all kitchen operations and preparation.
• Prepares and cooks foods of all types, either on a regular basis or for special guests or functions.
• Develops, designs, or creates new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Assists in determining how food should be presented and creates decorative food displays.
• Maintains purchasing, receiving and food storage standards.
• Ensures compliance with food handling and sanitation standards.
• Performs all duties of kitchen managers and employees as necessary.
• Recognizes superior quality products, presentations and flavor.
• Ensures compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
• Follows proper handling and right temperature of all food products.
• Operates and maintains all department equipment and reports malfunctions.
• Checks the quality of raw and cooked food products to ensure that standards are met.
• Supervises and coordinates activities of cooks and workers engaged in food preparation.
• Leads shifts while personally preparing food items and executing requests based on required specifications.
• Utilizes interpersonal and communication skills to lead, influence, and encourage others; advocates sound financial/business decision making; demonstrates honesty/integrity; leads by example.
• Encourages and builds mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Serves as a role model to demonstrate appropriate behaviors.
• Maintains the productivity level of employees.
• Ensures employees understand expectations and parameters.
• Establishes and maintains open, collaborative relationships with employees and ensures employees do the same within the team.
• Ensures property policies are administered fairly and consistently.
• Communicates performance expectations in accordance with job descriptions for each position.
• Recognizes success performance and produces desired results.
• Provides services that are above and beyond for customer satisfaction and retention.
• Manages day-to-day operations, ensuring the quality, standards and meeting the expectations of the customers on a daily basis.
• Sets a positive example for guest relations.
• Empowers employees to provide excellent customer service.
• Interacts with guests to obtain feedback on product quality and service levels.
• Handles guest problems and complaints.
• Achieves and exceeds goals including performance goals, budget goals, team goals, etc.
• Develops specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Utilizes the Labor Management System to effectively schedule to business demands and for tracking of employee time and attendance.
• Trains employees in safety procedures.
• Identifies the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Improves service by communicating and assisting individuals to understand guest needs, providing guidance, feedback, and individual coaching when needed.
• Participates in the employee performance appraisal process, providing feedback as needed.
• Brings issues to the attention of the department manager and Human Resources as necessary.
• Provides information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Analyzes information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Attends and participates in all pertinent meetings.

Skills

Staff leadership

Food safety

Kitchen operations

Communication

Education

High school diploma or GED

2-year degree in Culinary Arts or related major

Job description

Protea Hotels by Marriott® in Durban seeks an experienced Executive Chef to oversee daily kitchen operations, lead a skilled culinary team, and ensure high-quality guest experiences while maintaining budget targets. You will supervise all kitchen areas, develop staff, ensure sanitation and food safety standards, and drive menu development to enhance guest satisfaction in a fast-paced hotel environment.

This leadership role requires hands-on cooking, cost control, and strategic planning to