Head Chef

Staff Solutions; Makhanda; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Staff Solutions is seeking a Head Chef for a luxury lodge in the Eastern Cape. The role requires a Diploma in Culinary Arts, a valid Driver’s License, and 3–5 years in similar high-end kitchens.

You will lead multiple kitchen brigades, rotate through outlets, and ensure exemplary hygiene, training, and menu execution. You will attend management meetings, develop menus, manage rosters, and recruit top talent while coordinating with procurement and senior staff to maintain guest satisfaction in a

Qualifications

• Diploma from a culinary institution.
• Driver’s License.
• Minimum 3–5 years in a similar position within a Luxury Game Reserve, Boutique hotel or Luxury Restaurant.
• Work History with Leadership Role overseeing Multiple Kitchens and large Brigades.

Responsibilities

• Rotate through lodge kitchens regularly, implement standards, new menus and dishes, and conduct hygiene training and checks.
• Attend management meetings, provide feedback and recommendations to develop the department.
• Plan annual and monthly leave cycles and rosters for chefs across the reserve efficiently.
• Maintain extremely high hygiene standards in kitchens.
• Interview and recruit suitable candidates for vacant positions.
• Continuously strive to improve meal standards and presentation across kitchens.
• Work with brigade seniors and other chefs to cover busy periods or absences.
• Coordinate with Central Procurement on food orders, quality, and supplier issues.
• Communicate with brigade seniors for day-to-day support.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Computer literacy

Education

Diploma in Culinary Arts

Tools

Office suite

Job description

Minimum criteria required:

• Diploma from a culinary institution
• Driver’s License
• Minimum of 3 - 5 years in a similar position within a Luxury Game Reserve, Boutique hotel or Luxury Restaurant
• Work History with Leadership Role overseeing Multiple Kitchens and large Brigades

Key Performance Areas of this position include:

• Will be expected to rotate through the lodge kitchens regularly, implementing standards, new menus & dishes and conducting training as well as performing checks on hygiene standards, staff discipline and brigade health
• Attend management meetings, give feedback and provide recommendations to develop the department
• Must plan annual leave, monthly leave cycle and working rosters for the all the chefs on the reserve in the most cost-effective manner to have minimal impact on the guest experience
• Must maintain extreme high levels of hygiene standards in the kitchens
• Interviewing and employing the correct candidates for vacant positions
• Always strive to improve on the standards of meals and presentation in all kitchens
• Act quickly and accordingly to resolve staff or food related issues that arises
• Work alongside chef brigade regularly to support kitchens during busy periods or to cover absences of senior staff
• Communicate with the Central Procurement on food orders, food quality and supplier issues
• Communicate constantly with Brigade Seniors for day-to-day support

Competencies required:

• Candidate must be computer literate and be able to work on Office suite
• Excellent understanding of Special Dietary Needs
• Possess excellent communication skills
• Supportive leadership style while maintaining discipline through performance-management tools
• Physically Fit and a highly developed sense of taste and smell