Head Chef

Empact Group; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Empact Group in Pretoria is seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead menu development, establish recipes, and oversee all food production in a fast-paced operation.

The ideal candidate will be a qualified chef with strong leadership skills, financial acumen, and a proven track record in managing budgets, GP% and ensuring OHS compliance across the kitchen. You will drive innovation and maintain high standards of quality and service.

Qualifications

• Qualified chef with proven culinary expertise.
• Relevant tertiary qualification in Hospitality or equivalent.
• Knowledge of the catering environment, from fine dining to restaurant dining.
• Strong understanding of South African legislation and industry standards.
• Experience in budget management and achieving target GP%.

Responsibilities

• Menu Development and Food Production: Develop and plan seasonal and innovative menus; establish standardized recipes and purchase specifications; coordinate, execute, supervise, and evaluate all food production activities; ensure dishes meet quality, presentation, and cost standards.
• Operational Management: Assist in managing strategic and daily kitchen operations; ensure OHS compliance across all food production areas; support the manager in maintaining high customer service standards; drive food innovation and trends.
• Procurement and Cost Control: Place and manage kitchen orders; maintain stock records and waste tracking; manage stock par levels; ensure menu costings support GP% targets.
• Team Management: Lead and supervise the kitchen production team; enforce working hours and break times; uphold company policies; foster teamwork and high performance.

Skills

Culinary expertise

Qualified chef

Budget management

OHS knowledge

Education

Relevant tertiary qualification in Hospitality

Equivalent industry experience

Job description

The Head Chef is responsible for developing and planning menus, establishing recipes and food purchase specifications, and coordinating, executing, supervising, and evaluating all food production activities within a fast-paced operation. The ideal candidate will be a qualified chef with the ability to manage both the strategic and day-to-day operations of the kitchen effectively.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Hospitality or equivalent industry experience.
• Must be a qualified chef with proven culinary expertise.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the catering environment, from fine dining to restaurant dining.
• Strong understanding of South African and industry-specific legislation.
• Demonstrated financial acumen with experience in budget management, cost control, and achieving target GP%.

Key Areas of Responsibility

Menu Development and Food Production

• Develop and plan seasonal and innovative menus.
• Establish standardized recipes and food purchase specifications.
• Coordinate, execute, supervise, and evaluate all food production activities.
• Ensure all dishes meet quality, presentation, and cost standards.

Operational Management

• Assist in managing the strategic and daily kitchen operations.
• Oversee and ensure compliance with Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) standards across all food production areas.
• Support the manager in maintaining high customer service standards during daily operations.
• Drive food innovation, including promotional menus and modern trends such as visual display and grab-and-go offerings.

Procurement and Cost Control

• Place and manage kitchen and menu-related orders.
• Maintain accurate records for stock control, tiebacks, and waste tracking.
• Manage stock par levels to ensure efficiency and minimize waste.
• Ensure menu costings support optimal business performance and GP% targets.

Team Management

• Lead and supervise the kitchen production team to ensure operational efficiency.
• Enforce compliance with working hours, break times, and company policies.
• Uphold and apply company disciplinary procedures when necessary.
• Foster a culture of teamwork, professionalism, and high performance.