Head Chef - Catering Operations

Placements24; Welkom; On-site; ZAR 480,000 - 720,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Paid time off

Holiday leave

Job summary

Placements24 in Welkom is seeking a highly skilled Head Chef to lead culinary operations for a diverse range of catering events. This hands-on role covers menu development, food preparation, kitchen management and ensuring the highest standards of culinary excellence.

Based in Welkom, you will work with the operations team to source ingredients, oversee all aspects of the kitchen from sourcing to presentation, manage staff, control costs, and ensure strict food safety and hygiene.

Qualifications

• 7+ years as a Chef with at least 3 years in Head Chef or Exec Sous Chef in catering or high-volume establishments.
• Proven expertise in menu planning, recipe development, and culinary techniques.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• In-depth knowledge of food safety standards and kitchen management best practices.
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving abilities.
• Passion for food and a commitment to culinary excellence.

Responsibilities

• Develop innovative and appealing menus for diverse dietary needs and client preferences.
• Oversee all aspects of food preparation, cooking, and presentation to ensure high quality and consistency.
• Manage kitchen staff including hiring, training, scheduling, and performance evaluation.
• Maintain strict adherence to food safety, hygiene, and sanitation regulations.
• Control food costs, manage inventory, and optimize kitchen resource use.
• Collaborate with event coordinators for seamless catering service execution.

Skills

Menu planning

Culinary leadership

Food safety

Staff management

Job description

About the Role

Our client seeks a highly skilled and creative Head Chef to lead their culinary operations for a diverse range of catering events. This is a hands-on role where you will be responsible for menu development, food preparation, kitchen management, and ensuring the highest standards of culinary excellence. Based in Welkom , you will work closely with the operations team to deliver exceptional dining experiences for clients, overseeing all aspects of the kitchen from sourcing ingredients to final presentation, contributing to a dynamic and fast-paced catering environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop innovative and appealing menus that cater to diverse dietary needs and client preferences.
• Oversee all aspects of food preparation, cooking, and presentation to ensure exceptional quality and consistency.
• Manage kitchen staff, including hiring, training, scheduling, and performance evaluation.
• Maintain strict adherence to food safety, hygiene, and sanitation regulations.
• Control food costs, manage inventory, and optimize kitchen resource utilization.
• Collaborate with event coordinators to ensure seamless execution of catering services.

Requirements

• Minimum 7 years of experience as a Chef, with at least 3 years in a Head Chef or Executive Sous Chef role within catering or high-volume establishments.
• Proven expertise in menu planning, recipe development, and culinary techniques.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• In-depth knowledge of food safety standards and kitchen management best practices.
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving abilities.
• Passion for food and a commitment to culinary excellence.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and performance incentives.
• Opportunity to lead culinary innovation for a renowned catering service.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off and holiday leave.
• Professional culinary development and training opportunities.