Head Chef | Luxury Corporate Catering Lead | Flexible Hours

Placements24; Polokwane; On-site; ZAR 680,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Career development

Modern kitchen facilities

Performance bonuses

Polokwane based role

Job summary

Placements24 seeks an accomplished Head Chef to lead culinary operations for a prestigious corporate catering firm based in Polokwane, Limpopo. You will drive menu development, kitchen management, and staff supervision to deliver exceptional dining experiences for corporate clients.

The role requires 8+ years of culinary experience, including 4+ years in senior chef positions, and formal culinary qualifications.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of culinary experience with at least 4 years in Head Chef/Executive Sous Chef roles.
• Formal culinary qualifications from a recognized institution.
• Demonstrated expertise in menu engineering, costing, and financial management.
• Exceptional leadership and team management skills.
• In-depth knowledge of cuisines, cooking techniques, and presentation styles.
• Strong understanding of HACCP and food safety regulations.
• Excellent organizational and time-management abilities.
• Proficiency in inventory management systems and MS Office Suite.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills for client and team collaboration.
• Willingness to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all culinary aspects of corporate catering, from menu planning and creation to food preparation and presentation.
• Develop creative, seasonal, client-tailored menus reflecting trends and standards.
• Manage kitchen staff, including recruitment, training, scheduling, and performance evaluation.
• Ensure highest standards of food quality, taste, and presentation across events.
• Maintain control over food costs, inventory management, and supplier relationships.
• Implement and enforce strict food safety, sanitation, and hygiene protocols.
• Collaborate with sales and event planning teams to ensure client satisfaction and operational efficiency.
• Manage kitchen budgets and optimize resource allocation.
• Foster a positive, collaborative working environment within the kitchen team.
• Stay abreast of industry best practices and innovations in corporate catering.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Menu engineering

Costing & budgeting

Food safety HACCP

Team management

Cuisines knowledge

Inventory management

Communication

Time management

MS Office

Education

Formal culinary qualification

Tools

MS Office Suite

Inventory management systems

Job description

Placements24 seeks an accomplished Head Chef to lead culinary operations for a prestigious corporate catering firm based in Polokwane, Limpopo. You will drive menu development, kitchen management, and staff supervision to deliver exceptional dining experiences for corporate clients.

The role requires 8+ years of culinary experience, including 4+ years in senior chef positions, and formal culinary qualifications.