Pastry Chef

andBeyond Travel; Durban; On-site; ZAR 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A luxury hospitality company in KwaZulu-Natal is seeking a talented Senior Pastry Chef to oversee the preparation of high-quality pastries and desserts. Candidates should have strong baking experience, creativity in presentation, and the ability to lead a team. Responsibilities include managing the pastry section, ensuring food safety, and training junior chefs. This is a permanent live-in position.

Qualifications

• At least 2-3+ years of experience in a senior pastry role.
• Strong knowledge of baking techniques and decorating methods.
• Ability to work efficiently under pressure and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and bake a variety of pastries, bread, cakes, and desserts daily.
• Manage pastry section operations, ensuring smooth workflow.
• Train and mentor junior pastry chefs and assistants.

Skills

Baking techniques

Decorating methods

Creativity and attention to detail

Organizational skills

Leadership abilities

Education

Diploma or certification in Culinary Arts

Job description

&Beyond is built, almost entirely, on the strength of remarkable people who give passionately to their roles, work tirelessly, and have the guest experience at the core of their focus daily and care of the sustainability of our communities and environment. Every single '&Beyonder' makes a huge difference to our success and our contribution to the world, regardless of their role or function. For this reason we choose '&Beyonders' very carefully - they are the strength and the future of this company.

We are seeking a talented and creative Pastry Chef to oversee the preparation of high-quality baked goods and desserts. The ideal candidate should have experience in baking, decorating, and creating a variety of pastries, bread and sweets. They should ensure consistency, maintain food safety standards and contribute to menu development.

Key Outputs

• Prepare and bake a variety of pastries, bread, cakes and desserts on a daily basis
• Be able to create visually appealing and delicious baked goods using advanced decorating techniques
• Be able to experiment with new recipes and techniques to enhance menu offerings
• Manage pastry section operations, ensuring smooth workflow and efficiency
• Maintain a stock control of baking ingredients and allow orders to be placed as needed
• Minimize waste and manage ingredients usage to optimize food costs
• Adhere to food safety and hygiene standards at all times
• Ensure all ingredients are stored correctly and labelled properly
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of the pastry section and equipment
• Ensure consistency in taste, texture, and appearance of products
• Develop and refine recipes to meet high-quality standards
• Present pastries attractively for display and service
• Ability to work closely with chefs and kitchen staff to coordinate food preparation
• Train and mentor junior pastry chefs and assistants
• Provide guidance on baking techniques and decoration methods
• Modify recipes to cater to dietary restrictions, including gluten-free or vegan options
• Keep up with industry trends and introduce innovative flavours and techniques
• Design and develop new pastry and dessert menu items

Skills Required

• Proven experience as a pastry chef, baker, or similar role with an understanding of a luxury guest experience
• Strong knowledge of baking techniques, ingredients, and decorating methods
• Creativity and attention to detail in food presentation
• Ability to work efficiently under pressure and meet deadlines
• Strong organizational and time-management skills
• Team player with good communication and leadership abilities
• Ability to train and upskill kitchen staff
• Familiarity with health and safety regulations, including HACCP protocols

Previous Work Experience Required

• At least 2-3+ years of experience in a senior pastry role
• Diploma or certification in Culinary Arts (preferred)

Personal Characteristics

• Creativity and innovation
• Attention to detail
• Passion for baking
• Patience & perseverance
• Strong work ethic
• Organizational skills
• Team player & leadership
• Adaptability and problem-solving
• Cleanliness & hygiene awareness
• Customer-oriented mindset

This is a permanent live-in position.

Transport to/from leave cycles is the successful candidate's own responsibility.

We reserve the right not to make an appointment.