Pastry Lead: Artisanal Desserts, Breads & Events

Placements24; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 360,000 - 520,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid contributions

Paid time off

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an accomplished Pastry Chef to lead the dessert and bakery division for a prestigious Cape Town catering operation.

You will design, bake, and refine pastries, cakes, and artisanal breads, while mentoring junior staff and ensuring exceptional quality and presentation for events. A strong pastry background, creativity, and hands-on leadership are essential to succeed in this fast-paced kitchen.

Qualifications

• A minimum of 3 years of pastry chef experience, ideally in fine-dining, hotel, or large catering operations.
• Formal pastry or culinary qualification is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated expertise in classic and modern pastry techniques, including sugar work, chocolate tempering, and bread making.
• Strong understanding of food costing and inventory management principles.
• Excellent artistic presentation and attention to detail.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple tasks.
• Good communication and teamwork skills.
• Knowledge of food safety and HACCP principles.
• Creative mindset with passion for pastry innovation.
• Willingness to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required.

Responsibilities

• Create a diverse range of high-quality pastries, desserts, cakes, and artisanal breads.
• Develop new dessert recipes using seasonal ingredients and trends.
• Manage the pastry section including inventory, ordering, and stock rotation.
• Ensure pastry items meet quality, taste, and presentation standards.
• Collaborate with Head Chef and events team to align offerings with event themes.
• Maintain hygiene and sanitation standards in the pastry kitchen.
• Train and supervise junior pastry staff and oversee workflow.
• Control costs related to pastry ingredients and minimize waste.
• Contribute to menu planning and costing for pastry items.
• Stay updated on global pastry trends through research and development.

Skills

Pastry techniques

Sugar work

Chocolate tempering

Bread making

Food costing

Inventory management

Attention to detail

HACCP knowledge

Team leadership

Evening/weekend flexibility

Education

Formal pastry/culinary qualification

Job description

Placements24 is seeking an accomplished Pastry Chef to lead the dessert and bakery division for a prestigious Cape Town catering operation.

You will design, bake, and refine pastries, cakes, and artisanal breads, while mentoring junior staff and ensuring exceptional quality and presentation for events. A strong pastry background, creativity, and hands-on leadership are essential to succeed in this fast-paced kitchen.