Senior Catering Manager

EnableSA Recruitment; Makhanda; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking a Senior Catering Manager to oversee operations in a high-volume catering unit. The successful candidate will lead a team, manage financial aspects, and ensure exceptional food quality and client satisfaction. Ideal candidates should have a relevant qualification and at least five years of experience in a similar environment. Strong operational, financial, and team-management skills are essential for this role.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in a similar environment.
• Proven experience in managing successful departments/teams.
• Project management experience in hospitality/catering industry is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily operations of the assigned unit.
• Ensure exceptional food quality and client satisfaction.
• Oversee menu planning, standardisation, and costing.

Skills

Leadership

Operational management

Financial management

Menu planning

Customer experience management

Education

Relevant tertiary qualification in food and beverage services or hospitality or culinary arts

Job description

Our client is seeking an experienced and dynamic Senior Catering Manager to oversee a high‑volume catering unit within the hospitality/food services environment. This role requires a strong leader with excellent operational, financial, and team‑management capabilities. The ideal candidate will ensure exceptional food quality, client satisfaction, and smooth daily operations, while maintaining a high standard of compliance, service, and efficiency.

Responsibilities:

• Managing daily operations of the assigned unit in accordance with sector strategy, contract specifications, and statutory regulations.
• Implementation of the food production process.
• Provide great quality service to clients.
• Manage the execution of creative functions.
• Menu planning, standardisation, adoption and costing.
• Monitor the kitchen to ensure the cooks are using standardized recipes and quality of food is of the highest standard.
• Daily bookkeeping procedures – capturing of issues, sales, stock.
• Managing the Food GP’s as per the budgeted targets.
• Managing the unit’s budgets to ensure that the budgeted targets are met monthly.
• Implementation of minimum & maximum stock levels to controls stock days.
• Managing the HSE daily to ensure all records are up to date.
• Managing People (i.e. staffing – workforce planning, payroll administration, leave management, performance management).
• Managing Customer Experience.
• Strict management of service levels to client SLA.

Requirements:

• Grade 12.
• Relevant tertiary qualification in food and beverage services or hospitality or culinary arts is preferred.
• Five year’s work in a similar environment.
• Experience gained in most functions of this position.
• Project Management experience in a hospitality/catering industry would be an advantage.
• Experience in costing, budgets, forecasts and invoicing is advantageous.
• Proven experience in managing successful departments/team.