Senior Pastry Chef - Catering

Placements24; Centurion; Hybrid; ZAR 450,000 - 650,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

State-of-the-art kitchen facilities

Professional development opportunities

Competitive salary with benefits

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Pastry Chef to lead the pastry operations for its Centurion catering division. This hybrid role combines kitchen leadership with opportunities for remote menu development and strategic planning.

You will design exquisite dessert menus and guide a dedicated pastry team to deliver exceptional events. The ideal candidate has 5+ years of progressive pastry experience, strong leadership skills, and a flair for innovative presentation and cost control.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive pastry experience, including supervisory roles.
• Expertise in classic and contemporary pastry techniques and trends.
• Proven ability to manage a kitchen team, including scheduling and training.
• Strong food cost management and inventory control.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and execute innovative pastry menus for catering events.
• Lead, train, and mentor the pastry team, fostering a creative and efficient environment.
• Manage inventory, ordering, and quality control for all pastry ingredients and supplies.
• Ensure consistency and excellence in the preparation and presentation of all desserts.
• Collaborate with Head Chef and events team to align pastry offerings with event themes.
• Maintain hygiene and safety standards within the pastry kitchen.

Skills

Pastry chef

Team leadership

Menu development

Food cost control

Dessert presentation

Education

Culinary degree

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly creative and experienced Senior Pastry Chef to lead their pastry operations for their prestigious catering division based in Centurion. This role requires a passion for innovation in dessert creation, coupled with strong leadership skills to manage a dedicated pastry team. You will be responsible for developing exquisite dessert menus, ensuring the highest standards of quality and presentation for a diverse range of events, and contributing to the overall culinary excellence of the company. This hybrid role allows for significant kitchen-based work with opportunities for remote menu development and strategic planning.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and execute innovative and high-quality pastry menus for various catering events.
• Lead, train, and mentor the pastry team, fostering a creative and efficient working environment.
• Manage inventory, ordering, and quality control for all pastry ingredients and supplies.
• Ensure consistency and excellence in the preparation and presentation of all dessert items.
• Collaborate with the Head Chef and events team to align pastry offerings with overall event themes and client requirements.
• Maintain impeccable hygiene and safety standards within the pastry kitchen.

Requirements

• 5+ years of progressive experience as a Pastry Chef, with a significant portion in a senior or supervisory role, preferably in catering or high-volume establishments.
• Extensive knowledge of classic and contemporary pastry techniques, flavor profiles, and dessert trends.
• Proven ability to manage a kitchen team, including scheduling, training, and performance evaluation.
• Strong understanding of food cost management and inventory control.
• Excellent artistic presentation skills and attention to detail.
• Culinary degree or equivalent professional training preferred.

Benefits

• Competitive annual salary with benefits package.
• Hybrid work model offering a balance between kitchen operations and strategic planning.
• Opportunities for creative input and menu innovation in a leading catering company.
• Access to state-of-the-art kitchen facilities in Centurion.
• Continuous learning and professional development opportunities.