Senior Pastry Lead: Bespoke Cakes & Premier Desserts

Placements24; Kempton Park; On-site; ZAR 360,000 - 480,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Growth opportunities

Exposure to high-profile events

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Pastry Chef in Gauteng to lead the pastry department for weddings, corporate events and private celebrations. You will design and execute exquisite desserts, mentoring junior staff and collaborating with the Executive Chef to meet client specifications.

The role demands artistic vision, meticulous attention to detail and mastery of patisserie techniques, including sugar work and chocolate sculpting, in a fast-paced luxury kitchen.

Qualifications

• Minimum 4 years in pastry, with high-end desserts and custom cakes.
• Formal pastry or baking qualification from a reputable institution.
• Ability to create intricate, artistic dessert designs.
• Expertise in pastry techniques including sugar work, chocolate sculpture and advanced cake decorating.
• Strong leadership, communication and team-building skills.
• Proficiency in recipe costing and inventory management.
• Knowledge of food safety standards and best practices.
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced kitchen.

Responsibilities

• Lead the pastry department, overseeing all dessert and cake creation.
• Develop innovative pastry menus and dessert concepts.
• Ensure top quality in taste and presentation of pastry items.
• Manage pastry kitchen operations: sourcing ingredients, inventory and cost control.
• Train and mentor junior pastry chefs and kitchen assistants.
• Collaborate with Executive Chef and event coordinators to meet client specs.
• Maintain food safety, hygiene and sanitation protocols.
• Experiment with new flavours and techniques to stay pastry trends-forward.
• Manage production schedules for timely order delivery.
• Uphold brand excellence and creativity.

Skills

Leadership

Pastry design

Sugar work

Chocolate sculpting

Cake decorating

Food safety

Education

Formal pastry qualification

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Pastry Chef in Gauteng to lead the pastry department for weddings, corporate events and private celebrations. You will design and execute exquisite desserts, mentoring junior staff and collaborating with the Executive Chef to meet client specifications.

The role demands artistic vision, meticulous attention to detail and mastery of patisserie techniques, including sugar work and chocolate sculpting, in a fast-paced luxury kitchen.