Sous Chef

Craven Cottage CC; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 240,000 - 360,000; Full time

Job summary

Craven Cottage CC in Cape Town seeks an experienced Sous Chef to lead kitchen staff in the head chef’s absence and ensure smooth operation during service.

You will mentor junior cooks, manage stock, enforce FIFO, maintain quality and presentation, assist in menu development, and uphold health and safety standards while controlling waste and costs.

Strong leadership, teamwork, and communication skills are essential, as is the ability to work evenings, weekends and holidays.

Qualifications

• 4+ years experience in a Sous Chef position
• Culinary Diploma completed
• Leadership and management capabilities
• Able to work in a team
• Exceptional customer-service skills
• Excellent written & oral communication
• Strong organizational skills
• Attention to detail
• Availability to work evenings, weekends and holidays

Responsibilities

• Lead kitchen staff in the head chef's absence and during service
• Guide junior kitchen staff on line cooking, prep and plating
• Oversee kitchen stock and ingredients; ensure FIFO and proper dating
• Maintain quality checks on every dish for presentation and temperature
• Train and assess staff; monitor waste and cost controls
• Assist with menu creation and health & safety compliance

Skills

Leadership

Teamwork

Communication

Customer service

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Computer skills

Education

Culinary Diploma

Grade 12

Tools

MS Word

MS Excel

Outlook

Job description

Duties:

• Manage and lead the kitchen staff in chef’s absence
• Provides guidance to junior kitchen staff members, including but not limited, to line cooking, food preparation and dish plating
• Oversees and organizes kitchen stock and ingredients
• Ensures a first-in, first-out food rotation system and verifies all food products are properly dated and organized for quality assurance
• Keeps cooking stations stocked, especially before and during prime operation hours
• Train and assess staff on the job
• Manages food and product ordering by keeping detailed records and minimizes waste, plus works with existing systems to improve waste reduction and manage budgetary concerns
• Supervises all food preparation and presentation to ensure quality and restaurant standards
• Works with head chef to maintain kitchen organization, staff ability and training opportunities
• Assists head chef with menu creation
• Monitor and maintain health and safety
• Maintain staff and leave rosters
• Ensure that all CDPs are familiar with the weekly and daily reservations, events and menu requirements
• Ensure that each dish leaving the kitchen is checked for quality, quantity, presentation and correct temperature

Requirements:

• Grade 12
• Culinary Diploma
• 4+ years previous experience in a Sous Chef position
• Asian Cuisine experience will be an advantage
• Leadership and management skills
• Able to work in a team
• Basic computer skills (word, excel, outlook)
• Exceptional customer-service skills
• Excellent written & oral communication skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Attention to detail
• Availability to work within opening hours (e.g. evenings, public holidays, weekends)