Sous Chef

Craven Cottage CC; Stellenbosch; On-site; ZAR 420,000 - 560,000; Full time

Job summary

Craven Cottage CC in Stellenbosch is seeking an experienced Senior Chef for a fine dining kitchen specializing in Asian (Japanese) cuisine. You will lead culinary teams, supervise food preparation, and maintain high restaurant standards.

Responsibilities include training staff, managing stock, ensuring FIFO, quality control, menu development, health and safety, and rosters. The role requires a Culinary Diploma and 4+ years of senior chef experience, with strong leadership and communication.

Qualifications

• Culinary Diploma required.
• 4+ years as a Senior Chef with fine dining and Asian/Japanese cuisine experience.
• Own transport with valid driver’s license.
• Proven leadership and management abilities.
• Able to work in a team and show initiative.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead kitchen staff in the head chef's absence.
• Oversee stock, ingredients, and FIFO system.
• Ensure daily quality, presentation, and temperature of dishes.
• Train and assess staff; monitor health and safety.
• Assist with menu creation and event planning.
• Maintain rosters and scheduling.
• Minimize waste and manage budgetary concerns.
• Maintain kitchen organization and cleanliness.

Skills

Leadership

Teamwork

Communication

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Customer service

Computer skills

Education

Culinary Diploma

Tools

Word

Excel

Outlook

Job description

Responsibilities

• 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

• Culinary Diploma
• At least 4+ years experience as a Senior Chef / fine dining Restaurant & Asian (Japanese Cuisine) experience
• Own transport with valid driver's license
• 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)