Sous Chef - Banqueting & Large Events

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

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Growth opportunities

Professional development

Supportive team

Stable employment benefits

Job summary

Placements24 is recruiting a skilled Sous Chef to support the Head Chef at a high-volume event caterer in Bloemfontein. You will help manage daily kitchen operations, banqueting menus, plating, and quality presentation for large-scale events.

You will lead junior staff, monitor food costs and inventory, and ensure strict health and safety standards. Flexibility to work evenings, weekends and holidays is required to deliver exceptional culinary experiences.

Qualifications

• Must have proven experience in high-volume catering or hotel environments.
• Strong leadership and ability to mentor junior kitchen staff.
• Excellent culinary skills across various cooking methods and cuisines.
• Knowledge of food safety standards and best practices.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Basic understanding of food costing and inventory management.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Head Chef in overseeing all kitchen operations for banqueting and events.
• Supervise and mentor junior kitchen staff, ensure recipe adherence and quality.
• Manage inventory, food ordering and stock rotation to control costs.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety and hygiene regulations.
• Prepare dishes and components with high culinary technique.
• Contribute to menu development and innovation.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of the kitchen and storage areas.
• Coordinate with event managers and front-of-house for seamless service.
• Step in to lead the kitchen in the Head Chef's absence.

Skills

Banqueting & events

Culinary excellence

Leadership

Food safety

Under pressure

Communication

Costing & inventory

Shift flexibility

Mentoring staff

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading event caterer in Bloemfontein , is seeking a skilled and dedicated Sous Chef to support the Head Chef in managing daily kitchen operations, particularly focusing on large-scale banqueting and event catering. This role is crucial for ensuring the smooth execution of high-volume food production while maintaining exceptional quality and presentation standards. The ideal candidate will possess strong culinary skills, leadership capabilities, and the ability to work efficiently under pressure in a demanding event environment. You will play an integral part in delivering outstanding culinary experiences for a variety of clients in the Free State region.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist the Head Chef in overseeing all aspects of kitchen operations, including food preparation, cooking, and plating for banqueting and events.
• Supervise and mentor junior kitchen staff, ensuring adherence to recipes and quality standards.
• Manage inventory, food ordering, and stock rotation to minimize waste and control costs.
• Ensure strict compliance with all health, safety, and hygiene regulations within the kitchen.
• Prepare specific dishes and components as required, demonstrating a high level of culinary technique.
• Contribute to menu development and innovation, suggesting new dishes and improvements.
• Maintain the cleanliness and organization of the kitchen, including equipment and storage areas.
• Coordinate with event managers and front-of-house staff to ensure seamless service delivery.
• Step in to lead the kitchen in the absence of the Head Chef.

Requirements

• Proven experience as a Sous Chef or a Senior Chef de Partie within a high-volume catering or hotel environment.
• Strong understanding of banqueting and event catering operations.
• Excellent culinary skills across various cooking methods and cuisines.
• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory abilities.
• Knowledge of food safety standards and best practices.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Basic understanding of food costing and inventory management.
• Flexibility to work varied shifts, including evenings, weekends, and public holidays, as needed in Bloemfontein .

Benefits

• Competitive salary package.
• Opportunity to work with a reputable and established catering company.
• Gain extensive experience in large-scale event catering.
• Professional development and training opportunities.
• Supportive team environment focused on culinary excellence in Bloemfontein .
• Standard employment benefits.