Visionary Head Chef - Fine Dining & Catering Lead

Placements24; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Provident fund

Career growth opportunities

Excellent kitchen facilities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a visionary Head Chef to lead the culinary team for an upscale restaurant and large catering operation in Pretoria. You will drive menu development, kitchen leadership, and cost controls while maintaining top quality and hygiene standards.

The role requires significant senior-level kitchen experience, formal culinary qualifications, and a track record of excellence in demanding settings. Flexibility to work weekends and holidays is expected.

Qualifications

• Extensive leadership experience in a senior culinary role (7+ years).
• Proven ability to design high-quality menus and cost recipes.
• Strong cost control, budgeting, and supplier management.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the entire kitchen brigade for restaurant and catering operations.
• Design, develop and implement innovative menus considering seasonality and cost.
• Oversee all food prep, cooking, presentation, and standardization.
• Manage inventory, ordering, receiving, and storage to minimize waste.
• Enforce health, safety and sanitation standards (HACCP).
• Collaborate on menu costing, pricing strategies and kitchen budgeting.
• Maintain relationships with suppliers to ensure quality and terms.
• Train, mentor and assess kitchen staff; monitor staffing levels.

Skills

Leadership

Menu engineering

Food costing

HACCP

Staff development

Budgeting

Education

Formal culinary qualifications

Job description

Placements24 is seeking a visionary Head Chef to lead the culinary team for an upscale restaurant and large catering operation in Pretoria. You will drive menu development, kitchen leadership, and cost controls while maintaining top quality and hygiene standards.

The role requires significant senior-level kitchen experience, formal culinary qualifications, and a track record of excellence in demanding settings. Flexibility to work weekends and holidays is expected.