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Head Chef

Plettenberg Bay
Salary: Market Related
Job Type: Permanent
Sectors: Hospitality
Reference: CAW000756/CH

Apply before Apr 02 2026 | 30 Days left

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Vacancy Details

Employer: South Cape Recruitment (Pty) Ltd

Head Chef:Our Client is seeking a dynamic and experienced Head Chef to lead the culinary operations of a unique hospitality venue in Plettenberg Bay.This venue combines a fine-dining restaurant, craft brewery, boutique hotel, cocktail bar, bakery, wine shop, organic kitchen garden, and nursery, and regularly hosts special events and weddings.The successful candidate will oversee day-to-day kitchen operations, drive creative menu development, and ensure consistency, quality, and cost control. This leadership role demands strong operational management, commercial awareness, and hands-on people management skills.Experience in managing large-scale events and high-volume service is essential, as the venue can seat over 400 guests during regular service and more than 500 for special events.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Kitchen Leadership & Operation

Inspire, lead, and develop a talented kitchen team, setting high standards for food preparation, presentation, and efficiency.
Oversee daily kitchen operations to ensure seamless service for both regular dining and high-volume events.
Maintain clear communication across kitchen, management, and front-of-house teams.
Ensure inventory is managed, secured, and optimised.

Menu Development & Quality

Create innovative, seasonal menus that reflect the venue’s ethos and highlight in-house offerings, including the craft brewery and organic kitchen garden.
Ensure recipes are consistently executed to perfection.
Maintain excellence in flavour, presentation, and portion control.
Handle guest feedback professionally, turning every experience into a positive one.
Collaborate with the on-site gardeners to maximise fresh, sustainable produce usage and retail opportunities.

Hygiene, Safety & Compliance

Uphold strict hygiene, food safety, and kitchen protocols at all times.
Maintain a safe, clean, and organised kitchen environment.
Oversee food labelling, storage, and waste management procedures.

Stock, Cost & Financial Control

Manage stock orders proactively to avoid shortages or wastage.
Source quality suppliers, monitor pricing, and ensure consistency.
Control food costs while optimising efficiency.
Align staffing levels with operational needs and budget requirements.

People Management & HR

Recruit, train, and mentor kitchen staff, fostering professional growth and teamwork.
Conduct performance reviews and provide coaching for continuous improvement.
Maintain high standards of dress, grooming, and workplace conduct.
Ensure all HR documentation is accurate and submitted on time.

Special Events, Weddings & Catering

Assist in creating, costing, and executing bespoke menus for weddings, events, and outside catering.
Lead the kitchen team in delivering exceptional service and presentation for large-scale events.
Maintain strict cost controls and minimise wastage during special events.

Requirements – Head Chef

Relevant culinary qualification from a recognised institution.

Minimum of 3 years’ experience as a Head Chef in a high-end à la carte restaurant.
Strong understanding of high-volume, à la carte kitchen operations and seamless service delivery; capable of managing up to 400 guests during regular service and over 500 during special events.
Proven leadership skills with the ability to motivate, develop, and manage a professional kitchen team.
Sound commercial awareness and strong cost control skills.
Commitment to the highest standards of hygiene, organisation, and attention to detail.
Ability to work effectively under pressure, lead by example, and foster teamwork in a fast-paced environment.

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About South Cape Recruitment (Pty) Ltd

We are a generalist recruitment company based in the heart of the Garden Route in the Southern Cape. Customer service is an integral part of our job and not an extension of it!
Our company’s most vital asset is its customers. Without them we would not and could not exist in business. We pride ourselves on our ethics and professional manner in which we conduct our business.

South Cape Recruitment is a personalized agency based in George in the Southern Cape. @ SCR we strive to give consistently professional and tailored service. We are a generalist Recruitment company with talented consultants who are committed to both clients and applicants.

Yvette Meyer together with her team have a range of expertise from hospitality, tourism, building, motor industry, sales & marketing, finance & administration to mention a few, thus allowing us to have a better understanding of your requirements and skills within these various sectors.

Our business philosophy is to create “WOW” moments for customers by going above and beyond their expectations.
Through our recruitment process we are able to ensure clients receive great value for money and assist with the modelling of applicant’s careers.