Our client, is one of South Africa’s oldest working farms, strategically located in the heart of Stellenbosch Winelands. We have an opportunity for an experienced Senior Sous Chef to join our client’s culinary team.

Position Scope

To support the Executive Chef and Head Chef in leading the Hotel Kitchen, ensuring exceptional food and guest experiences, efficient operations, strong cost control, and compliance with our Client’s quality, sustainability, and service standards.

Core Responsibilities

Support the Executive Chef and Head Chef in delivering exceptional culinary experiences and consistently high standards of food quality, presentation, and service. 

• Assist with the development and execution of innovative, seasonal, sustainable, and locally sourced menus aligned with our Client’s culinary philosophy
• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop the kitchen team through hands-on leadership, practical training, daily briefings, skills assessments, and regular feedback
• Foster a positive, inclusive, accountable, and high-performance team culture aligned with our Client’s values 
• Support recruitment, onboarding, performance management, career development, and succession planning 
• Manage daily kitchen operations effectively, including planning, scheduling, task allocation, resource management, and service execution
• Maintain kitchen equipment, facilities, operational checklists, cleaning schedules, and food safety records to ensure consistent standards 
• Drive continuous improvement in kitchen efficiency, productivity, quality, service delivery, and team performance
• Support financial management through effective control of food costs, labour costs, stock, procurement, wastage, and operating expenses 
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, optimise resources, reduce costs, and support departmental profitability 
• Champion our Client’s sustainability commitments through responsible sourcing, waste reduction, energy conservation, ethical food practices, and collaboration with local producers 
• Ensure compliance with food safety, hygiene, health and safety, and legislative requirements, maintaining audit-ready standards at all times 
• Promote a strong safety culture and ensure all team members understand and follow established procedures
• Build effective relationships with Hotel Operations, HR, Finance, Procurement, Sustainability, Maintenance, suppliers, and other stakeholders
• Promote our Client’s values, culture, sustainability commitments, and service standards through professional conduct and decision-making

Experience, Qualification & Skill

• Remain actively involved in the kitchen, leading from the front and setting standards through cooking, coaching, mentoring, and supporting the team during service. Minimum 5 years’ relevant kitchen experience, preferably in a high-end hospitality environment
• Relevant Culinary Arts, Professional Cookery, Chef, or Hospitality Management qualification desirable
• Proven experience in leading, managing, coaching, and developing kitchen teams
• Excellent knowledge of culinary techniques, food preparation, presentation, and kitchen operations
• Strong product knowledge with a passion for maintaining high culinary standards and exceeding guest expectations 
• Strong financial, organisational, administrative, and time management skills. 
• Hands-on leadership style with excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Able to work effectively under pressure and adapt to changing operational demands
• Flexible and able to work across all kitchen sections when required
• Positive, proactive, professional, and service-oriented approach
• Environmentally responsible with an interest in sustainability and continuous learning

Start date:

Priority Position

Remuneration Guide:

Competitive CTC

Consideration

Candidates, who are already residing in the Cape Winelands Region will have preference. We can only consider South African Citizens or applicants who hold a valid South African Permanent Residence! No Work Permit applications will be accepted! Applicants, who live in other provinces of South Africa still need to attend personal interviews and if requested to do any cook-offs, will do so completely at their own expense. We handle high volumes of applications daily and will only be able to reply, via e-mail, to candidates who have met our clients’ requirements.

Due to the high volume of CV’s received, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

All applications submitted must contain:

• Updated CV with contactable references
• Certified Tertiary Educational documents
• Certified Written Reference Letters
• Recent presentable profile photo

How to apply

Email us at info@pmrecruitment.co.za

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