Head Chef

HEAD CHEF – THE SAINT JAMES ON VENICE

Location: Morningside, DurbanPosition: Full-Time Head Chef

The Saint James on Venice is looking for a talented, passionate and hands-on Head Chef to lead our kitchen and help develop an exceptional food offering for our boutique hotel.

We are looking for someone who combines excellent cooking ability with strong leadership, creativity and commercial awareness. The successful candidate will take ownership of the kitchen operation and play an important role in developing the food experience at Saint James.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the day-to-day operation of the hotel kitchen.
• Develop attractive, high-quality and commercially viable menus.
• Oversee breakfast service and food offerings for hotel guests.
• Develop menus and catering packages for private functions, weddings, conferences and special events.
• Maintain consistently high standards of food quality, taste, presentation and portion control.
• Manage food costs, wastage, stock levels and kitchen profitability.
• Source ingredients and work closely with suppliers to achieve the right balance between quality and cost.
• Manage kitchen purchasing, receiving, storage and stock control.
• Recruit, train, supervise and motivate kitchen staff.
• Prepare staff rosters and ensure the kitchen is adequately staffed for hotel occupancy and functions.
• Ensure excellent kitchen hygiene, food safety and cleanliness standards at all times.
• Implement kitchen procedures, recipes, portion standards and food-costing systems.
• Work closely with hotel management to create seasonal menus, promotions and new dining concepts.
• Cater effectively for dietary requirements and guest requests.
• Maintain consistency regardless of whether preparing breakfast for a small number of guests or catering for a large function.
• Take ownership of the kitchen and continuously identify opportunities to improve the guest experience.

What We Are Looking For

The ideal candidate should have:

• Previous experience as a Head Chef, Executive Chef or strong Sous Chef ready to step up.
• Experience within a hotel, restaurant, function venue or hospitality environment.
• Strong culinary skills with excellent attention to presentation.
• Experience with breakfast, à la carte and function/event catering.
• Good understanding of food costing, gross profit, portion control and stock management.
• Strong leadership and staff-management skills.
• Ability to develop menus and accurately cost dishes.
• Ability to work under pressure while maintaining consistent standards.
• Excellent hygiene and food-safety knowledge.
• Strong organisational and communication skills.
• A hands-on attitude and willingness to work alongside the kitchen team.
• Creativity and enthusiasm for developing new dishes and concepts.

The Type of Chef We Want

We are looking for someone who wants to build something special, rather than simply maintain an existing kitchen.

The right candidate will have the freedom to bring ideas to the table and help shape the future food identity of The Saint James on Venice as the property continues to develop.

We want a chef who takes pride in their food, understands the importance of cost control and treats every plate served as part of the guest’s overall Saint James experience.

To Apply

Please submit:

• Your CV
• Current/most recent position
• Expected salary
• Notice period / availability
• References
• Photographs or portfolio of dishes you have personally prepared, where available

Experience in boutique hotels, restaurants, weddings and function catering will be highly advantageous.

Pay: R15 000,00 - R30 000,00 per month

Work Location: In person