Senior Culinary Leadership Opportunity at Empact Group – Food Solutions
Empact Group is recruiting an experienced and commercially astute Chef to join its Food Solutions division on a permanent basis in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. This mid-senior operations role is suited to a culinary professional with strong leadership capability, menu development expertise, and proven experience managing food production in a fast-paced catering environment.
The role plays a key part in shaping food quality, operational efficiency, and cost control while supporting both strategic and day-to-day kitchen operations.
About the Role
The Chef is responsible for developing and planning menus, establishing standardised recipes and food purchasing specifications, and coordinating all food production activities within a high-volume operation. The role requires a balance of culinary creativity, operational discipline, and financial control.
This position also supports the broader management of the operation, contributing to both strategic planning and daily execution. A strong understanding of catering environments—from fine dining to restaurant-style service—is essential, along with compliance to South African food and industry legislation.
Key Responsibilities
Menu Development and Planning
The successful candidate will be responsible for developing and planning menus that meet operational requirements, customer expectations, and budgetary constraints. This includes ensuring menu variety, quality, and consistency across food offerings.
Recipe Standardisation and Procurement Specifications
Responsibilities include establishing standard recipes and food purchase specifications to ensure consistency, quality control, and cost efficiency. The Chef will ensure that purchasing aligns with approved specifications and operational needs.
Food Production Leadership
The role requires coordinating, executing, supervising, and evaluating all food production activities within a fast-paced catering operation. This includes maintaining high standards of food quality, presentation, hygiene, and service delivery.
Operational and Strategic Support
The Chef will assist with both strategic and day-to-day management of the operation. This includes supporting operational planning, improving kitchen efficiency, and contributing to continuous improvement initiatives within the food services environment.
Financial and Cost Control
A strong focus on budgetary control and food cost management is essential. The Chef must apply proven food control practices, manage wastage, and ensure that production aligns with financial targets and operational budgets.
Minimum Requirements
Candidates applying for this role must meet the following requirements:
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Relevant tertiary qualification in Hospitality or equivalent industry experience
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Proven knowledge of catering environments ranging from fine dining to restaurant dining
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Strong understanding of South African and industry-specific legislation
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Demonstrated financial acumen with proven budgetary and food control practices
Key Skills and Competencies
The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong capability in:
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Menu planning and culinary leadership
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High-volume food production management
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Cost control and budget management
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Knowledge of food safety and legislative compliance
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Operational planning and execution
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Team leadership and supervision
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Quality assurance and continuous improvement
Fundamental Competencies
This role requires an individual who is:
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Professionally driven and detail-oriented
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Strategically minded with strong operational focus
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Financially disciplined and cost-conscious
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Adaptable in fast-paced environments
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Committed to food quality, consistency, and compliance
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A confident leader with strong organisational skills
Employment Details
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Position Type: Permanent
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Company: Empact Group
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Division: Empact Group Food Solutions
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Location: Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
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Industry: Food and Beverages
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Job Functional Area: Operations
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Experience Level: Mid-Senior
Apply for Chef
Qualified candidates with strong culinary leadership experience and proven food production management capability are encouraged to submit their applications.
Applications can be submitted via the official recruitment platform below:
Apply for this position
If you do not receive feedback after applying, please consider your application unsuccessful.
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