Executive Chef

Recruiter

Phoenix Recruitment

Job Ref

JHB001500/DB

Date posted

Monday, July 6, 2026

Location

Durban, South Africa

Salary

Monthly

SUMMARY

Contract Catering & Canteen Company based in Durban is looking for an Executive Chef to leads high-volume food production.

You will be responsible for menu planning, bulk ingredient purchasing, and kitchen staff while strictly enforcing cost controls and OHS (Occupational Health and Safety) regulations to deliver nutritious, high-quality meals to large groups daily.

POSITION INFO

Duties: Design varied, high-volume, and nutritious weekly menus tailored to diverse employee demographics and dietary requirements Oversee the end-to-end execution of meal services, ensuring food is fresh, properly portioned, and served efficiently during peak canteen hours. Manage bulk ordering, negotiate with food suppliers, and oversee stock rotation to minimize waste and meet budgetary targets. Recruit, train, schedule, and mentor a team of sous chefs, cooks, and scullery workers to ensure a high-performing and motivated kitchen brigade. Ensure impeccable hygiene and sanitation standards (e.g., HACCP), perform daily temperature checks, and maintain a spotless record regarding local health and safety legislation. Track raw food costs (GP%), prepare variance reports, and optimize labour budgets while maintaining quality and client satisfaction. Requirements: A relevant tertiary qualification in Food Preparation or Catering Proven experience in high-volume catering, contract foodservice, or industrial canteens. Strong organizational and problem-solving skills, solid mathematical and financial acumen, and an up-to-date certification in food safety