Hospitality & Outdoor
Starting Date: ASAP
Establishment: Game Lodge
Additional Benefits:
HousingMeals
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Hospitality and Outdoor – New Vacancy – Head Chef
Luxury Wilderness Lodge – Clanwilliam – Western Cape
An exciting opportunity is available for an energetic and creative Head Chef to lead the kitchen at a luxury wilderness lodge near Clanwilliam. The successful candidate will bring fresh ideas, strong leadership and a genuine passion for creating memorable guest dining experiences. This role suits a hands-on culinary professional who enjoys working with seasonal produce, developing homemade dishes and maintaining excellent standards across all areas of the kitchen.
Job Description & Requirements:
- Lead daily kitchen operations while maintaining consistently high standards of food quality, flavour and presentation.
- Develop creative seasonal menus that balance guest expectations, operational requirements, quality and budget.
- Prepare and oversee a variety of homemade products, including breads, pastries, sausages, desserts and gelato.
- Ensure guests’ preferences, dietary requirements and feedback are considered when planning and preparing meals.
- Manage food costs, kitchen budgets, stock levels, ordering and supplier relationships.
- Monitor portion control, wastage and stock rotation to support profitability and efficient kitchen operations.
- Maintain excellent kitchen hygiene, food safety, cleanliness and equipment standards.
- Ensure all kitchen operations comply with relevant health and safety requirements.
- Lead, mentor, motivate and train the kitchen team, encouraging accountability and professional development.
- Plan kitchen schedules and allocate responsibilities to support smooth service.
- Keep menus fresh and relevant through an awareness of current food trends, seasonal ingredients and sustainable practices.
- Work closely with the wider lodge team to deliver a seamless and memorable guest experience.
- A recognised culinary qualification or equivalent is essential.
- A minimum of two to three years of relevant culinary experience is required.
- Previous experience in a high-end lodge or restaurant environment is essential.
- Experience within a boutique or smaller establishment would be advantageous.
- Strong leadership, communication, organisational and cost-control skills are required.
- Must be creative, flexible and comfortable working under pressure.
- Must be available to work evenings, weekends and public holidays when required.
Package
- Salary: Market Related
- Accommodation: Live-in
- Meals provided
- Professional development opportunities
- Three-weeks-on, one-week-off work cycle
