South Africa: Head Chef – Luxury Tented Safari Camp – Kruger National Park Region | Lb posted by HotelJobs

Head Chef – Luxury Tented Safari Camp – Kruger National Park Region Role Overview: An exceptional opportunity for a passionate and experienced Head Chef to lead the culinary operation at an intimate luxury safari camp serving a maximum of 12 guests and staff. This leadership role requires a strong focus on quality, consistency, innovation, and efficient kitchen management within a high-end bush environment. Key Responsibilities: Kitchen Leadership & Food Quality Oversee daily kitchen operations and ensure exceptional meal quality and presentation Maintain consistency in recipes, ingredients, and plating standards Lead a small kitchen team of 4 chefs and 1 intern Ensure all meals reflect luxury safari dining standards Menu Development & Innovation Develop and implement creative, seasonal menus Stay current with culinary trends and introduce new ideas Ensure menus align with lodge standards and guest expectations Stock; Cost Control & Budgeting Conduct menu costing and manage food costings effectively Control departmental budget and ensure expenditure compliance Maintain COS (Cost of Sales) within budget expectations Oversee stock control, rotation, requisitions, and issue sheets Conduct weekly and month-end stock takes with management support Hygiene & Kitchen Compliance Enforce strict hygiene, safety, and food regulations at all times Maintain clean, organised, and compliant kitchen operations Ensure staff adhere to grooming and hygiene standards Team Leadership & Development Train, mentor, and develop kitchen staff and interns Manage staff discipline and performance in conjunction with management Foster a positive, high-performance kitchen culture Ensure professionalism and teamwork within the brigade Operational Support Report and follow up on kitchen equipment maintenance issues Assist with smooth coordination between kitchen and lodge operations Ensure accurate completion of all administrative kitchen processes Requirements: Minimum 5 years experience as Sous Chef or Head Chef Strong leadership and team management skills Proven experience in food costing and budget control High standards of hygiene and kitchen organisation Strong creativity with attention to detail Experience in luxury lodge or high-end hospitality environment essential Willingness to work split shifts in a remote safari setting Package & Benefits: Live-in accommodation (shared accommodation may apply preference male candidate) Meals provided 7 days off per month + 21 consecutive annual leave days 5% provident fund contribution by company Practical cook-off and interview required Please note that only suitable candidates meeting the requirements of the position will be contacted.