Head Chef - Luxury Boutique Hotel - Franschhoek

Kendrick Recruitment is seeking a creative and charismatic Head Chef for a prestigious luxury boutique hotel in Franschhoek. This is a rare opportunity for a seasoned culinary leader to craft innovative country cuisine with a contemporary twist, drawing inspiration from South African flavours while leaving their own creative mark.

What’s on offer:

• Competitive luxury hospitality salary

• Work in a high-end, professional environment

• Lead a talented kitchen team and shape the dining experience

• Opportunity to create and implement seasonal menus inspired by South African heritage

The Role:
The Head Chef will oversee all kitchen operations, ensuring consistent high-quality food, exceptional presentation, and guest satisfaction.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading, mentoring, and motivating kitchen staff to achieve excellence

• Developing seasonal menus and ensuring accurate costing of all dishes

• Maintaining exceptional hygiene, food safety, and kitchen standards

• Supervising daily kitchen operations and ensuring smooth workflow

• Training and coaching staff on cooking techniques and plate presentation

• Monitoring stock, controlling wastage, and managing budgets

• Creating decorative food displays and ensuring every dish reflects quality and creativity

• Liaising with guests to obtain feedback and continually improve the dining experience

• Hiring, scheduling, and reviewing kitchen staff performance

• Enforcing safety procedures and hotel operational policies

• Driving innovation while maintaining consistency in all culinary output

Who they’re looking for:

• Formal cookery school qualification

• 10+ years’ experience as a Chef, with at least 5 years as Head or Executive Chef

• Exceptional leadership, decision-making, and organisational skills

• Creative flair with a deep understanding of South African and Western Cape culinary heritage

• Charismatic, reliable, and able to communicate effectively with team and guests

• Passionate about mentoring staff and fostering a positive, professional kitchen culture

If you are a visionary culinary professional ready to lead a high-end kitchen and craft unforgettable guest experiences, this is the opportunity for you!

Apply now: Send your CV to Lucy@kendrickrecruitment.com