Hospitality

Sous Chef- Bloemfontein

Sun International·Free State, south-africa·Full Time·Contract
HospitalityFull TimeContract
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Job Purpose

  • Windmill Casino is looking for a Sous Chef to join our Food & Beverage team. The successful candidate will be responsible to manage the day-to-day delivery of the food production operation and culinary team within a specific outlet with the objectives of delivering quality culinary products, maximising revenue through controlling operational efficiencies and productivities, operating equipment and stock, in line with Company standards.

Key Performance Areas

  • Facilitate the communication and implementation of culinary deliverables for the outlet
  • Provide clear delegation of authority and accountability for deliverables
  • Manage and allocate people and operational resources
  • Communicate plans relative to promotions and strategies to relevant staff and stakeholders within the unit
  • Align plans with EE, SD and procurement transformation strategies which contribute towards BBBEE targets being achieved for the property
  • Put in place staff scheduling and duty allocations to ensure coverage
  • Handle shift briefings / handovers / shift reports
  • Manage the preparation of mise-en-place
  • Complete opening and closing checklists
  • Interact and be present on the floor during service to ensure food quality and presentation in line with standards
  • Handle any special requests, special requirements, recommendations, concerns, resolution of complaints, issues experienced during service etc.
  • Manage staff appearance and kitchen appearance/ functioning of equipment and systems for the outlet
  • Report and resolve any issues experienced
  • Monitor the cleanliness and hygiene of the kitchen before, during and after service
  • Keep up to date with regards food products, trends and cooking methodologies required to deliver menus
  • Monitor products and pricing within the outlet
  • Make recommendations of improvements to the product / menu offering
  • Compile and co-ordinate the culinary promotional calendar for the outlet
  • Monitor standards in the outlet and identify any areas of concern
  • Conduct maintenance and hygiene inspections in all areas of the kitchen
  • Monitor health, safety, hygiene and environmental elements in the outlet
  • Manage the control and storage of stock, operating expenses (gas) and operating supplies (packaging, chemicals), equipment as per SOP for the outlet
  • Investigate variances / discrepancies and take necessary action to correct
  • Monitor Culinary standards and processes
  • Control waste for the outlet
  • Work with internal stakeholders (maintenance, finance, HR, and security) to identify risk areas and address these
  • Collaborate with the Executive Sous Chef to complete the planning for the Budget and forecasts for the outlet
  • Motivate and manage Capex requirements for the outlet
  • Authorise spend in line with budget
  • Monitor food costs (purchases related to revenue)
  • Food recipe - All menu item food recipes to be documented, updated and captured into the system MC or IFS to ensure accurate food theoretical.
  • Manage the conducting of accurate stock takes for the outlet in line with Company process. Report on any variances for the outlet
  • Produce a 10-day / 20-day and monthly food cost report
  • Monitor departmental leave liability
  • Check and report on all outlet staff wages / spend are in line with budget as a % of revenue; maintain productivity ratios of performance for line staff
  • Procurement - All supplier prices and supplier price quotes to be reviewed and monitored on a monthly basis going forward to ensure we monitor and track price movements to minimize input cost fluctuations.
  • Contribute to month-end financial commentary for the outlet
  • Manage staff conditions of employment, e.g. attendance, absenteeism, leave, adherence to policies and procedures
  • Identification of employee training needs
  • Perform on the job training and coaching to close developmental gaps and build succession for a talent pipeline within the outlet
  • Manage employee relations within the department
  • Staff communication and motivation
  • Performance contracting, reviews and development
  • Provides resources and removes obstacles to performance
  • Recruit and resource for talent for positions within the department
  • Onboarding of new staff members
  • Manage staff conditions of employment, e.g. attendance, absenteeism, leave, adherence to policies and procedures
  • Identification of employee training needs
  • Perform on the job training and coaching to close developmental gaps and build succession for a talent pipeline within the outlet
  • Manage employee relations within the department
  • Staff communication and motivation
  • Performance contracting, reviews and development
  • Provides resources and removes obstacles to performance
  • Recruit and resource for talent for positions within the department
  • Onboarding of new staff members
  • Ensures that guests are treated with courtesy and respect at all times
  • Interact with guests and provide professional service standards and solutions
  • Handle any escalated complaints, disputes and suggestions as required
  • Engage with customers and provide a customer experience within the outlet / on the floor that will support brand loyalty ensuring SI as the brand of choice
  • Be present on the floor during service / promotions or functions
  • Conduct staff training on product knowledge / promotions (including promotion information, functions, facilities, etc)
  • Provide post-mortem feedback with regards promotions to ensure these are always relevant and effective
  • Shift handover ensures that staff have sufficient insights and information with regards VIP customers visiting the property

Job Requirements

Education

  • 3-Year Culinary Diploma or equivalent National Culinary Qualification at a Diploma level
  • Membership with South African Chef's Association and other relevant culinary accreditation

Experience

  • 5-6 years' experience and track record in a similarly graded hotel / restaurant kitchen environment of which at least 2 years' experience must have been as a chef de partie

Core behavioural & Technical / proficiency competencies

Behavioural:

  • Decision-making - use of initiative
  • Learning - training; coaching; staying abreast of industry developments
  • Implementing and co-ordinating - organising people; non-people resources
  • Numeracy and calculation skills
  • Analysing and diagnosing - numerical information; trends in data
  • Problem-solving
  • Making fine judgements through the senses viz colour, taste, texture

Technical:

  • Food Costing
  • Culinary Product Knowledge
  • Kitchen Operational Management
  • Labour legislation
  • Environmental and sustainability standards
  • Proficient Computer skills
  • Coaching
  • Menu engineering
  • Cooking methodology

Key skills

National Diploma

At a glance

Company

Sun International

Location

Free State, south-africa

Employment

Full Time

Experience

Valid until

Not specified

Created

October 9, 2026