Executive Sous Chef (Eastern Cape) at Sun International

Main Purpose of the Job

Responsible for the management of the kitchen operations and team within an area of the business unit (including a range of restaurant outlets and / or banqueting operations), with specific regard to:

• maximising revenue potential in specific outlets
• improving of standards of operation (including health, hygiene, safety and environmental standards)
• provide recommendations for innovative culinary products; enhancements and production
• control of kitchen operating equipment and stock
• control of kitchen spend and wastage
• team management
• implementation of culinary operational efforts to achieve the unit’s strategies and objectives.

Core behavioural competencies

• 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 / proficiency competencies

 Knowledge

• Food Costing
• Culinary Product Knowledge
• Kitchen Operational Management
• Labour legislation
• Environmental and sustainability standards

Skills

• PC skills
• Coaching
• Cooking methodologies

 Deliverables

 Delivered Culinary Plan & Results

• In collaboration with the Executive Sous Chef, develop outlet objectives and deliverables in line with the Culinary strategy
• 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

 Shift management

• 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

 Reporting

• Completes shift reports
• Produce a 10-day / 20-day and monthly food cost report
• Contributes to month-end financial reports for the outlet (Budget vs revenue, food cost, etc)
• Audit food safety standards to ensure outlet compliance with relevant legislation regulations

 Culinary Standards & Governance

• 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 and operating 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

 Financial control

• Collaborate with the Executive 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
• 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
•  Report on staffing and productivities
• Monitor departmental leave liability
• Check all outlet staff wages / spend are in line with budget as a % of revenue; maintain productivity ratios of performance for line staff

People Management

• Manage staff conditions of employment, e.g. attendance, absenteeism, leave, adherence to policies and procedures
• Manage productivities and payroll costs for the outlet
• 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

Stakeholder Relationship Management

• Liaise with F&B on food and beverage offering, menus and services in the various outlets
• Inform and update staff on objectives, shift information, VIP information, changes in regulations and the business requirements
• Communicates department’s objectives, standards and operating procedures to internal and external service providers as per SLA

Job Complexity

Know How

• Requires specialised knowledge of techniques, equipment and processes relating to culinary methodologies, products and customers
• Short term planning involves conducting the planning of activities to meet and optimise new business targets and growth in customer spending by working with others in the customer value chain;
• Organise, plan and prioritise tasks for self and team to ensure that work gets done profitably and efficiently;
• Effective scheduling to ensure that team is adequately resourced to achieve targets/meet job requirements.
• Interact with F&B customers and team - influencing, motivating and encouraging specific behaviour

Problem- Solving

• Apply business acumen and sound common sense to the overall management of culinary operations and teams within regulated standards;
• Monitor changes in the kitchen and is quick to act upon potential opportunities, risks and challenges;
• Consider all the facts, options and possible outcomes prior to making decisions;
• Analyse and diagnose product performance issues in order to maximise or leverage the strengths of the team in a competitive environment;
• Deal with diverse problems in own area, using judgment and discretion to resolve them;

 Accountability

• Provide information and make recommendations regarding products and services that will meet customer needs;
• Suggest initiatives to increase penetration of customer base;
• Solutions should be profitable and ensure the correct customer behaviour in terms of product usage;
• Optimise and streamline existing systems and processes to support the business strategy in terms of cost efficiency, managing risks and improving the service offering;
• There are guidelines/ policies and procedures in place to be followed, but the incumbent needs constantly consider ways of improving productivity and profitability.

Requirements

Education, experience and competencies required

•  Grade 12
• 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
• 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
• Demonstrated ability to make use of intermediate computer skills