Catering Manager (Grahamstown)

Are you a passionate and driven Catering Manager ready to take ownership of a high-profile, fast-paced operation? Our client is seeking a dynamic leader based in Grahamstown to oversee a high-volume catering unit within a thriving hospitality environment. This is an exciting opportunity for a results-oriented professional who thrives under pressure and takes pride in delivering exceptional food quality, outstanding client service, and seamless operational excellence.

The ideal candidate will bring strong leadership, financial acumen, and operational expertise, ensuring the unit consistently performs at its best while maintaining the highest standards of compliance, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.

Responsibilities

Managing daily operations of the assigned unit in accordance with sector strategy, contract specifications, and statutory regulations. Implementation of the food production process. Provide great quality service to clients. Manage the execution of creative functions. Menu planning, standardization, adoption and costing.

Monitor the kitchen to ensure the cooks are using standardized recipes and the quality of food is of the highest standard. Daily bookkeeping procedures – capturing of issues, sales, stock. Managing the Food GP’s as per the budgeted targets. Managing the unit’s budgets to ensure that the budgeted targets are met monthly.

Implementation of minimum & maximum stock levels to control stock days. Managing the HSE daily to ensure all records are up to date. Managing People (i.e. staffing – workforce planning, payroll administration, leave management, performance management). Managing Customer Experience. Strict management of service levels to client SLA.

Requirements

Grade 12. Relevant tertiary qualification in food and beverage services or hospitality or culinary arts is preferred. Five years' work in a similar environment. Experience gained in most functions of this position. Project Management experience in the hospitality/catering industry would be an advantage Experience in costing, budgets, forecasts and invoicing is advantageous. Proven experience in managing successful departments/teams.