Premium Ad Tourism/Hospitality - Other Tourism/Hospitality Somerset West FULL TIME Job Summary Purpose of the Role To lead and manage the kitchen operation while overseeing front-of-house flow in an open-kitchen setting, ensuring strict adherence to recipes, preparation methods, and service standards. The role requires a steady leader who protects quality daily, trains teams to work to system, and ensures the guest experience consistently reflects the restaurant’s values. Key Responsibilities Include But Are Not Limited To * Leading the kitchen team with calm, consistent, hands-on leadership * Ensuring strict adherence to recipes, prep methods, portion control and Italian cooking techniques * Maintaining disciplined mise en place, storage, labelling and stock rotation * Monitoring heat control, timing and technique to prevent waste, burning or poor execution * Tasting food daily and correcting quality issues immediately * Training and retraining staff to ensure standards are followed automatically * Preventing shortcuts and poor prep practices through proactive supervision * Overseeing kitchen cleanliness, organisation and operational efficiency * Managing stock control, ordering, waste reduction and prep planning * Maintaining a visible, professional presence in an open-kitchen environment * Overseeing front-of-house flow, pacing and communication to support smooth service * Stepping in early to address service or communication breakdowns between kitchen and FOH * Leading by example with punctuality, professionalism and attention to detail * Providing feedback and operational input to the owners to support continuous improvement Criteria * Proven experience in a kitchen leadership or kitchen management role * Strong background in Italian or Italian-style cuisine, with pizza and pasta experience a distinct advantage * Disciplined approach to systems, standards and consistency * Confident and fair leader able to correct staff and hold standards without aggression * Experience managing kitchen teams, prep schedules, stock control and service delivery * Comfortable working in an open-kitchen environment and representing the brand daily * Solid understanding of health, safety and hygiene standards * Organised, observant and detail-focused * Able to remain calm, focused and effective under pressure * Formal culinary training is advantageous Helderberg Personnel Recruiter