Culinary Manager, Africa

2 weeks ago

Johannesburg, South Africa World Central Kitchen Full time

**Duration**: The Culinary Manager is a **two (2) year term** **contract position** with the opportunity for renewal, offering a unique chance to lead and shape WCK's responses.

This position reports directly to the Response Director during activations, and the Senior Manager while off activation.

**Preferred Location(s)**: Africa - Must live within one (1) hour of an international airport.- Lagos, Nigeria
- Nairobi, Kenya
- Johannesburg, South Africa

**Key Responsibilities**:
**Activation Management**
- Respond within four (4) hours notice to a disaster area to act as Culinary Manager, managing relief operations on the ground, or in rare cases, remotely.
- Lead and manage field teams specializing in culinary operations. Ensure strategic and streamlined implementation of relief activities on the ground, operationalizing WCK’s North Star values.
- Design and implement response strategies in the field that are adaptable and robust enough to function in high-stress, dynamic environments affected by natural disasters or conflicts.
- Recruit, onboard, train and manage culinary teams, including local hires and Corps members in the field.
- Consult on the scope of the response, and manage or implement Culinary operations.
- Provide regular updates on operations to the Response Director to ensure ongoing, transparent information sharing across the organization.
- Collaborate with all WCK departments on the ground, or remotely to support the needs of the activation.
- Ensure smooth transitions and complete handovers with other Activation Managers, and between Response Corps team members when rotating field teams through phases of the activation.
- Complete the After-Action Report process immediately following activation wind-down, collating and drawing learnings for process improvement.

**Culinary Operations**
- Design and manage high-volume production kitchens with locally led chef teams, ensuring the preparation of culturally appropriate meals for affected populations.
- Direct and oversee multiple modalities of rapid food production, across many kitchens in low-resource, austere environments.
- Create or advise on rotating menus; prepare order lists informed by local culinary partners, soliciting regular feedback from field teams and guaranteeing that all meals are culturally aligned and served with dignity and respect.
- Manage and liaise with the procurement and logistics team to predict future production capacity and timelines; maintaining daily pull lists, tight inventory, and procurement of fresh, high quality ingredients.
- Guide and teach WCK culinary teams and vendor partners (restaurants, catering companies, food trucks etc) to adhere to high standards of food safety, temperature, quality, hygiene, and scalability. Ensure all meals are prepared in a timely manner to be ready for distribution teams.

**Budgeting and Logistics**
- Work with the finance team and Response Director to share cost projections for culinary operations, focusing on meal production and logístical needs.
- Collaborate with the procurement and logistics team to source materials and supplies efficiently and ensure timely delivery to affected areas.

**Personnel Management and Training**
- Recruit, train, and motivate diverse culinary teams on activation, ensuring a high-performance culture aligned with WCK’s North Star.
- Provide leadership, mentorship, training and support to team members, promoting a culture of urgency, accountability, adaptability and continuous learning within the team.
- Address personnel issues on activations in real time, and provide regular performance feedback on Corps members.
- Support the recruitment of Corps members, and manage personnel effectively on the ground to foster growth and ensure a diverse pipeline of activation leadership.
- Identify professional development needs and gaps in culinary capabilities to arrange for appropriate training, and provide this feedback to relevant stakeholders for implementation.

**Community and Stakeholder Engagement**
- Build strong relationships with local communities first.
- Ensure the teams conduct outreach and engagement activities that contribute to WCK’s reputation as an effective, compassionate, and reliable relief organization.
- Represent WCK in the field, acting as an ambassador to beneficiaries, partners, and the media, as required.

**Requirements**:

- Ability to spend up to 70% of the time in the field. The typical duration of an activation is four (4) weeks, though timelines could be longer.
- Must live within one (1) hour of an international airport or be willing to relocate.
- Willingness and ability to travel frequently to remote and potentially hazardous locations within four hours notice.
- Bachelor's degree and/or equivalent is preferred, or 5+ years of experience in management roles, preferably in fast-paced, ever-changing environments, including military, emergency response, culinary, humanitarian, or event management settings.
- Experienc

  • Culinary Manager, Africa

    2 weeks ago

    Johannesburg, South Africa World Central Kitchen Full time

    World Central Kitchen is seeking a highly skilled chef, and innovative Manager to lead Culinary Operations on the ground to ensure the service of nourishing, comforting meals to disaster-affected communities. The ideal candidate is a committed, innovative Culinary expert who thrives in fast-moving, rapidly changing environments, and is able to develop...

  • Culinary Director

    7 months ago

    Johannesburg, South Africa The Chefs Connection Full time

    **Job Title: Culinary Director - Seafood Market Retail, Sushi Bar, Raw Bar, and Seafood Grill** **Location**: Johannesburg, South Africa Are you passionate about seafood and culinary innovation? Do you have a knack for leading culinary teams to success? We're seeking a dynamic Culinary Director to join our team in Johannesburg, specializing in seafood...

  • National Sales Manager

    4 months ago

    Johannesburg, South Africa Capsicum Culinary Studio Full time

    Division Tertiary Business Unit Capsicum Culinary Studio Minimum experience Mid-Senior Company primary industry Hospitality Job functional area Other **LOCATION**: Johannesburg **OVERALL PURPOSE OF THIS JOB**: To ensure that company has an effective sales strategy which includes Capsicum Culinary Studio and IIE_HSM **KEY RESULT AREAS**: - Develop the...

  • Head Culinary Operations Manager

    1 month ago

    Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa Staff Connection Full time

    Staff Connection seeks an experienced Executive Chef to lead our culinary team. The ideal candidate will have a passion for innovation and a proven track record in managing high-end food operations.About the RoleThis is a fantastic opportunity to join our dynamic team and take on a senior leadership role. As Executive Chef, you will be responsible for...

  • Culinary Operations Manager

    1 month ago

    Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa Dream Hotels and Resorts Full time

    Dream Hotels and Resorts: Culinary Operations ManagerWe are seeking a highly skilled Culinary Operations Manager to join our team at Dream Hotels and Resorts. As a key member of our culinary team, you will play a pivotal role in managing the day-to-day kitchen operations, leading the culinary team, ensuring food quality and safety, and delivering exceptional...

  • Student Advisor

    4 months ago

    Johannesburg, South Africa Capsicum Culinary Studio Full time

    Division Tertiary Business Unit Capsicum Culinary Studio Minimum experience Entry Level Company primary industry Hospitality Job functional area Sales **LOCATION**: Johannesburg **PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THIS JOB**: Responsible for growing and maintaining the Capsicum Culinary Studio Brand and achieving targeted growth. **KEY RESULT AREAS**: **Output** -...

  • Student Advisor

    4 weeks ago

    Johannesburg, South Africa Capsicum Culinary Studio Full time

    Division Tertiary Business Unit Capsicum Culinary Studio Minimum experience Entry Level Company primary industry Hospitality Job functional area Sales **LOCATION**: Rosebank Campus **PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THIS JOB**: Responsible for growing and maintaining the Capsicum Culinary Studio Brand and achieving targeted growth. **KEY RESULT AREAS** **To build...

  • Culinary Operations Manager

    1 month ago

    Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa Dream Hotels and Resorts Full time

    Job Summary:We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Culinary Operations Manager to join our team at Dream Hotels and Resorts. This is a dynamic role that requires strong leadership skills, culinary expertise, and the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.About the Role:Culinary Leadership: As a key member of our culinary team, you will be...

  • Culinary Operations Manager

    4 weeks ago

    Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa Dream Hotels and Resorts Full time

    About Dream Hotels and ResortsDream Hotels and Resorts is a leading hospitality company that prides itself on delivering exceptional dining experiences to its guests. Our team of culinary experts is dedicated to providing high-quality food and services that meet the expectations of our discerning guests.Job SummaryWe are seeking an experienced Culinary...

  • Student Advisor

    6 months ago

    Johannesburg, South Africa Capsicum Culinary Studio Full time

    Division Tertiary Business Unit Capsicum Culinary Studio Minimum experience Entry Level Company primary industry Hospitality Job functional area Sales **LOCATION**: Johannesburg P**RIMARY PURPOSE OF THIS JOB**: Responsible for growing and maintain the Capsicum Culinary Studio Brand and achieving targeted growth **KEY RESULT AREAS**: **Output** - To...

  • Culinary Director

    2 weeks ago

    Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa Staff Connection Full time

    Job DescriptionWe are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Culinary Director to lead our team at Staff Connection. As the head of our culinary operations, you will be responsible for menu development, kitchen management, and ensuring exceptional dining experiences for our guests.

  • National Sales

    2 months ago

    Johannesburg, South Africa Capsicum Culinary Studio Full time

    Division Tertiary Business Unit Capsicum Culinary Studio Minimum experience Mid-Senior Company primary industry Hospitality Job functional area Other **LOCATION**: Johannesburg **OVERALL PURPOSE OF THIS JOB**: To ensure that company has an effective sales & Marketing strategy which includes Capsicum Culinary Studio and IIE School of Hospitality and...

  • Senior Culinary Operations Manager

    4 weeks ago

    Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa Prospect Staffing SA Full time

    Job DescriptionWe are seeking a seasoned Senior Culinary Operations Manager to lead our kitchen team at Prospect Staffing SA. This is a full-time, permanent position offering a competitive salary of R350,000 - R400,000 per annum.About the RoleThe successful candidate will oversee all culinary operations, including food preparation, cooking, and plating. They...

  • Deputy Campus Head

    8 months ago

    Johannesburg, South Africa Capsicum Culinary Studio Full time

    Division Tertiary Business Unit Capsicum Culinary Studio Minimum experience Mid-Senior Company primary industry Education Management Job functional area Education **LOCATION**: Johannesburg **PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THIS JOB**: To ensure the professional general management and excellent performance of Capsicum Culinary Studio’s campuses in terms of its...

  • Culinary Director

    1 month ago

    Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa Dream Hotels and Resorts Full time

    Job OverviewDream Hotels and Resorts seeks a highly skilled Culinary Director to lead its culinary team. Reporting directly to the Food and Beverage Manager, this individual will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of food preparation, menu planning, kitchen operations, and culinary experiences for guests.Responsibilities:Kitchen LeadershipMenu...

  • Deputy Campus Head Johannesburg

    6 months ago

    Johannesburg, South Africa Capsicum Culinary Studio Full time

    Division Tertiary Business Unit Capsicum Culinary Studio Minimum experience Mid-Senior Company primary industry Education Management Job functional area Education **LOCATION**: Johannesburg **PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THIS JOB**: To ensure the professional general management and excellent performance of Capsicum Culinary Studio’s campuses in terms of its...

  • Culinary Arts Educator

    4 weeks ago

    Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa ADvTECH Full time

    Job Title: Culinary Arts EducatorAbout the Role:We are seeking an experienced and passionate Culinary Arts Educator to join our team at ADvTECH. As a Senior Chef Instructor, you will play a vital role in delivering high-quality culinary education to students, promoting individual creativity, and driving excellence in the culinary arts.About You:You have a...

  • Senior Culinary Director

    3 weeks ago

    Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa Staff Connection Full time

    We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Culinary Director to lead our culinary team at Staff Connection. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience as an Executive Chef in an upmarket environment and possess excellent leadership skills.Job OverviewThe Senior Culinary Director will be responsible for creating innovative menus, managing food costs, and...

  • Head Culinary Director

    1 week ago

    Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa Prospect Staffing SA Full time

    Job Description: Head Culinary DirectorProspect Staffing SA is currently recruiting for a Head Culinary Director to lead our culinary team. As the most senior chef in the kitchen, you will oversee menu planning, food preparation, and presentation. You will also be responsible for ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations, managing inventory, and...

  • Executive Culinary Director

    1 month ago

    Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa Prospect Staffing SA Full time

    Job Title: Executive Culinary DirectorWe are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Executive Culinary Director to lead our kitchen team at Prospect Staffing SA. As a key member of our management team, you will be responsible for overseeing the culinary operations of our establishment.Key Responsibilities:Develop and implement menus that showcase your...