Junior Pastry Sous Chef

About the role

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, part of Accor, is hiring a Junior Pastry Sous Chef in Cape Town. The role coordinates and ensures the smooth flow of pastry and bakery operations across all hotel outlets, maintains and enhances pastry products through creative menu development and presentation, and acts as deputy to the Pastry Senior Sous Chef.

Key responsibilities

• Supervise and control daily pastry production and enforce pastry standards in line with hotel requirements
• Assist the Executive Pastry Chef and the Pastry Senior Sous Chef in creating and implementing pastry standards
• Act as deputy to the Pastry Senior Sous Chef in their absence
• Help plan menus, assist with recipe costing and follow portion and yield standards
• Ensure accurate mise en place, consistent quality of pastry and desserts, and accurate allergen labelling
• Enforce hygiene standards, conduct regular inspections, and keep hygiene records up to date for audits
• Manage stock: run accurate stock takes, plan par levels and store goods safely
• Train and develop team members, run daily shift briefings and share ideas in pastry meetings
• Follow sustainability practices such as seasonal ingredients, minimising single-use plastics and using the Winnow device

Required profile

• Minimum of 4 years of progressive pastry experience in a luxury hotel kitchen or related field, including at least 2 years in a supervisory role
• Matric and a registered Culinary Diploma (Level 3 or higher); pastry specialization advantageous
• International experience advantageous
• Fluent English (verbal and written); second language is an asset
• Flexible to early and late shifts, weekends and public holidays, and able to stand for long periods in hot and cold kitchens

Required skills

• Sound knowledge of pastry, bakery, chocolate and plated dessert production, including banqueting events
• Computer literacy in Excel, Word, Outlook and materials (ordering and stock systems)
• Analytical thinking, leadership and communication skills, and strong guest service skills