Job Description

Permanent role based in Cape Town, working at UCOOK Warehouse (Paarden Eiland) and Head office (Woodstock) and weekly visits to the Store (Claremont).

Direct line manager:

Product Developer Manager



In office Monday - Friday, with potential weekend work as required

Working hours:

7am - 4pm, with potential overtime as required



Assistant cook/s and interns report into this role



An exciting opportunity has become available in our UCOOK division.

ABOUT US

Silvertree Brands builds disruptive purpose-driven consumer and digital brands. Our power brands include UCOOK, Faithful to Nature, PetHeaven and SKOON. We focus on building amazing customer experiences that are "Good for you, good for the planet." We trust our employees with full accountability and autonomy from day one. This unique entrepreneurial and performance-driven culture enables us to achieve executional excellence.



At UCOOK we create 32 new meal kit recipes (dinners and lunch) for our customers to choose from each week, and we deliver fresh, locally-sourced and ethical pre-portioned ingredients to their door. Additionally we deliver frozen meals, desserts, market items, and we have a UCOOK Store which has a variety of fresh deli meals and grab and go products that are manufactured daily.

ABOUT THE ROLE

An opportunity has become available for a Store Head Chef at UCOOK. We are looking for a capable, dynamic and experienced foodie to take responsibility for production of our products for our UCOOK store in Cape Town. The Head Chef is responsible for leading the kitchen team, overseeing daily food preparation, and ensuring the highest standards of quality, consistency, and preparation. This role combines creative culinary expertise with strong leadership, cost control, and organizational skills. The Head Chef will play a key role in menu development, staff training, food safety, inventory control, waste, and maintaining the reputation of UCOOK.



The Head Chef is required to work cross-functionally with UCOOK's operational teams (Food, NPD, Procurement, Technical, Operations, and Logistics) as well as UCOOK suppliers.

KPIs WITHIN THIS ROLE

1. Recipe Development


Develop, design, and execute menus that refl ect the brand's identity and seasonal availability Costing recipes Writing recipes & creating assembly instructions (Batch records) Testing recipes Stay updated with food trends and introduce innovative concepts to keep the menu fresh and exciting
Conducting a variety of internal documentation and adhering to weekly schedules.
Participate in quality checks, sampling process, and shelf life tests of ingredients Work on UCOOK software platforms (i.e Erply, Acumatica)




2. Store Production


Oversee all food preparation and cooking to ensure effi ciency and excellence Establish and maintain clear standards of recipe adherence, food quality, and food safety standards Manage and report on manufacturing waste, implement processes to reduce waste Management of stock Problem solving and escalation Leadership in manufacturing excellence




3. Team Work & People Management


Lead, train, and motivate kitchen staff to maintain a high-performance team culture Create and manage staff schedules Provide coaching, mentorship, and development opportunities for junior chefs Foster a safe, respectful, and professional work environment Manage onboarding of new kitchen staff




4. General Administration


Monitor supplier performance, and maintain strong supplier relationships Production planning (Forecasting, ordering ingredients, shift planning, management of transfers of stock) Maintain machinery and equipment Keep accurate records of stock, waste, and operational performance Ensure full compliance with health, hygiene, and safety regulations Manage food costs

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

Culinary Qualifi cation 2+ years experience as a chef Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills Excellent knowledge of culinary techniques, fl avour profi les, and menu design Technical/ Food Safety experience advantageous - Up-to-date knowledge of food safety standards and kitchen best practices Creative, adaptable, and able to thrive under pressure. Experience with systems, ordering, waste management

Functional skills:

Strong Excel skills Time management - deadline driven Strong oral and written communication Attention to detail Able to delegate * Customer centric