Hiring Now | Senior Catering Manager | Cape Town, Western Cape | Fixed-Term Contract Available
Empact Group, one of South Africa’s most established contract catering and food service organisations, is urgently seeking an experienced and results-driven Senior Catering Manager to join its Food Solutions division in Cape Town, Western Cape. This is a senior operational role requiring a minimum of 5 years’ hospital catering experience, a proven track record in people and financial management, and the ability to deliver exceptional food service within a highly commercial and sensitive catering environment. If you are a strategic, hands-on catering professional ready to take full ownership of a high-performance unit, Empact Group wants to hear from you.
🍽️ Don’t miss this opportunity — vacancies are filling fast. Apply before 12 June 2026.
Senior Catering Manager Job Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Job Title | Senior Catering Manager |
| Company | Empact Group (Pty) Ltd |
| Division | Empact Group Food Solutions |
| Industry | Food and Beverages / Contract Catering |
| Functional Area | Operations |
| Job Type | Fixed-Term Contract |
| Salary | Market Related |
| Location | Cape Town, Western Cape |
| Minimum Experience | Mid-Senior (5+ Years) |
| Closing Date | 12 June 2026 |
| Application Status | ✅ Open – Accepting Applications Now |
About the Role
The Senior Catering Manager at Empact Group Food Solutions is a pivotal leadership role responsible for the full operational management of an assigned catering unit. You will manage the unit in strict accordance with sector strategy, contract specifications, and statutory regulations — overseeing everything from food production and menu planning to bookkeeping, stock control, gross profit management, and client relations. This role demands a senior professional who can simultaneously lead a team, satisfy a demanding client base, and deliver measurable financial results.
What sets this role apart is its scope. You will not only manage daily operations but also drive the execution of creative functions and events, implement change programmes, ensure HSE compliance, and leverage customer experience data to continuously improve service delivery. Hospital catering experience is vital — the sensitivity, complexity, and volume demands of this environment are central to the role. If you thrive under pressure, lead with confidence, and bring genuine innovation to food service management, this is the opportunity for you.
⚠️ Please note: Empact Group is committed to Employment Equity in line with applicable legislation and will give first preference to candidates as per Equity requirements. Applicants are advised to consider this when submitting their applications.
⚠️ Privacy notice: By applying for this role, you consent to Empact Group (Pty) Ltd storing and processing your personal information for recruitment purposes in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA).
Key Responsibilities of a Senior Catering Manager
Unit Operations & Contract Management
- Manage the daily operations of the assigned unit in full accordance with sector strategy, contract specifications, and statutory regulations.
- Ensure strict adherence to client service level agreements (SLAs) at all times, with zero tolerance for service failures.
- Ensure the electronic meal ordering system is fully functional, optimally utilised, and consistently maintained.
- Implement and oversee change programmes and unit mobilisation initiatives as required by operational strategy.
Food Production, Menu Planning & Quality Control
- Implement an effective and efficient food production process that meets client expectations and company standards.
- Execute menu planning, standardisation, adoption, and costing in line with brand guidelines and budget parameters.
- Monitor the kitchen to ensure cooks are consistently using standardised recipes and that food quality is maintained at the highest standard.
- Manage the execution of creative functions and special dining events to an exceptional standard.
Financial Management & Gross Profit Control
- Effectively manage and monitor gross profit in line with budgeted targets, taking corrective action where variances arise.
- Oversee daily bookkeeping procedures including capturing of issues, sales, stock, and banking.
- Apply strong costing, budgeting, forecasting, and invoicing skills to ensure the unit operates profitably within approved parameters.
- Balance the budget and actively identify and implement soft cost savings without compromising service quality.
Stock, HSE & Compliance Management
- Ensure that minimum and maximum stock levels are maintained consistently to avoid shortages or overstock situations.
- Effectively manage HSE (Health, Safety & Environment) on a daily basis, ensuring all records are accurate and up to date.
- Ensure full compliance with South African food safety legislation, industry-specific regulations, and company standards.
- Conduct regular compliance audits and address non-conformances swiftly and thoroughly.
People Management & Customer Experience
- Effectively manage all aspects of people management — including workforce planning, payroll administration, leave management, and performance management.
- Build, develop, and retain a high-performing kitchen and service team through strong leadership, coaching, and clear accountability.
- Actively manage the customer experience through surveys and data analysis, using insights to continuously improve the service offering.
- Foster exceptional client relations, serving as the primary point of contact for client engagement and satisfaction on the unit.
Minimum Requirements – Senior Catering Manager
Educational Qualifications:
- Relevant tertiary qualification in Food and Beverage Services, Hospitality, or Culinary Arts (preferred)
Experience:
- Minimum 5 years’ hospital catering experience (vital — non-negotiable)
- Experience in highly commercial and sensitive catering markets (compulsory)
- Proven experience in managing successful departments and teams (compulsory)
- Experience working within brand guidelines to deliver consistent results (compulsory)
- Senior Catering Management experience in a hospitality or catering industry (advantageous)
- Experience in the implementation of change programmes and unit mobilisation (advantageous)
- Experience in costing, budgets, forecasts, and invoicing (advantageous)
Licences:
- Valid driver’s licence (required)
Knowledge Requirements:
- In-depth knowledge of the catering environment across a range of service types and client sectors
- Knowledge of South African and industry-specific food safety and labour legislation
- Strong understanding of gross profit management, bookkeeping, and financial reporting in a catering context
Skills & Competencies:
- Exceptional customer service skills with a client-first approach to service delivery
- Excellent operations and people management skills, including workforce planning and performance management
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills across all organisational levels
- Excellent problem-solving ability with the capacity to act decisively under pressure
- Strong profit improvement skills — an absolute must for this role
- Ability to draft and analyse operational and financial reports with accuracy and insight
- Ability to arrange and execute exceptional creative functions and events
- Ability to balance budgets and save on soft costs without compromising quality or client satisfaction
- Ability to bring innovation and creativity to menu development and service delivery
Personal Attributes:
- Highly organised, detail-oriented, and calm under pressure
- Strategic thinker with strong hands-on operational capability
- Confident leader who builds high-trust relationships with teams and clients alike
📢 Empact Group is committed to Employment Equity in accordance with applicable legislation. First preference will be given to candidates who meet Equity requirements.
Core Values We Look For in a Senior Catering Manager
✅ Strategic Leadership & Operational Ownership
At senior level, managing a catering unit means more than overseeing daily service — it means setting the tone, driving the strategy, and taking full accountability for every outcome. We look for leaders who bring clarity, discipline, and energy to their units, who hold themselves and their teams to consistently high standards, and who understand that operational excellence is the foundation of client retention and business growth.
✅ Financial Acumen & Profit Focus
Gross profit management, cost control, and budget discipline are at the heart of this role. We value senior managers who treat financial performance as a professional priority — who understand the numbers, interrogate variances, identify opportunities for savings, and make commercially sound decisions every day without needing to be prompted by head office.
✅ Client Relations & Service Excellence
In contract catering, the client relationship is everything. We value managers who take a proactive, partnership-oriented approach to client engagement — who communicate openly, respond swiftly to concerns, exceed expectations consistently, and use customer experience data to drive continuous improvement rather than simply maintain the status quo.
✅ Food Quality, Creativity & Innovation
Great food is the foundation of a great catering operation. We value senior managers who are genuinely passionate about food — who set and enforce high standards of quality and presentation, who inspire their kitchen teams to take pride in their craft, and who bring fresh, creative thinking to menu development and the execution of special functions.
✅ People Development & Team Culture
A senior catering manager is only as strong as the team they build. We value leaders who invest in their people — who manage performance with fairness and consistency, develop talent from within, create a positive and accountable kitchen culture, and understand that staff retention and team morale are directly linked to operational and financial performance.
Career Growth Opportunities in Contract Catering & Senior Food Service Management
Joining Empact Group as a Senior Catering Manager positions you at the mid-senior level of a clear and well-defined career progression pathway within one of South Africa’s leading food service organisations. For high-performing individuals, the road ahead is straightforward:
- Senior Catering Manager → Area / Cluster Manager
- Area / Cluster Manager → Regional Operations Manager
- Regional Operations Manager → Divisional Operations Manager
- Divisional Operations Manager → National Operations Director
Your career path is in your hands.
Frequently Asked Questions – Senior Catering Manager Jobs
Is hospital catering experience truly non-negotiable for this post? Yes. A minimum of 5 years’ hospital catering experience is listed as vital in the job specification. Hospital catering environments are uniquely complex — combining high-volume production with strict dietary, hygiene, and regulatory requirements — and Empact Group requires candidates who have demonstrated competence in this specific setting.
What qualifications are preferred for this role? A relevant tertiary qualification in Food and Beverage Services, Hospitality, or Culinary Arts is preferred. While the qualification is listed as preferred rather than compulsory, candidates with a relevant tertiary qualification will have a competitive advantage during shortlisting, particularly when combined with the required experience.
What financial management responsibilities does this role carry? The Senior Catering Manager is fully responsible for gross profit management, daily bookkeeping, stock control, budget adherence, costing, forecasting, and invoicing. Profit improvement skills are described as an absolute must — this is not a purely operational role; strong financial acumen is central to success in this position.
Is a driver’s licence required? Yes. A valid driver’s licence is a stated requirement for this post. Applicants who do not hold a valid driver’s licence should note this before applying.
Does Empact Group have an Employment Equity preference for this role? Yes. Empact Group is committed to Employment Equity in accordance with South African legislation and will give first preference to candidates who meet Equity requirements. All qualifying candidates are encouraged to apply, and Equity status should be reflected clearly in your application documentation.
What is the closing date and how do I apply? The closing date is 12 June 2026. Submit your application via the Empact Group careers portal or through the advertised application channel. Ensure your CV clearly demonstrates your hospital catering experience, people management track record, and financial management capability. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
How to Apply for This Senior Catering Manager Job
Ready to lead a high-performance catering unit with one of South Africa’s most respected food service organisations? Applications are open now. Quote Senior Catering Manager – Cape Town in all correspondence and submit your application as directed below.
👉 Apply Online via Empact Group Careers Portal
⚠️ Closing Date: 12 June 2026. Applications received after this date will not be considered.
⚠️ Empact Group will give first preference to candidates in line with Employment Equity requirements. Please ensure your EE status is clearly reflected in your application.
⚠️ By applying for this role, you consent to Empact Group (Pty) Ltd processing your personal information for recruitment purposes in accordance with POPIA.
Apply early — this vacancy closes on 12 June 2026.
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