Pastry Sous Chef

Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club has been consistently ranked among the world’s finest, earning a spot on the 2024 Travel + Leisure 500 list and being recognized as one of the top destinations in Africa. It has also been featured by Condé Nast Traveler as one of Africa’s top destinations. In addition, the hotel has been honored as Africa’s Leading Hotel by the World Travel Awards for the fourth consecutive year, most recently in 2025.

The Pastry Sous Chef supports the Head Pastry Chef in managing the pastry kitchen operations, ensuring high-quality production of pastries, desserts, and baked goods while maintaining consistency, hygiene, and efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise the preparation of all pastry items including breads, viennoiserie, desserts, petits fours, cakes, and specialty items, ensuring production aligns with forecasted covers, events, and occupancy levels.
• Inspect all finished products for taste, texture, appearance, and portion size before service to ensure consistency with established standards and brand expectations.
• Assist in designing dessert menus, buffet displays, afternoon tea offerings, and special event menus. Test new recipes and contribute creative ideas while maintaining cost efficiency.
• Allocate daily tasks, manage staff schedules, and oversee shift operations to ensure smooth workflow. Provide hands-on support during peak service periods.
• Conduct on-the-job training for junior chefs, commis, and interns on techniques, plating, portioning, and hygiene standards. Ensure continuous development of team skills.
• Enforce strict adherence to HACCP and food safety standards, including proper labeling, storage, temperature control, and cleanliness of workstations and equipment.
• Monitor inventory levels of ingredients and pastry supplies. Assist in stock ordering, receiving, and proper storage while minimizing spoilage and wastage.
• Support in maintaining food cost targets by controlling portion sizes, optimizing ingredient usage, and tracking wastage. Suggest improvements to enhance efficiency.
• Ensure all pastry kitchen equipment (ovens, mixers, refrigerators, etc.) is used correctly, cleaned regularly, and reported for maintenance when necessary.
• Work closely with other kitchen sections, banqueting, and service teams to ensure timely delivery of pastry items for à la carte, buffets, and events.
• Plan and execute pastry production for weddings, conferences, and special functions, including custom cakes, dessert buffets, and themed displays.
• Maintain updated recipe files, production schedules, and SOPs. Ensure consistency across all shifts through proper documentation.

 

• Degree in Pastry Arts, Culinary Arts or a related field.

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a similar role within a luxury hotel or high-end hospitality environment.

• Strong knowledge of pastry, bakery and dessert production, including modern techniques and presentation.

• Proven leadership and people management skills.

• Sound knowledge of food safety, hygiene and cost control.

• Excellent communication, planning and organizational skills.

• Demonstrate service attributes in accordance with industry expectations and hotel standards.

• Creativity and innovation in pastry and dessert development

• Strong attention to detail and quality

• Cost awareness and budget management

• Team leadership and training capability

• Guest-focused and service-oriented mindset. 

• Employee benefit card offering discounted rates in Accor worldwide.
• Learning programs through our Academies.
• Opportunity to develop your talent and grow within your property and across the world!
• Ability to make a difference through our Corporate Social Responsibility activities.
• Be part of creating the historic story of rehabilitating and releasing the rare Mountain Bongo that was heading toward extinction.
• Working with a hotel rich in history and known for exemplary services while growing your career.
• Work and learn in a magical luxury property.