Executive Chef

Executive Chef Opportunity in Lusaka, Zambia

Talent House Ltd is pleased to present an exciting career opening for an Executive Chef in Lusaka, Zambia. This role is ideal for culinary professionals seeking to advance their leadership in executive chef jobs in Lusaka, delivering exceptional food quality and innovation across multiple outlets.

About Talent House and Our Client

Talent House Ltd is a premier recruitment and HR consulting firm dedicated to connecting talented individuals with leading organisations. We provide innovative and tailored solutions that empower career growth and support organisational success.

Our client, Meraki Centro Limited, is seeking a visionary Executive Chef to lead their culinary operations. As the highest culinary authority at Meraki, the Executive Chef will ensure that every dish, bake, and food product across four café outlets and the HQ production kitchen meets the highest standards of quality, creativity, and consistency.

Key Responsibilities for Executive Chef Jobs in Lusaka

• Culinary Leadership & Kitchen Management: Provide inspiring, hands-on leadership across all Meraki kitchens, maintaining superior culinary standards and a culture of excellence, hygiene, and pride.
• Menu Development & Innovation: Lead the creation and regular update of café menus, incorporating diverse global cuisines and seasonal offerings that excite customers and meet commercial targets.
• HQ Production Oversight: Manage bulk and ready-to-go meal production, ensuring quality, efficiency, and timely delivery to all outlets while exploring expansion opportunities.
• Food Costing & Waste Control: Maintain food cost percentages within approved targets, enforce portion control, and minimize waste through effective monitoring and collaboration with financial management.
• Team Development & Training: Recruit, train, and develop a high-performing culinary team, fostering continuous improvement and professional pride.
• Food Safety & Compliance: Uphold rigorous food safety and hygiene standards in full compliance with Zambian legislation and best practices.
• Supplier & Ingredient Management: Collaborate with procurement to source quality, seasonal, and local ingredients, maintaining strong supplier relationships.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with operations, marketing, and management teams to support business strategy, reporting regularly on culinary performance and contributing to brand growth.

Qualifications and Experience

• Formal culinary qualification (Diploma or Degree) from a recognised institute.
• Minimum 7 years’ professional kitchen experience, including at least 5 years in senior or head chef roles.
• Proven leadership managing kitchen teams across multiple outlets.
• Expertise in diverse international cuisines with creative menu development skills.
• Strong knowledge of food costing, COGS management, and kitchen financial controls.
• Comprehensive understanding of food safety, hygiene, and allergen management.
• Experience in high-volume food production environments.

Desirable: Experience in café, bakery, or lifestyle F&B sectors, international culinary exposure, retail food product development, and familiarity with African ingredient traditions.

The Ideal Culinary Leader

The successful candidate will be more than a skilled cook; they will be a dynamic culinary leader who combines technical excellence with visionary creativity. They will foster a collaborative and motivated kitchen culture that consistently delivers exceptional food and elevates the Meraki brand.

Compensation and Application Details

This full-time Executive Chef position offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience. Interested candidates are invited to submit their CVs to careers@talenthousepeople.com by 10th July 2026.