Head Chef

MaliBowl is a fast-growing Somali build-your-own bowl concept at Village Market, Nairobi, part of a multi-brand restaurant group. We are looking for an experienced Head Chef to take full ownership of our kitchen and lead it to a high, consistent standard every single day.

This is a hands-on leadership role for a chef who runs a tight, disciplined kitchen and takes pride in consistency, cleanliness, and control.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead daily kitchen operations and manage the kitchen team across all shifts
• Own recipe consistency and exact portioning on every item, including custom build-your-own bowls
• Plan prep and production ahead based on demand and par levels, not reacting at the last minute
• Control food cost and minimise waste through tight prep discipline, FIFO storage, and accurate yields
• Maintain strict food safety and hygiene standards, including internal temperature tracking and fryer and oil management
• Drive the rollout and testing of new menu items, capturing precise measurements, yields, and nutrition information
• Train, supervise, and correct kitchen staff to ensure every dish leaves the kitchen to standard
• Keep the kitchen clean, organised, and audit-ready at all times
• Work closely with procurement to manage stock, ordering, and supplier quality
• Report daily on kitchen performance, waste, and any quality or staffing issues

REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum 3 years experience as a Head Chef or strong Sous Chef ready to step up
• Strong track record running a consistent, high-volume kitchen
• Deep understanding of portioning, food cost control, and waste management
• Solid food safety and hygiene knowledge, with the discipline to enforce it
• Strong leadership skills and the ability to train and manage a team
• Organised, calm under pressure, and detail-obsessed
• Experience in build-your-own, bowl, or assembly-style concepts is an advantage
• Experience with East African or Somali cuisine is an advantage Applications Email: connect@malibowl.co.ke