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VACANCY: CULINARY COORDINATOR
Closing date: 20 October 2026
Apply to: hr@house-on-fire.com
MTN Bushfire & Standard Bank LUJU Food and Lifestyle Festival
MTN Bushfire/LUJU is seeking a dynamic, highly organised and collaborative Culinary Coordinator to lead the planning, coordination and delivery of its Culinary Department for the festivals.
We are looking for an exceptional organiser and team leader who can turn creative vision into practical action, build strong working relationships across departments, and ensure that every part of the culinary experience is delivered to a high standard.
THE ROLE
The Culinary Coordinator is the department’s operational engine and administrative lead. Working closely with the Culinary Curator, Trader HOD and other festival departments, the successful candidate will translate the annual culinary strategy into a coordinated workplan, manage resources and timelines, and oversee the effective delivery of culinary activities before, during and after the festival.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Planning & coordination: Develop and manage departmental workplans, schedules, budgets, milestones and deliverables.
- Team leadership: Coordinate the culinary team, clarify responsibilities, support accountability and maintain effective communication.
- Cross-departmental collaboration: Work closely with Production, Construction, Marketing, Communications, HR, SHEQ, Partnerships and other relevant teams.
- Trader operations: Support the coordination of trader recruitment, onboarding, readiness, festival operations and post-event evaluation in collaboration with the Trader HOD.
- Partnership delivery: Coordinate operational requirements and agreed deliverables for culinary sponsors, partners and activations.
- Festival readiness & delivery: Oversee operational preparation, site readiness, logistics, risk management and the smooth running of culinary environments during the festival.
- Administration & reporting: Maintain accurate records, track expenditure and deliverables, coordinate meetings, monitor progress and prepare reports.
- Monitoring & evaluation: Collect performance data, coordinate stakeholder feedback and post-mortems, and translate lessons learned into improvements for future editions.
WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
The ideal candidate will bring:
- Proven experience in project coordination, event management, hospitality, food and beverage operations, or a related field.
- Strong organisational, administrative and planning skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams and deadlines.
- Experience coordinating teams, suppliers, service providers or diverse stakeholders.
- Sound budgeting, record-keeping, reporting and problem-solving abilities.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- The ability to remain calm, practical and solutions-focused in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
- A collaborative approach, strong attention to detail and a commitment to quality, safety and professional standards.
- An appreciation for food, culture, sustainability and the role of culinary experiences in bringing people together.
Experience working on festivals, large-scale events or complex hospitality projects will be an advantage. Familiarity with Eswatini’s food and creative sectors would also be valuable.
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE
The successful candidate will help ensure that:
- The Culinary Department operates against a clear, realistic and well-managed workplan.
- Teams and departments understand their responsibilities, timelines and deliverables.
- Traders, partners and service providers receive effective coordination and support.
- Culinary spaces are operationally ready, safe and professionally delivered.
- Budgets, records and reporting are accurate and up to date.
- Lessons from the 2027 festival inform stronger planning and delivery in future years.
POSITION DETAILS
Position: Culinary Coordinator
Organisation: MTN Bushfire
Commitment: Full-time
Project cycle: Planning, festival delivery and post-festival evaluation
Location: Malkerns, Eswatini
Contract period: 1 November 2026-
HOW TO APPLY
Interested candidates should submit:
- A current CV.
- A cover letter outlining their relevant experience, suitability for the role and interest in contributing to the festivals.
- Contact details for two professional referees.
Applications must be submitted to: hr@house-on-fire.com
Subject line: Application – Culinary Assistant
Closing date: 20 October 2026
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
