Founding Head Chef

Seeking a Founding Head Chef

An opportunity to help build something meaningful from the ground up.

About Sage:

We are not building just another hospitality venue. We are building something with purpose — a place that genuinely cares about people, supports local producers, and sets a new benchmark for neighbourhood hospitality in Tasmania.

The Opportunity

This is not a standard Head Chef role. We are looking for a culinary leader who wants to be part of something from the very beginning — someone who sees the opportunity to shape a venue, not just run a kitchen.

The founder will lead the customer experience, front-of-house operations, marketing, and commercial direction of the business. The Head Chef will lead everything that happens in the kitchen — the food philosophy, the culture, the systems, and the standards.

This is a genuine partnership between two leaders who are committed to building something they are both proud of.

What You Will Lead

• The culinary direction of Sage — the food philosophy, style, and seasonal approach

• Menu development for our à la carte service and private events and functions offering

• Kitchen culture — attracting, developing, and retaining good people

• Kitchen systems, procedures, and operational standards

• Food cost management and supplier relationships

• Contribution to the overall brand, guest experience, and reputation of the venue

Pre-Opening Involvement

The right person may also be interested in contributing during the planning phase before we open — and we are genuinely open to that conversation. This could include:

• Menu development and food concept refinement

• Supplier identification and relationship building

• Costing, pricing, and profitability planning

• Development of kitchen systems and onboarding procedures

• Recruitment planning for the kitchen team

Any pre-opening involvement would be discussed and negotiated individually. We want to be fair, transparent, and respectful of your time.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for someone with the experience and the mindset to help build something great. Specifically:

• Proven experience leading a kitchen — from service execution to systems and culture

• A genuine understanding of food cost control and kitchen profitability

• Experience mentoring and developing kitchen staff at different stages of their careers

• A clear food philosophy and the ability to execute it consistently

• Enthusiasm for local produce and the Tasmanian food landscape

• The kind of person who takes ownership, communicates clearly, and brings solutions

• Comfortable working collaboratively with a founder in an environment that is still taking shape

Our Food Philosophy

We want food that is approachable, genuine, and genuinely good. The kind of cooking that makes people want to come back. We are not chasing trends or trying to be something we are not — we want food that reflects the quality and character of Tasmania, made with care by people who love what they do. The Head Chef will have real creative influence here, and we are looking forward to that conversation.

Where We Are at Right Now

We want to be upfront: Sage is currently progressing through its final planning, funding, and venue negotiations. A lease has not yet been signed and an opening date has not yet been confirmed.

We are sharing this because we believe the right person will appreciate the honesty — and because this is precisely the stage at which a Founding Head Chef can have the greatest influence on how the venue takes shape.

Work Eligibility

As a start-up venue, Sage is not in a position to sponsor visa holders at this time. We are required to demonstrate that we have made a genuine effort to fill this role with an Australian citizen or permanent resident before any other pathway can be considered. Applications are therefore only open to those with the right to work in Australia without employer sponsorship.

Sound like something you want to be part of?

We are not looking for a standard job application. We would rather start with a conversation. Send us a note telling us a little about yourself, your background, and what appeals to you about this opportunity.

Reach out to: peo•••@sagetas.com.au