Head Chef

Head Chef | Contemporary French-Japanese Bistro

Bansho

Salary: $80,000 – $85,000 + super (depending on experience)

Location: Armadale, Melbourne VIC

About Us:

Bansho is an elegant, highly acclaimed neighborhood bistro located on High Street in Armadale. Seamlessly marrying the timeless elegance of French culinary technique with the artful precision of Japanese flavors, we pride ourselves on delivering a thoughtful, elevated dining experience. From refined chawanmushi and premium raw bars to complex mains like our signature koji-marinated duck and herb-crusted lamb, our kitchen is a passion project built on innovation, balance, and premium ingredients.

As we continue to grow our presence in the Melbourne dining scene, we are seeking a visionary Head Chef who respects tradition but isn't afraid to push boundaries to drive our distinctive culinary vision forward.

The Role:

We are looking for an innovative, highly professional, and organized Head Chef to take full operational and creative control of the kitchen. Working closely with ownership, you will protect the integrity of our core flavors while continuously introducing fresh, innovative ideas to our evolving French-Japanese menu.

This is a hands-on role requiring a true master of the craft who is equally exceptional at creative execution, modern kitchen management, and maintaining strong gross profit (GP) margins.

Key Responsibilities:

• Culinary Innovation & Execution: Lead the daily preparation and execution of dinner service (Tuesday to Saturday). Balance time-honored Japanese traditions with modern bistro trends to keep the menu exciting, refined, and perfectly executed.

• Menu Development: Collaborate with ownership to introduce innovative seasonal dishes, ensuring a seamless harmony between French foundations and Japanese elements.

• Kitchen Management: Manage all back-of-house operations, including inventory control, stock ordering, waste management, and supplier relationships to achieve target food costs.

• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Recruit, train, roster, and inspire our kitchen team, fostering a culture of kitchen discipline, respect, efficiency, and continuous learning.

• Compliance: Maintain pristine hygiene and food safety standards (HACCP) across all sections of the kitchen.

What We Are Looking For:

• Cultural Mastery: A deep, complete understanding of Japanese culinary culture, philosophy, and flavor profiles (including umami balance, seasonal mindfulness, and traditional preservation/fermentation techniques).

• Innovative Mindset: The creative ability to interpret classic elements in a modern bistro context, pushing boundaries while respecting the raw ingredients.

• Experience: Must have a minimum of 5 years of solid, hands-on Japanese cooking experience in premium dining or refined bistro environments. Experience or a strong appreciation for French culinary foundations is highly advantageous.

• Technical Skills: Strong, demonstrable sushi and raw bar experience is essential. You must have excellent knife skills, fish butchery expertise, and a deep understanding of rice preparation.

• Strong Management Skill Set: Proven experience as a Head Chef or an exceptional Senior Sous Chef ready to step up. You must have a demonstrated ability to manage food costs, labor budgets, rostering, and structured kitchen workflows.

• Leadership Style: A calm, structured, and professional leader who leads by example, handles service pressure with composure, and communicates clearly.

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary package ($80,000 – $85,000 + super) aligned with your experience.

• A collaborative and supportive ownership team that genuinely values your expertise, culinary philosophy, and creative input.

• The opportunity to run an award-winning, highly reviewed culinary concept with a great local following.

• A professional kitchen environment with quality equipment and a fixed Tuesday–Saturday dinner schedule (Sundays and Mondays closed).

To Apply:

If you have the cultural depth, innovative edge, and leadership skills to lead the kitchen at Bansho, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your relevant experience.