CHEF / KITCHEN LEAD

Hands-on leadership role | Daytime hours | Creative, high-volume hospitality environment

We’re looking for an experienced and energetic chef to lead the kitchen operations of a vibrant, family-focused hospitality venue in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.

This is a rare opportunity for a chef who loves running a tight, clean kitchen, enjoys mentoring a small team, and takes genuine pride in consistency, presentation and quality. The role is highly hands-on and suited to someone who thrives in fast-paced environments where no two days are the same.

Unlike many hospitality roles, this position offers predominantly daytime hours, while still delivering the energy and pace of a busy venue.

About the Role

You’ll oversee the day-to-day operations of a small commercial kitchen preparing a fresh café-style food offering, catering platters and event food. You’ll work closely with venue leadership to maintain exceptional standards across food quality, cleanliness, efficiency and team culture.

This is not a clipboard chef role. We’re looking for someone who leads from the front and is happiest on the tools.

Key Responsibilities

• Preparing and presenting a fresh cafe-style food offering to consistently high standards

• Managing kitchen operations, workflow and daily prep

• Ordering stock and managing supplier relationships

• Maintaining exceptional cleanliness, food safety and organisation

• Monitoring food quality, portion control and waste

• Training, coaching and supervising kitchen assistants

• Contributing to menu development and seasonal offerings

• Supporting catering and event operations as required
  

About You

You’re someone who:

• Has experience leading or running a small commercial kitchen

• Is calm, organised and proactive under pressure

• Takes pride in presentation and consistency

• Maintains exceptionally high cleanliness and food safety standards

• Enjoys mentoring junior team members

• Is solutions-focused and reliable

• Brings positive energy to the workplace
  

What We Offer

• Predominantly daytime hours

• Supportive and collaborative leadership team

• Stable, long-term opportunity

• Creative and unique hospitality environment

• Opportunity to shape and improve the food offering

• Competitive salary based on experience
  

Important Information

This venue operates 7 days per week, including weekends and school holiday periods, so availability across these times is essential.

If you’re a hands-on chef looking for a role with variety, leadership responsibility and a genuinely positive environment, we’d love to hear from you.