Chef – Kitchen Team Leader

Eat and Smile Pty Ltd; Sydney; On-site; AUD 80,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Superannuation

Job summary

Ipoh seeks a hands-on Chef – Kitchen Team Leader to head a busy Malaysian kitchen in Sydney, lead a team, ensure authentic flavours, and maintain high standards. You will manage prep, stock, and training, while refining recipes with management. Australian work rights are needed; sponsorship may be available.

This is a permanent full-time role at Macquarie Park. Experienced in Malaysian cuisine and capable of leading under pressure, you will drive quality, cost control, and staff development

Qualifications

• At least three years of professional cooking experience.
• Strong understanding of Malaysian ingredients, techniques and flavours.
• Experience leading or supporting a kitchen team in a busy restaurant.
• A passion for Malaysian food and willingness to learn and share knowledge.
• Reliable, positive attitude with ownership and teamwork mindset.
• Strong organisation, attention to detail and calm problem solving under pressure.
• Practical knowledge of food safety requirements and high kitchen standards.
• Australian work rights; sponsorship may be available.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and cook Malaysian favourites with care and consistency.
• Maintain standard recipes, portion sizes and presentation across service and catering.
• Plan preparation and coordinate kitchen duties for timely orders.
• Lead, train and support kitchen staff with clear expectations.
• Maintain food safety standards including storage, labelling, temperature control, rotation and allergens.
• Manage stock, ordering and deliveries; monitor quality, costs and waste.
• Keep kitchen and equipment clean; follow cleaning schedules and report issues.
• Develop recipes and improve kitchen efficiency with management.
• Complete kitchen records and address food quality concerns and feedback.
• Assist with other duties as needed to support the team and operations.

Skills

Malaysian cuisine

Kitchen leadership

Food safety

Team training

Organised

Job description

Eat and Smile Pty Ltd – Macquarie Park NSW

Ipoh operates busy Malaysian restaurants in Sydney CBD & Macquarie Park. We're looking for a hands-on Chef – Kitchen Team Leader who takes pride in authentic flavours, consistent food quality and a well-organised kitchen. You'll lead your kitchen team, work closely with management and report to the Company Director. This role suits someone with a positive attitude who enjoys sharing their knowledge, learning new skills and finding better ways to work.

Key responsibilities

Prepare and cook Malaysian favourites, including laksa, Hainanese chicken rice, char kway teow and nasi lemak and more, with care and consistency.

Maintain standard recipes, portion sizes and presentation across restaurant service and corporate catering.

Plan preparation and coordinate kitchen duties so orders are accurate and ready on time during busy service.

Lead, train and support kitchen staff, setting clear expectations for teamwork, quality and cleanliness.

Maintain food safety standards, including safe storage, labelling, temperature control, stock rotation and allergen management.

Manage stock, ordering and deliveries, checking ingredient quality and controlling food costs and waste.

Keep the kitchen and equipment clean and well maintained, following cleaning schedules and reporting maintenance issues promptly.

Work with management to refine recipes, develop menu items and improve kitchen efficiency.

Complete relevant kitchen records and assist management in resolving food quality concerns and customer feedback.

The responsibilities listed are a guide and are not exhaustive. From time to time, you may be asked to assist with other reasonable duties suited to your skills, training and experience to support the team and meet the business’s operational needs.

About you

At least three years of relevant professional cooking experience, with a strong focus on Malaysian cuisine.

A sound understanding of Malaysian ingredients, cooking techniques, spice pastes, sauces and traditional flavours.

Experience leading or supporting a kitchen team in a busy restaurant.

A passion for Malaysian food and a willingness to continue learning, refining your skills and sharing knowledge.

A reliable, positive attitude—you take ownership, welcome feedback and help your teammates.

Strong organisation, attention to detail and the ability to solve problems calmly under pressure.

Practical knowledge of food safety requirements and the ability to maintain high kitchen standards.

An interest in developing dishes that respect Malaysian flavours while responding to customer preferences.

Valid Australian work rights and/or sponsorship available.

Experience with Malaysian or Singaporean cuisine, corporate catering, hotels or high-volume kitchens would be an advantage. Additional language skills, including Bahasa Malaysia, Indonesian or Mandarin, are also welcome.

A permanent full-time position.

$80,000–$95,000 per year plus superannuation, depending on experience.

Macquarie Park location and close to public transport.

The opportunity to contribute your ideas, develop your leadership skills and grow with our restaurant and catering business.

About us

Ipoh operates busy Malaysian restaurants in Sydney CBD, Macquarie Park & Marrickville.