Executive Chef

Trippas White Group; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Centennial Homestead in Sydney seeks an experienced Executive Chef to lead the culinary operation across restaurant, café, functions and events. You will drive food quality, menu development, COGS, labour and safety while building a strong kitchen culture.

You will manage day-to-day performance, inspire the BOH team and deliver exceptional service during high-volume services and major events.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in a high-volume restaurant or events environment.
• Strong culinary foundations and interest in seasonal Australian produce.
• Experience managing kitchen teams and controlling COGS and labour.
• Solid understanding of menu costing and P&L performance.
• Experience with weddings, corporate functions or large-scale events.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop and inspire the Centennial Homestead kitchen team.
• Own food quality, consistency and presentation across all venue areas.
• Develop seasonal, commercially viable menus showcasing Australian produce.
• Manage COGS, BOH labour, purchasing, stock, waste and productivity.
• Maintain recipes, costings, yields, portion controls and allergen information.
• Build rosters based on forecast revenue, bookings and events.

Skills

Leadership

High-volume ops

Menu development

Food safety

Culinary operations

Job description

We are looking for an experienced and commercially mindedExecutive Chef to lead the culinary operation at CentennialHomestead, one of Sydney’s most unique hospitality destinations.

Located within the surroundsof Centennial Park, Centennial Homesteadcombines busy restaurant andcafé trade with weddings, corporate functions, private events and large-scaleactivations.

This is an opportunity for a strongculinary leader to take ownership of a diverse,high-volume operation and build a kitchen known for great food, strong culture, consistency and commercial performance.

The Role

As Executive Chef, you will have overallresponsibility for the culinary direction and day-to-dayperformance of the Centennial Homestead kitchen.

Reporting to the GeneralManager and workingclosely with Group Culinary Leadership, you will lead the BOH teamacross restaurant, café, functions and events while taking ownership of foodquality, menu development, COGS, labour, food safety and team performance.

We are lookingfor more than a great chef.

We want a leaderwho understands the numbers behind the food, develops people, builds effectivesystems and can deliver consistently during high-volume servicesand major events.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

• Lead, developand inspire the Centennial Homestead kitchen team.
• Take ownership of food quality,consistency and presentation across all areas ofthe venue.
• Develop seasonal, commercially viable menus showcasing quality Australian produce.
• Lead culinary execution across restaurant, café,weddings, corporate functions and major events.
• Manage food COGS, BOH labour,purchasing, stock, waste and kitchen productivity.
• Understand and contribute to venue budgets,forecasts and P&Lperformance.
• Maintain accurate recipes,menu costings, yields,portion controls and allergeninformation.
• Build effective rostersbased on forecastrevenue, bookings and eventrequirements.
• Recruit, train and develop Sous Chefs and the widerkitchen brigade.
• Build a positivekitchen culture centredaround accountability, respectand development.
• Maintain exceptional food safety, allergen,hygiene and WHS standards.
• Work collaboratively with FOH, Events,Sales and venue leadership.
• Build productive supplierrelationships and maintainstrong procurement controls.
• Continually identify opportunities to improve quality,efficiency, revenue and profitability.

About You

You will be an established Executive Chef, Head Chef or seniorculinary leader readyto take ownership of a significant Sydney hospitality operation.

You’ll ideallybring:

• Proven leadership experience within a high-volume restaurant, premium casual dining or events environment.
• Strong culinary foundations and a genuineinterest in seasonalAustralian produce.
• Demonstrated experience managingand developing kitchenteams.
• Strong understanding of food COGS,labour, menu costingand P&L performance.
• Experience managing functions, weddings or large-scale events.
• Strong organisational and forward-planning skills.
• A practical understanding of food safety,allergens and WHScompliance.
• The ability to remain organisedand lead effectively during demanding services.
• Strong communication skillsand the ability to work collaboratively acrossculinary and operational teams.
• A hands‑on leadership style while stillbeing able to step away from the pass and manage the wider business.

Most importantly, you will understand that running a successful kitchenis about more than cooking great food.

It is about people,culture, systems, consistency, guest experience and commercialperformance.

What Success Looks Like

You’ll lead a kitchenthat is organised, commercially controlled and consistentlydelivering.

You’ll build a strong brigade with capable Sous Chefs underneath you, maintaindisciplined COGS and labour management, successfully execute high-volume

restaurant and event servicesand continue developing a food offeringthat suits both the venue and its location.

You’ll be comfortable discussing tomorrow’s prep list with the kitchen team and the month’s financial performance withsenior management.

TheOpportunity

Centennial Homesteadoffers the opportunity to lead a diverse culinaryoperation in one of Sydney’s most recognisable parklandlocations.

The scaleand variety of the businessmeans no two weeks are quite the same – fromeveryday restaurant trade to weddings, corporate events and major activations.

For the right chef,this is an opportunity to make the kitchen your own, developa strong team and have agenuine impact on the future culinary direction and commercial performance ofthe venue.

Ready for Your Next Leadership Role?

If you’re an experienced culinary leader who combines great food with great people management and strong commercialthinking, we’d like to hear from you.