Head Chef

Kaprica; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff meals

Job summary

Kaprica is a neighbourhood Italian restaurant on Grattan Street in Carlton seeking a hands-on Head Chef to own day-to-day kitchen operations. You will lead the kitchen team, oversee service, menu input, and ensure consistency across every dish while maintaining Kaprica's identity.

This is a long-term opportunity with a supportive team and room to shape future food directions. The role offers growth within a thriving local venue, with focus on quality, teamwork and personal impact on the

Qualifications

• Previous experience as Head Chef, Sous Chef or senior chef in a busy restaurant.
• Strong understanding of Italian cooking.
• Experience with pizza and pasta highly regarded.
• Strong organisational and kitchen management skills.
• Understanding of food cost, labour and stock control.
• Ability to train and develop a team.
• High standards without creating unnecessary drama.
• Ability to stay calm and organised during a busy service.
• Reliability and accountability.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the kitchen team
• Run service and maintain consistency across every dish
• Train, mentor and manage kitchen staff
• Manage ordering, stock levels and supplier relationships
• Monitor food costs, wastage and kitchen labour
• Maintain food safety, organisation and cleanliness
• Work with ownership on menu development and seasonal changes
• Maintain Kaprica's existing food identity while continually improving execution
• Build systems that make the kitchen organised, consistent and efficient

Skills

Team leadership

Kitchen management

Food cost control

Staff training

Organisational skills

Italian cooking

Pizza and pasta

Job description

You will take ownership of the day-to-day running of the kitchen at Kaprica, an established neighbourhood Italian restaurant on Grattan Street in Carlton. This is a hands-on Head Chef position where you will lead from the kitchen rather than managing everything from an office.

Key responsibilities

Lead and develop the kitchen team

Run service and maintain consistency across every dish

Train, mentor and manage kitchen staff

Manage ordering, stock levels and supplier relationships

Monitor food costs, wastage and kitchen labour

Maintain food safety, organisation and cleanliness

Work with ownership on menu development and seasonal changes

Maintain Kaprica's existing food identity while continually improving execution

Build systems that make the kitchen organised, consistent and efficient

About you

Previous experience as a Head Chef, Sous Chef or senior chef in a busy restaurant

Strong understanding of Italian cooking

Experience with pizza and pasta highly regarded

Strong organisational and kitchen management skills

Understanding of food cost, labour and stock control

Ability to train and develop a team

High standards without creating unnecessary drama

Ability to stay calm and organised during a busy service

Reliability and accountability

About us

Kaprica is an established neighbourhood Italian restaurant built around simple food, good produce, pizza, pasta, music and relaxed hospitality.

Genuine opportunity to take ownership of an established Carlton restaurant kitchen

Input into menus and the future direction of the food

A small independent hospitality business where good ideas can actually be implemented

Supportive management team

Staff meals and benefits

Long-term opportunity as the business grows