Head Chef

My Little Kitchen Cafe and Bar; Healesville; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

My Little Kitchen Cafe and Bar in Healesville, VIC is seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead a busy brunch-focused kitchen. You will oversee menu planning, food preparation, ordering and stock control, and mentor junior staff to maintain high standards.

The role is full-time, five days per week including weekends. You will start early, with shifts from around 6:30 am to 3:00 pm, and contribute to a close-knit team culture while delivering consistent, high-quality dishes.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in a Head Chef or similar kitchen leadership role.
• A genuine love for food, cooking and hospitality.
• Hands-on leadership - lead from the front and get involved.
• Attention to detail in all kitchen operations.
• Strong communication and feedback skills.
• Ability to manage a busy brunch-focused service while maintaining quality.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all aspects of the kitchen operations.
• Lead menu planning, food preparation, and ordering.
• Manage stock, cleaning schedules, and maintenance.
• Train and develop junior kitchen staff.
• Ensure high standards of food quality and consistency during busy services.

Skills

Kitchen leadership

Head Chef experience

Menu development

Stock control

Staff mentoring

Job description

My Little Kitchen Cafe and Bar - Healesville VIC

After almost 8 years, we're excited to be opening our kitchen up to a new Head Chef!

Who we are:

My Little Kitchen is a premium, go-to brunch venue in the heart of Healesville. We take classic brunch favourites and give them a creative twist, combining seasonal, fresh ingredients with both classic and modern cooking techniques to produce fun, vibrant dishes.

Owned by Ben and Danielle, we've built a welcoming, relaxed environment for our customers and staff alike. We believe in good food, good people and creating an experience that keeps our customers coming back.

The role:

We're looking for an experienced, passionate and hands-on Head Chef to take the lead in our busy kitchen.

This is an opportunity to put your stamp on an established menu, bring fresh ideas to the table and lead a kitchen team that takes pride in what they do.

You'll oversee all aspects of the kitchen, including menu planning, food preparation, ordering, stock management, cleaning schedules, maintenance, training and day-to-day operations. Just as importantly, you'll help nurture and develop our junior kitchen team as they grow in their roles.

What we're looking for:

At least 5 years' experience in a Head Chef or similar kitchen leadership role.

A genuine love for food, cooking and hospitality.

A hands-on approach - you're happy to lead from the front and get stuck in.

An eye for detail that extends beyond presentation to every aspect of kitchen operations.

Strong communication skills and the ability to give and receive feedback constructively.

The ability to manage a busy service while maintaining high standards of food quality and consistency.

Confidence with menu development, ordering, stock control and kitchen organisation.

A willingness to mentor, train and support junior team members.

A positive attitude, strong work ethic and a team-first mentality.

The practical stuff:

Full-time, hands-on leadership role.

Five days per week, including Saturdays and Sundays.

Early starts are part of the job, with shifts generally running from 6:30 am to 3:00 pm.

A busy brunch-focused kitchen where weekends are our bread and butter.

Remuneration, superannuation and other entitlements in line with the applicable award and your experience.

This role is best suited to a chef who enjoys being involved in every part of the kitchen, takes ownership of their work and wants to be part of a close-link team.