Head Chef

The Milton Hotel; Milton; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Menu development input

Supportive leadership team

Coastal location

Growth culture

Job summary

The Milton Hotel on the NSW South Coast invites an experienced Head Chef to lead a hatted kitchen, shaping seasonal menus and guiding a talented team in a high-volume, quality-focused venue.

You will collaborate with the General Manager to maintain exceptional dining standards, manage food costing, safety compliance and guest experience, and foster creativity in a coastal setting with strong community ties.

Qualifications

• Proven Head Chef or senior Sous Chef in a quality restaurant or high-volume venue.
• Demonstrated leadership to build and motivate a team.
• Strong creative flair for seasonal produce, flavour and presentation.

Responsibilities

• Lead, inspire and manage the kitchen team across all sections and services.
• Design and develop seasonal menus showcasing local produce and house brews.
• Maintain hatted-level quality, consistency and presentation on every plate.
• Manage food costs, ordering, supplier relationships and stock control.
• Write and manage kitchen rosters and control labour costs.
• Recruit, train and develop kitchen staff, including apprentices.
• Ensure food safety, hygiene and WHS standards and audits.
• Collaborate with front-of-house for events and guest experience.
• Drive continuous improvement in kitchen systems and culture.

Skills

Leadership

Team building

Menu development

Seasonal produce

Cost management

Staff mentoring

Calm under pressure

Education

Food Safety Supervisor certificate

Job description

Head Chef - The Milton Hotel

Location: 74 Princes Highway, Milton NSW 2538
Employment Type: Full-Time (40 hours per week)

About Us

The Milton Hotel sits on the NSW South Coast, between Sydney and Canberra. We’re a local brewpub and hospitality venue with a hatted restaurant. We care about high-quality, seasonal food and beer served in a relaxed, welcoming setting. Local produce and community are at the heart of what we do, and our goal is to bring people together through great dining in one of the most beautiful regions in the country.

About the Role

We’re looking for an experienced and inspired Head Chef to lead our kitchen. This role is for a chef who wants to put their stamp on a hatted kitchen, build a strong team, and keep standards consistently high. You’ll work closely with our General Manager and leadership team to shape the food offering and grow the venue’s reputation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, inspire and manage the kitchen team across all sections and services
• Design and develop seasonal menus that showcase local produce and complement our house-brewed beers
• Maintain hatted-level quality, consistency and presentation across every plate
• Manage food costs, ordering, supplier relationships, stock control and wastage to meet budget targets
• Write and manage kitchen rosters and control labour costs
• Recruit, train and develop kitchen staff, including apprentices and junior chefs
• Ensure full compliance with food safety, hygiene and WHS standards, including documentation and audits
• Work with front-of-house and management on functions, events and a smooth guest experience
• Drive continuous improvement in kitchen systems, efficiency and team culture

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience as a Head Chef or senior Sous Chef in a quality restaurant or high-volume venue
• Strong leadership skills and the ability to build and motivate a team
• Creative flair, with a passion for seasonal produce, flavour and presentation
• Solid commercial skills in costing, ordering, rostering and budgets
• Food Safety Supervisor certificate (or willingness to obtain one)
• Calm, organised and decisive under pressure

What We Offer

• Creative input into the menu and direction of a hatted kitchen
• A supportive and experienced leadership team
• A full-time role in a picturesque coastal location
• A workplace culture that values creativity, teamwork and growth
• The chance to be part of a local business with a growing reputation