Head Chef

SHIRE HUB PTY LTD; Sydney; On-site; AUD 71,000 - 87,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Superannuation

Job summary

Steaming Mug, a community café in Alfords Point, NSW, is seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead the kitchen, oversee food preparation and maintain high standards. You will guide staff, develop menu concepts and seasonal specials while ensuring efficient daily operations.

The role requires a Certificate IV in Kitchen Management or related qualifications, 1–2 years in a professional kitchen, and the ability to manage costs and allergen practices. Early mornings and weekends may be required.

Qualifications

• Certificate IV in Kitchen Management or related qualification.
• 1–2 years in a professional kitchen with leadership experience.
• Experience preparing breakfast, brunch and lunch in a fast-paced café.
• Ability to plan menus, cost recipes, manage stock and reduce waste.
• Strong food safety, hygiene and allergen management knowledge.
• Strong leadership, communication and time management.
• Willingness to work early mornings and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Develop and refine all-day breakfast and lunch menus with the owner.
• Prepare and present menu items to high quality standards.
• Lead daily kitchen operations during peak periods.
• Monitor ingredient quality from sourcing to plating.
• Train and supervise kitchen staff in cooking methods and procedures.
• Manage food orders, supplier relationships, stock rotation and inventory.
• Monitor recipe costing and labour requirements.
• Maintain food safety and cleaning standards.
• Coordinate with front-of-house for service and menu adjustments.
• Maintain an organized, safe and well-equipped kitchen.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Organisation

Time management

Food safety

Menu planning

Cost control

Education

Certificate IV in Kitchen Management

Commercial Cookery

Job description

Position: Head Chef

Location: Shop 2, 62–64 Coachwood Crescent, Alfords Point NSW 2234

Salary: $79,423 per annum, plus superannuation

Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent

About Steaming Mug

Steaming Mug is a community café in Alfords Point, serving all-day breakfast, lunch and freshly prepared specials. We pride ourselves on quality food, consistent presentation and friendly customer service.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead our kitchen operations, oversee food preparation, maintain food quality standards and manage the kitchen team. The role also involves contributing to menu development and creating seasonal specials while ensuring efficient daily kitchen operations.

Key duties and responsibilities

• Develop and refine Steaming Mug’s all-day breakfast, lunch and seasonal specials in consultation with the owner, balancing customer preferences, ingredient availability and food costs.
• Prepare, cook and oversee the presentation of menu items, ensuring consistent flavour, portion sizes and quality across all services.
• Lead daily kitchen operations, coordinating food preparation and service to ensure efficient workflow during busy breakfast and lunch periods.
• Monitor food quality at every stage, from ingredient selection and preparation to cooking and final presentation.
• Guide, supervise and train kitchen staff in cooking techniques, recipe execution, portion control and kitchen procedures.
• Manage food supply orders, supplier relationships, stock rotation and inventory to maintain ingredient freshness and minimise waste.
• Monitor recipe costing, food expenses and labour requirements to support the café’s operational efficiency and profitability.
• Maintain and enforce food safety, hygiene, allergen management and cleaning standards in accordance with relevant requirements.
• Coordinate with the owner and front-of-house team to address service requirements, customer feedback and menu adjustments.
• Maintain an organised, safe and well-equipped kitchen, ensuring equipment issues and maintenance requirements are addressed promptly.

Qualifications, Experience and Skills

• A Certificate IV in Kitchen Management, Commercial Cookery or a related field is desirable.
• At least 1–2 years of relevant experience in a professional kitchen, with demonstrated ability to supervise kitchen operations and support or lead kitchen staff.
• Demonstrated experience preparing breakfast, brunch and lunch menus in a fast-paced café or commercial kitchen.
• Ability to plan menus, calculate recipe costs, manage stock levels and reduce food wastage.
• Good understanding of food safety, hygiene practices, temperature control, safe food storage and allergen management.
• Strong leadership, communication, organisational and time-management abilities.
• A dependable and professional attitude, with the ability to maintain food quality and service standards during peak periods.
• Flexibility to work early mornings and weekends as required.

What We Offer

• Full-time employment with an annual salary of $79,423 plus superannuation.
• The opportunity to lead the kitchen and contribute to the development of Steaming Mug’s breakfast, lunch and seasonal menus.
• Close collaboration with the owner in managing kitchen operations and maintaining food standards.
• A supportive, customer-focused café environment that values quality food and welcoming service.