Head Chef

Cauliflower Hotel; Waterloo; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Cauliflower Hotel in Sydney's Waterloo invites an experienced Head Chef to lead day-to-day kitchen operations, ensuring exceptional food quality, consistency, and profitability. You will mentor a dedicated team and coordinate closely with front-of-house management.

Key responsibilities include designing menus, controlling costs, rostering staff, and maintaining HACCP and OHS standards to deliver premium dining experiences at a vibrant pub and event venue.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as Head Chef or senior sous chef in a high-volume pub, hotel, or premium bistro environment.
• Strong leadership with a track record of mentoring junior staff and managing kitchen teams.
• Exceptional financial acumen with rostering, labor cost control, and meeting COGS targets.
• Full working rights in Australia.
• Roster structure with guaranteed consecutive days off every week.

Responsibilities

• Design, cost, and implement creative, high-quality menus for bistro and functions.
• Drive profitability by managing food costs, labor budgets, and kitchen efficiency.
• Recruit, train, roster, and mentor kitchen staff to maintain a positive, high-performing team culture.
• Maintain strict adherence to food safety, HACCP, and OHS standards; ensure a clean, safe kitchen.
• Manage inventory, stock rotation, and relationships with suppliers to ensure premium product quality.

Skills

Leadership

Menu design & costing

Food safety & HACCP

Cost control / COGS

Staff mentoring

Job description

As Head Chef, you will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the kitchen, ensuring exceptional food quality, consistency, and profitability. You will lead, mentor, and inspire a dedicated team while maintaining seamless communication with front-of-house management.

Key responsibilities

Design, cost, and implement creative, high-quality bistro and function menus that align with current food trends and patron expectations

Drive kitchen profitability by managing food costs (COGS), labor budgets, and optimizing kitchen efficiency

Recruit, train, roster, and mentor kitchen staff, fostering a positive, collaborative, and high-performing team culture

Maintain strict adherence to food safety, hygiene (HACCP), and OHS standards, ensuring a clean and safe working environment

Manage inventory, stock rotation, and build strong relationships with suppliers to ensure premium product quality

About you

Proven experience as a Head Chef or strong Senior Sous Chef in a high-volume pub, hotel, or premium bistro environment

Strong leadership skills with a track record of mentoring junior staff and managing successful kitchen teams

Exceptional financial acumen with demonstrated experience in rostering, labor cost control, and meeting COGS targets

Full working rights in Australia

Roster structured with guaranteed consecutive days off every week

Competitive salary package for a kitchen leader

The opportunity to put your stamp on an iconic Sydney venue and shape our culinary direction

About us

The Cauliflower Hotel is an iconic, multi-level pub and community hub in the heart of Waterloo. Known for our vibrant atmosphere, premium bistro dining, and busy functions spaces, we pride ourselves on delivering exceptional experiences to our locals and visitors alike.