Head Chef: Lead Creative Menus & Profitability

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

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.