Head Chef, Melbourne Airport

UNAVAILABLE; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free parking

F&B discount

Airport ASIC pass

Recognition program

Career development

Global network

Job summary

Delaware North Australia is seeking an experienced Head Chef to oversee the Communal Kitchen operation at Melbourne Airport. You will lead a high-volume culinary team across multiple outlets, including Little Lygon and The Local Taphouse, delivering exceptional food and guest experiences.

You will drive menu development with a focus on pasta and pizza, manage costs, and ensure HACCP compliance while mentoring staff to reach operational excellence in a busy airport environment.

Qualifications

• Proven Head Chef experience in a high-volume hospitality setting.
• Certificate IV Commercial Cookery.
• Diploma of Hospitality and HACCP Certification; ASC Federation qualified preferred.
• Strong menu development skills, incl. pasta and pizza.
• Proven ability to lead, develop and motivate culinary teams.
• Experience managing labour, costs and profitability.
• Able to work a 7-day rotating roster.

Responsibilities

• Drive kitchen operations to meet financial plans and growth.
• Oversee menu planning and design for fresh, high-quality food.
• Ensure HACCP and Food Safety across back-of-house.
• Manage inventory, COGS, labour costings and P&L.
• Recruit, train and develop team members.
• Collaborate with venue leaders to ensure guest experiences.

Skills

Head Chef experience

Menu development

Pasta & pizza expertise

Leadership

Labour cost control

Food safety HACCP

Education

Certificate IV Commercial Cookery

Diploma of Hospitality

HACCP Certification

Job description

The opportunity

Delaware North Australia is hiring a full-time Head Chef to oversee our dynamic Communal Kitchen operation at Melbourne Airport. Responsible for delivering exceptional food experiences across multiple venues, including Little Lygon, The Local Taphouse and our high-volume production kitchen, you'll lead a talented culinary team while driving consistency, innovation and operational excellence.

We're seeking a passionate culinary leader with experience across high-volume kitchen operations and a strong understanding of pasta and pizza preparation to help shape the food offering across our diverse portfolio of dining concepts.

This is an exciting opportunity for an accomplished chef to make a significant impact within one of Australia's busiest airport environments while developing and inspiring a high-performing kitchen team.

What we offer

• Free staff car parking
• Discount on food & beverage purchases across our outlets
• Airport ASIC pass valid for 24 months
• Reward and Recognition program
• Learning and career development opportunities
• Being part of a global company opens doors to various possibilities across our network of Australian and international resorts, airports and stadiums

What you will do?

• Drive kitchen operations to achieve financial plan, profit margins and business growth
• Oversee menu planning and design, consistently producing fresh and high-quality food offerings
• Ensure compliance with HACCP and Food Safety standards across all back of house operations
• Manage inventory control, COGS and labour costings and profit and loss reporting
• Recruit, train and develop team members to ensure culinary team success
• Collaborate with venue leaders and stakeholders to ensure consistent execution, operational excellence and exceptional guest experiences

More about you

• Proven experience as a Head Chef in a high-volume restaurant or hospitality environment
• Certificate IV Commercial Cookery
• Diploma of Hospitality, HACCP Certification & Australian Culinary Federation qualified chef, preferred
• Strong expertise in menu development, including pasta and pizza preparation
• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop and motivate culinary teams
• Commercial acumen with experience managing labour, food costs and profitability
• Ability to work a 7-day rotating roster

The application period will close on 13/11/2026, unless a successful qualified candidate is identified sooner.

Who we are

Melbourne Airport is one of Australia’s busiest transport hubs, welcoming millions of passengers each year. Delaware North operates a range of premium food and beverage outlets within the airport, including Pickett's Deli & Rotisserie, Stomping Ground Brewery and Tap House. These venues offer travellers everything from quick bites to full-service dining, showcasing quality ingredients and local flavours. Our airport outlets provide a welcoming experience that complements the airport’s modern terminals and world-class amenities, ensuring guests enjoy great food and service before their journey.