Head Chef - Moon Dog Wild West Geelong READVERTISED

Moon Dog Brewing Pty; Geelong; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Assistance Program

Mechanical bull

Job summary

Moon Dog Brewing Pty is opening Moon Dog Wild West Geelong, a large, western-themed venue, and seeks an experienced Head Chef to lead the kitchen. You will recruit and train the team, organize kitchen operations, and collaborate with Moon Dog Directors and Ops for a standout menu and events.

You will drive food quality, cost control, and seasonal offerings, while managing stock, safety, and timely service in a dynamic multi-venue environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years’ experience in a similar senior kitchen role.
• Proven leadership in large venue kitchens.
• Understanding of cost control and budgeting.

Responsibilities

• Ensure high-quality food across the venue for regular service and functions.
• Manage food costs and meet budgets.
• Oversee Food Safety and OH&S compliance.
• Contribute to menu development and seasonal offerings.
• Order and manage food supplies; verify quantity and quality of goods received.
• Monitor stock levels and conduct ongoing stock checks.
• Collaborate with managers to foster clear communication and problem solving.
• Set production schedules and staffing requirements for timely service.
• Recruit, train and develop the kitchen team.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Time management

Hands-on

Job description

Head Chef - Moon Dog Wild West Geelong READVERTISED

Saddle up Gunslingers, Moon Dog Wild West is coming to Geelong! We're taking over the Geelong Hotel on Yarra Street with our Western -theme (complete with a mechanical bull!) and can't wait to provide our excellent food, beverages and service to the good people of the Geelong! Opening around the start of December (TBC) and open seven days a week, our 900 pax venue will have live music, functions, events and great times for all! Giddy up!!!

Moon Dog has five large existing venues across Melbourne, and has been producing delicious beverages since 2010, including our much loved beers and Fizzer seltzer, along with RTD's and more! Moon Dog Wild West in Footscray has been an epic success which we will aim to replicate in Geelong.

We’re seeking an experienced Head Chef to take the reins! You will lead our kitchen team in smashing out a menu that will consist of the pub classics we do so well across all our venues, alongside a selection of Tex-Mex/Americana offerings. We will also run functions packages & special events.

As our opening Head Chef, your first tasks will be to recruit and train your team, organise the kitchen and create a menu with plenty of help from the existing Moon Dog crew. You will work closely with the Chief Operations Officer, Moon Dog Directors, People and Culture, the Executive Chef and other Moon Dog HC's to build a team and set up the kitchen for success. You will be keen to get your hands dirty and lead with positivity and a can-do attitude.

We're looking to bring our Head chef on around mid-to-late October (flexible). Until the doors are open the role will often be based in Footscray and Preston.

A natural leader, you will hustle to ensure that Moon Dog Wild West one of the best places to work & eat in the West! The ideal candidate will have several years proven experience in similar roles (large, pumping, pub-like venues) and take great pride in what they do.

Working closely with the Group Executive Chef, Sous Chefs & Venue Manager, you will be responsible for:

Ensuring quality food across the entire venue for regular service and functions

Managing food costs and meeting budgets

Food Safety and OH&S

Contributing to menu development and designing special seasonal offerings

Ordering and management of food, including checking quantity and quality of products received

Monitoring and maintenance of stock

Working closely with key managers to develop a high standard of communication and collaborative problem solving.

Setting production schedules and staff requirements necessary to ensure timely delivery of service and coverage.

Continual hiring, training and development of kitchen team

You;

Are a motivated and hands on

Are a passionate team player

Are a great time manager & planner

Have a minimum of 2 years’ experience in a similar role, with many years of proven leadership in the kitchen

Understand the commercial requirements and realities of running a large venue and will happily work to keep costs down

We can offer you:

Employee Assistance Program (Free counselling etc)

Excellent head office support and guidance

All the fun and excitement that comes from working for one of Australia's largest independent beverage producers.

The ability to shape your team, menu and kitchen from the get.

A mechanical bull to ride whenever you fancy!

At Moon Dog Brewing, diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the core of how we work. Moon Dog encourages applications from candidates of all backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people of colour. We value people of all abilities and diversity of culture, faith, gender identity and sexual orientation.