HEAD CHEF / SENIOR CHEF – MODERN VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT

LOTUS STORY PTY LTD; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 80,000 - 101,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Permanent full-time role

Superannuation paid in addition to the

Creative involvement in seasonal menus

Job summary

Lotus Story Pty Ltd in Adelaide is seeking an experienced Head Chef or Senior Chef to lead the kitchen and drive the modern Vietnamese menu. You will manage daily operations, ensure top quality across lunch and dinner, and mentor a kitchen team in a fast‑paced setting.

The role requires a commercial cookery qualification, at least four years in a professional kitchen, and strong knowledge of Vietnamese cuisine. A permanent full‑time roster with competitive base salary awaits in North Adelaide.

Qualifications

• A relevant commercial cookery qualification or equivalent.
• At least four years in a professional commercial kitchen.
• Experience at Head Chef, Sous Chef or senior leadership level.
• Strong knowledge of Vietnamese cuisine and regional dishes.
• Ability to lead a kitchen team and standardise recipes and procedures.
• Experience in menu development, costing, purchasing and stock control.
• Solid knowledge of food safety, kitchen hygiene and workplace safety.
• Willingness to work a full-time roster including evenings, weekends and public holidays.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily kitchen operations for lunch and dinner with consistent service quality.
• Develop and refine modern Vietnamese menus inspired by regional traditions.
• Prepare and cook dishes to high flavour, presentation and portion standards.
• Create recipes, prep lists, kitchen procedures and quality controls.
• Manage food costing, purchasing, stock control and reduce wastage.
• Plan rosters and allocate duties according to needs.
• Train and supervise chefs, cooks and kitchen staff.
• Ensure food safety, hygiene and safety standards are maintained.
• Collaborate with management on menu development and promotions.

Skills

Vietnamese cuisine knowledge

Kitchen leadership

Menu development

Food costing

Purchasing & stock control

Food safety & HACCP

Communication & organisation

Education

Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery

Job description

HEAD CHEF / SENIOR CHEF – MODERN VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT

HEAD CHEF / SENIOR CHEF – MODERN VIETNAMESE RESTAURANT

Lotus Story Pty Ltd
Location: North Adelaide, South Australia
Employment: Permanent full-time
Hours: 38 hours per week, plus reasonable additional hours as required
Base salary: $80,000–$101,000 per annum, depending on qualifications and experience
Superannuation: Paid in addition in accordance with legislation
Occupation: Chef – ANZSCO 351311

About Lotus Story

Lotus Story is a modern Vietnamese restaurant celebrating Vietnam’s culinary heritage through regional flavours, cultural storytelling and contemporary presentation.

Located in North Adelaide, our menu brings together authentic Vietnamese foundations, refined cooking techniques and modern Australian hospitality. We are seeking an experienced Head Chef or Senior Chef to lead our kitchen and contribute to the restaurant’s long-term culinary direction.

Key Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Leading daily kitchen operations and maintaining efficient service across lunch and dinner.


• Developing and refining modern Vietnamese menus inspired by regional traditions.


• Preparing and cooking dishes to consistently high standards of flavour, presentation and portion control.


• Creating recipes, preparation lists, kitchen procedures and food-quality standards.


• Managing food costing, purchasing, stock control, wastage and kitchen labour.


• Planning kitchen rosters and allocating duties according to operational requirements.


• Training, supervising and supporting chefs, cooks and kitchen assistants.


• Maintaining food safety, hygiene, cleaning and workplace safety standards.


• Monitoring the quality of ingredients, preparation, cooking and presentation.


• Working collaboratively with restaurant management on menu development, seasonal promotions and business objectives.


• Ensuring the kitchen complies with applicable workplace laws, food-safety requirements and company policies.

Applicants must demonstrate:

• A relevant commercial cookery qualification, such as Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery, or an equivalent recognised qualification.


• At least four years of relevant experience in a professional commercial kitchen.


• Substantial experience at Head Chef, Sous Chef or senior kitchen leadership level.


• Strong practical knowledge of Vietnamese cuisine, including regional dishes, ingredients, preparation methods and flavour profiles.


• The ability to demonstrate this knowledge through previous employment, training, menu development or equivalent professional experience.


• Proven ability to lead a kitchen team, organise service, create preparation systems and maintain consistency.


• Experience in menu development, recipe standardisation, food costing, purchasing and stock control.


• Sound knowledge of food safety, kitchen hygiene and workplace health and safety.


• Strong communication, organisation and problem-solving skills.


• Availability to work a full-time roster that may include evenings, weekends and public holidays.

What We Offer

• A permanent full-time position with a competitive base salary.


• Superannuation paid in addition to the advertised salary.


• The opportunity to lead and develop a distinctive modern Vietnamese menu.


• Creative involvement in signature dishes, seasonal menus and culinary storytelling.


• A collaborative working environment with opportunities for long-term professional development.

Applicants should submit:

• Copies of relevant qualifications.


• A brief introduction outlining experience with Vietnamese cuisine and kitchen leadership.


• Examples of menus, dishes or culinary projects where available.


• Contact details for at least two professional referees.

Applicants must meet the skills, experience and employment requirements applicable to the position. Employer sponsorship may be considered for a suitably qualified candidate, subject to the business’s requirements and applicable Australian immigration laws.