Head Pizza Chef, Flagship Hospitality Venue, Melbourne CBD

Work Initiatives; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Job summary

Work Initiatives is seeking an experienced Pizza Chef for a flagship CBD Melbourne venue. You will take ownership of the pizza section in a fast-paced, high-volume kitchen, ensuring craftsmanship and consistent dough production.

The pizza offering is central to the menu, with ongoing investment in equipment and operational refinement. You will work a five-day roster including weekends, leading the section through busy services while contributing to ongoing development.

Qualifications

• Proven experience with multiple dough styles, including large-format and Polish doughs.
• Strong knowledge of fermentation, dough development and dough management.
• Experience delivering 100+ covers in a fast-paced kitchen.
• Excellent organisation and proactive problem-solving.
• Calm under pressure during peak service.

Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of the pizza section from prep and dough production to service.
• Maintain dough quality, fermentation, and consistency across production.
• Deliver high-quality output during busy services and event-driven trade.
• Identify opportunities to improve preparation, workflow and production systems.
• Contribute to menu development and exploration of new pizza/dough styles.

Tools

Wood-fired oven

Commercial pizza oven

Job description

Our client is a well-established hospitality operator situated within one of Melbourne’s leading cultural and events precincts. The venue benefits from strong event-driven trade, consistent foot traffic and a vibrant, high-volume environment. With continued investment across the broader group, the business is focused on further developing its pizza offering and creating a high-quality, consistent program supported by strong operational systems.

Client Profile

Our client is a well-established hospitality operator situated within one of Melbourne’s leading cultural and events precincts. The venue benefits from strong event-driven trade, consistent foot traffic and a vibrant, high-volume environment. With continued investment across the broader group, the business is focused on further developing its pizza offering and creating a high-quality, consistent program supported by strong operational systems.

Job Description

An opportunity exists for an experienced and passionate Pizza Chef to take ownership of a dedicated section within a dynamic, high-volume kitchen. Based at a flagship CBD venue, this role will suit a technically capable chef who values craftsmanship, consistency and well-structured production.

The pizza offering is an important component of the menu, with ongoing investment in equipment, infrastructure and operational refinement. Working across a five-day roster including Saturdays and Sundays, you will lead the section through busy services while contributing to its continued development.

Key responsibilities include:

• Manage all aspects of the pizza section, from preparation and dough production through to service
• Maintain exceptional dough quality, fermentation and consistency across production
• Deliver consistent, high-quality output during high-volume and event-driven trade
• Identify opportunities to improve preparation, workflow and production systems
• Contribute to menu development and the exploration of additional pizza and dough styles

Candidate Profile

You are a technically strong Pizza Chef with a genuine passion for the craft and the confidence to take ownership of a busy section. You understand the importance of preparation and consistency and can identify potential issues before they affect service. Calm under pressure, you are comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment where trade can intensify significantly around major events and seasonal peaks.

You will demonstrate:

• Proven experience working with multiple dough styles, including larger-format and Polish doughs
• Strong technical knowledge of fermentation, dough development and dough management
• Experience delivering 100+ covers within a fast-paced, high-volume kitchen
• Excellent organisation, attention to detail and a proactive approach to problem-solving
• A calm and resilient temperament with the ability to maintain standards during peak service

Offer

This role provides the opportunity to take genuine ownership of an important section within an established hospitality operation. You will benefit from group-level support, an experienced leadership structure, strong front-of-house management and established operational systems.

A competitive salary package above market benchmarks is available for the successful candidate.