Pizza Chef / Pizzaiolo

Il Forno Hampton; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff meals

Ownership of pizza section

Growth opportunities

Job summary

Il Forno Hampton is seeking an experienced pizzaiolo to lead our pizza section, from dough to service, in our open kitchen near Hampton Station. You’ll operate a Moretti oven and manage approximately 40–80 pizzas per service, ensuring high quality and consistency.

You’ll work closely with the Head Chef in a small, collaborative team, with a long-term view for growth and creative input into our pizza menu. This is a full-time role with a Wednesday–Sunday roster.

Qualifications

• Experience in pizza preparation and service.
• Demonstrated pizza experience, technical ability and understanding of dough.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and manage house-made, high-hydration pizza dough.
• Manage 96–120 hour fermentation process.
• Portion, shape and stretch dough.
• Prepare and maintain ingredients and mise en place for the pizza section.
• Top, fire and finish pizzas during service.
• Work confidently with the Moretti stone oven.
• Maintain consistency, quality and presentation for 40–80 pizzas per service.
• Monitor stock and communicate requirements with Head Chef.

Skills

Pizza dough handling

Fermentation processes

High-hydration dough

Open kitchen experience

Team collaboration

Education

Cookery qualifications beneficial

Tools

Moretti oven

Job description

An established neighbourhood restaurant, Il Forno is a tribute to Italian culture and history, bringing together seasonal Australian and Italian produce, thoughtful cooking and warm, genuine hospitality.

Our pizzas are made with a high-hydration, house-made dough fermented for 96–120 hours and cooked in a Moretti stone oven. As we continue to grow and evolve Il Forno, we're looking for an experienced pizzaiolo who takes pride in their craft and wants to become a long-term part of the restaurant.

The Role

You’ll take responsibility for the day-to-day operation of our pizza section, from dough preparation and fermentation through to service.

Our dedicated pizza station sits at the front of the restaurant and is visible to guests as they arrive, making the pizzaiolo an important part of the Il Forno experience as well as our kitchen team.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Preparing and managing our house-made, high-hydration pizza dough
• Managing the 96–120 hour fermentation process
• Portioning, shaping and stretching dough
• Preparing and maintaining ingredients and mise en place for the pizza section
• Topping, firing and finishing pizzas throughout service
• Working confidently with our Moretti stone oven
• Maintaining consistency, quality and presentation across approximately 40–80 pizzas per service
• Managing the organisation, cleanliness and readiness of the pizza section
• Monitoring stock and communicating requirements with the Head Chef and wider kitchen
• Working closely with an additional pizza hand during busy Friday and Saturday services
• Contributing ideas and input into the future development of our pizza offering

You’ll work closely with our Head Chef and kitchen team, while having a high degree of independence and ownership over the pizza section.

About You

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Experienced specifically in pizza preparation and service
• Confident managing dough production and long fermentation processes
• Experienced working with high-hydration dough
• Comfortable independently managing a pizza section during service
• Confident working at volume while maintaining consistency and quality
• Reliable, organised and calm under pressure
• Particular about the quality and consistency of their work
• Comfortable working in an open, guest-facing section of the restaurant
• Passionate about Italian food, quality produce and the craft of pizza making
• Interested in becoming a long-term member of a small restaurant team

Formal cookery qualifications are beneficial but not essential. Demonstrated pizza experience, technical ability and an understanding of dough are more important to us.

What We Offer

• Full-time position with a stable Wednesday–Sunday roster
• Monday and Tuesday off each week
• Predominantly afternoon and evening hours
• Early finishes by hospitality standards, generally around 9:30pm
• $75,000–$85,000 + super, depending on experience
• Staff meals
• Ownership of a dedicated pizza section
• Additional support during busy Friday and Saturday services
• Small, close-knit kitchen and restaurant team
• Opportunity for creative input as our pizza menu continues to develop
• Opportunity to grow with the restaurant and take on greater responsibility over time
• Established restaurant with an exciting next chapter ahead
• Hampton location, only a few minutes' walk from Hampton Station

We are looking for someone to join us as soon as possible, but finding the right person for the role and our team is important to us.

Applicants must be available to work Wednesday through Sunday. Sponsorship may be considered for the right candidate.