Senior Sous Chef

Lake House Daylesford; Daylesford; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive remuneration

Ongoing professional development

Job summary

Lake House Daylesford, Australia, is seeking a Senior Chef to lead our award-winning kitchen team in Daylesford. This full-time role offers the chance to influence culinary direction and uphold the highest standards of preparation and presentation.

You will supervise staff, plan menus with the Head Chef, manage inventory and costs, and collaborate with front-of-house to ensure exceptional guest experiences. Michelin Star background and current Australian visa are preferred.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years in professional kitchens, with 2–3 years in a supervisory or senior sous chef role.
• Advanced culinary skills across techniques and cuisines.
• Knowledge of food safety, hygiene and health regulations; relevant certification preferred.
• Strong leadership and communication to motivate and develop a team.
• Experience in a fine dining or high-volume hospitality environment is highly desirable.
• Understanding of contemporary food trends and sustainable cooking practices.
• Relevant culinary qualifications or apprenticeship completion is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Supervise, train and mentor kitchen staff, ensuring adherence to food safety and hygiene standards.
• Assist Head Chef in menu planning, recipe development and new concepts.
• Oversee food preparation and cooking operations during service; maintain quality and presentation.
• Manage kitchen inventory, including ordering and stock rotation; ensure cost-effective procurement.
• Maintain meticulous records of food preparation, costs and compliance documentation.
• Lead by example with excellent technical skills, time management and attention to detail.
• Collaborate with front-of-house staff to ensure seamless service and guest satisfaction.
• Identify training needs and develop kitchen staff capabilities through coaching and mentorship.
• Ensure all food handling practices comply with health and safety regulations.

Skills

Leadership

Training

Time management

Communication

Mentoring

Quality standards

Education

Culinary qualifications

Tools

Kitchen management systems

Food costing software

Job description

About the role

Lake House - Australia's iconic and much loved destination dining restaurant is seeking an experienced Senior Chef to join our award winning kitchen team in Daylesford. This is a full-time position that offers a fantastic opportunity to make a significant impact on our kitchen operations and contribute to the exceptional dining experiences we deliver to our guests.

As Senior Chef, you will play a pivotal role in leading kitchen staff, maintaining the highest standards of food preparation and presentation, and ensuring consistency across all our culinary offerings. This position is essential to the success of our hospitality operations and offers the opportunity to shape the future of our culinary direction.

You need to have previous global experience at a Michelin Star level, and currently already be working in Australia with a valid visa. You will have demonstrable leadership and training skills, and be capable of maintaining excellent standards.

You might be considering your options with regard to as high end career with an award winning and much adminred property like Lake House, which does offer PR sponsorship for the right candidate. Lake House has many decades of successful development and sponsorship and a wonderful global team.

What you'll be doing

• Supervise, train and mentor kitchen staff, including junior chefs and commis chefs, ensuring adherence to food safety and hygiene standards
• Assist the Head Chef in menu planning, recipe development and the creation of new culinary concepts
• Oversee food preparation and cooking operations during service, maintaining quality control and presentation standards
• Manage kitchen inventory, including ordering and stock rotation, ensuring cost-effective procurement without compromising quality
• Maintain meticulous records of food preparation, costs and compliance documentation
• Lead by example in the kitchen, demonstrating excellent technical skills, time management and attention to detail
• Collaborate with front-of-house staff to ensure seamless service delivery and guest satisfaction
• Identify training needs and develop kitchen staff capabilities through coaching and mentorship
• Ensure all food handling practices comply with health and safety regulations and industry best practices

What we're looking for

• Minimum 5-7 years' experience working in professional kitchens, with at least 2-3 years in a supervisory or senior sous chef role
• Advanced culinary skills with proficiency in a variety of cooking techniques and cuisines
• Comprehensive knowledge of food safety, hygiene and health regulations, with relevant certification preferred
• Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to motivate and develop a team
• Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks under pressure whilst maintaining quality standards
• Proficiency in kitchen management systems and food costing software
• Passion for culinary excellence and commitment to continuous improvement and innovation
• Experience in a fine dining or high-volume hospitality environment is highly desirable
• Understanding of contemporary food trends and commitment to sustainable cooking practices
• Relevant culinary qualifications or apprenticeship completion is preferred

What we offer

Lake House is committed to supporting the wellbeing and professional development of our team members. We offer competitive remuneration packages, Our workplace provides opportunities for ongoing professional development and the chance to work with a talented culinary team in a dynamic hospitality environment.

About us

Lake House is a premier hospitality destination in Melbourne, dedicated to delivering exceptional experiences through outstanding service, culinary excellence and warm hospitality. Our mission is to create memorable moments for our guests by combining quality accommodation, fine dining and thoughtful service. We are committed to fostering a workplace culture that celebrates teamwork, encourages innovation and supports the professional growth of our staff. With a reputation built on excellence and a commitment to our guests and our team, Lake House is an inspiring place to develop your career in the hospitality and tourism industry.