Sous Chef

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer in Melbourne is seeking an experienced Sous Chef to lead our professional kitchen team and support a diverse range of events and café services.

Reporting to the Head Chef, you will manage daily operations, maintain high standards of food safety, and coach a collaborative, fast‑paced team committed to service excellence.

Qualifications

• Certificate, Diploma or equivalent qualification in Hospitality (TAFE or similar).
• Minimum 4 years' experience in a commercial kitchen, catering or hospitality environment in a similar role.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise, support and provide direction to team members.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience using computerised catering, booking or space management systems (e.g. Manhattan Space Scheduling Software).
• Strong organisational, communication and customer service skills.
• Sound understanding of food safety, hygiene and workplace health and safety requirements.
• Is curious about new tech and open to learning, even better if you’re excited about AI!

Responsibilities

• Support the daily operation of the kitchen, delivering high-quality catering and café services for staff, clients and events.
• Prepare and present food to agreed quality, presentation and service standards.
• Assist with menu planning, food preparation and catering operations, ensuring variety, cost-effectiveness and dietary needs are met.
• Coordinate catering requests and kitchen workflows to ensure efficient service delivery.
• Manage stock, ordering and supplier relationships, maintaining inventory within budget.
• Support kitchen administration, including reporting, invoicing and staff records.
• Maintain a safe, clean and compliant kitchen environment in line with food safety and hygiene standards.
• Contribute to a positive team culture through collaboration, training and continuous improvement.

Skills

Team supervision

Customer service

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Food safety knowledge

AI curiosity

Education

Hospitality certificate/diploma

Tools

Microsoft Office

Manhattan Space Scheduling Software

Job description

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is a world-leading global law firm, where our ambition is to help you achieve your goals.

Exceptional client service and the pursuit of excellence are at our core. We invest in and care about our client relationships, which is why so many are longstanding. We enjoy breaking new ground, as we have for over 170 years.

As a fully integrated transatlantic and transpacific firm, we are where you need us to be. Our footprint is extensive and committed across the world’s largest markets, key financial centres and major growth hubs.

At our best tackling complexity and navigating change, we work alongside you on demanding litigation, exacting regulatory work and complex public and private market transactions. We are recognised as leading in these areas.

We are immersed in the sectors and challenges that impact you. We are recognised as standing apart in energy, infrastructure and resources. And we’re focused on areas of growth that affect every business across the world.

All of this is achieved by supporting the growth of our people, who help us deliver on our ambition – which is to help you achieve yours.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer: Your goals. Our ambition

The Opportunity

We are looking for an experienced Sous Chef to join our professional kitchen team in Melbourne!

Reporting to the Head Chef, you will play a key role in the day-to-day operation of our kitchen and catering services, supporting a diverse range of events and café offerings. This hands‑on role requires a passionate hospitality professional who thrives in a fast‑paced environment, takes pride in quality and presentation, and is committed to delivering outstanding service while maintaining the highest standards of food safety and teamwork.

The hours for this role are 6:30am – 3pm Monday to Friday with some overtime evening events.

What you’ll do

Support the daily operation of the kitchen, delivering high-quality catering and café services for staff, clients and events.

Prepare and present food to agreed quality, presentation and service standards.

Assist with menu planning, food preparation and catering operations, ensuring variety, cost-effectiveness and dietary needs are met.

Coordinate catering requests and kitchen workflows to ensure efficient service delivery.

Manage stock, ordering and supplier relationships, maintaining inventory within budget.

Support kitchen administration, including reporting, invoicing and staff records.

Maintain a safe, clean and compliant kitchen environment in line with food safety and hygiene standards.

Contribute to a positive team culture through collaboration, training and continuous improvement.

What you’ll bring

Certificate, Diploma or equivalent qualification in Hospitality (TAFE or similar).

Minimum 4 years' experience in a commercial kitchen, catering or hospitality environment in a similar role.

Demonstrated ability to supervise, support and provide direction to team members.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.

Experience using computerised catering, booking or space management systems (e.g. Manhattan Space Scheduling Software).

Strong organisational, communication and customer service skills.

Sound understanding of food safety, hygiene and workplace health and safety requirements.

Is curious about new tech and open to learning, even better if you’re excited about AI!

What you can expect from us

We’re a world leading international law firm with a global team of over 6,000 professionals across 26 offices. As the market leader in Australia, we are committed to high performance, collaboration, diversity and digital innovation. We are client‑centred, commercially driven, and renowned for our solution‑focused expertise. We will align your growth with our ambitions.

We make your personal and professional growth our business. And as part of the team, our ambition is yours too. Wherever you are in your career: grow and help the firm grow with you.

We will provide opportunities to learn on the job as well as a mix of learning opportunities tailored to you. Daily experiences, supportive challenges, team collaboration, mentors, and structured learning opportunities help you to expand your knowledge and reach your goals.

We value your wellbeing, both at home and work and we place a strong emphasis on mental health. If you need support, you’ll have it and we’ll empower you to harness your personal strengths, navigate uncertainty, embrace opportunities, and effectively manage things within your control.

For more benefits on offer such as our holistic wellbeing fund or home office allowance

Join us to be part of a human, bold and outstanding team at Australia’s market leading law firm.

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values—Human, Bold, and Outstanding.

Team

Office Operations

Working Pattern

Full time

Location

Melbourne

Contract type

Permanent Contract

Diversity & Inclusion

We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our Values—Human, Bold, and Outstanding.