Sous Chef

Rising Sun Richmond; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff meals

Discounts at Publican.Co venues

Training and development opportunities

Career growth within Publican.Co

Job summary

The Rising Sun Richmond is seeking an experienced Sous Chef to join our senior kitchen team and help lead the next stage of the venue’s growth in Melbourne. This hands-on leadership role focuses on calm service, strong grill skills and team development under the Head and Executive Chefs.

You’ll work closely with our kitchen leadership to drive seasonal menus, training, cost control and consistent quality across busy evenings and weekend services, while shaping a positive kitchen culture for the

Qualifications

• Experience as Sous Chef or strong Junior Sous Chef ready to take the next step.
• Experience in busy gastro pubs or hatted restaurants.
• Full Australian working rights.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day kitchen operations with Head Chef and Executive Chef.
• Run sections and hands-on during busy services.
• Train and develop junior chefs.
• Assist with ordering, stock control and food costs.
• Maintain prep, service, and kitchen systems.
• Drive consistency in quality and portions.

Skills

Leadership

Grill experience

Team management

Food safety

Communication

Menu development

Stock control

Seasonal cooking

Training junior chefs

Organisation

Job description

The Rising Sun Hotel is looking for an experienced Sous Chef to join our senior kitchen team and help lead the next stage of the venue’s growth.

Just over a year on from a major refurbishment and reopening, the Rising Sun has quickly established itself as a genuine Richmond local. We’re a neighbourhood pub built around great food, thoughtful drinks and warm, unpretentious hospitality, with a strong community following and plenty still ahead of us.

This is a hands‑on leadership role for a Sous Chef who wants more than simply running service. You’ll work directly with our Head Chef and Executive Chef, with the support of a Junior Sous Chef, while helping lead and develop a close‑knit kitchen team.

We’re looking for someone who can bring calm leadership to a busy service, contribute ideas and take genuine ownership of their role within the kitchen.

About Us

Our menu is grounded in recognisable, well‑executed pub food, with a strong focus on quality produce, consistency and seasonality.

Alongside the core menu, our chalkboard specials provide plenty of room for creativity, giving the kitchen team an opportunity to work with seasonal produce, develop new dishes and put their own ideas on the plate.

Community is a big part of the Rising Sun, with three established weekly community days forming an important part of our trade:

• Sunday Roast
  A proper weekly pub roast, always beef alongside a rotating second offering, and an important Sunday service.
• Monday Steak Night
  One of our strongest community nights and a Richmond local favourite.
• Tuesday Parma Night
  A busy midweek service that has quickly become part of the rhythm of the pub.

With Steak Night and a strong grill component across our regular menu, solid grill experience is essential for this position.

The venue also has a dedicated upstairs prep kitchen, providing additional space for production and organisation away from the main service kitchen.

The Role

As Sous Chef, you’ll work closely with the Head Chef and Executive Chef across the day‑to‑day operation of the kitchen.

Leading services and delegating clearly and respectfully

Cooking on section and remaining hands‑on during busy services

Supporting the Head Chef with the day‑to‑day leadership of the kitchen

Leading the kitchen when the Head Chef is away

Training, coaching and developing junior chefs

Contributing to menu development and rotating chalkboard specials

Assisting with ordering, stock control, food costs and kitchen administration

Maintaining strong prep, service and kitchen systems

Driving consistency across food quality, presentation and portion control

Maintaining food safety, cleanliness and compliance standards

Working closely with the FOH leadership team to deliver smooth services

Helping build a positive, professional and accountable kitchen culture

We’re looking for someone who leads by example. Someone who can run a strong service without creating unnecessary pressure and understands that good kitchens are built around communication, preparation, consistency and respect.

A Genuine Opportunity to Grow

The Rising Sun is still developing, and there is plenty ahead for the venue.

We will soon be expanding our private dining offering, creating another area of the business for the kitchen team to help shape and develop.

For the right Sous Chef, that means genuine opportunity to contribute to new menus, specials, events and private dining rather than simply stepping into a kitchen where everything has already been decided.

You’ll have an experienced Head Chef and Executive Chef to work alongside, a Junior Sous Chef supporting the senior kitchen team, and the opportunity to continue developing your own leadership and kitchen management experience as the venue grows.

About You

You’ll ideally bring:

Previous experience as a Sous Chef or a strong Junior Sous Chef ready to take the next step

Experience in busy, quality‑focused gastro pubs or hatted restaurants

Strong grill experience and confidence running a busy grill section

Full availability across evenings and weekends, which is essential for this role

Confidence leading sections and running busy services

Strong organisational and prep‑management skills

An understanding of food costs, ordering, stock control and wastage

A genuine interest in seasonal cooking, quality produce and well‑executed pub food

The ability to train, support and develop junior chefs

Strong communication skills and a collaborative approach to leadership

Current food safety knowledge and relevant certifications

Full Australian working rights

Please note that applicants must already hold full Australian working rights. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

This is a hands‑on senior kitchen role. You’ll need to be comfortable being on the tools and leading from the front, particularly across our busiest evening and weekend services.

What’s on Offer

Salary dependent on experience and qualifications

A senior role in an established but still growing Richmond pub

Direct support and development from our Head Chef and Executive Chef

A close‑knit kitchen team with Junior Sous Chef support

Genuine creative input through our rotating chalkboard specials

Opportunity to help shape our upcoming private dining offering

Dedicated upstairs prep kitchen

Staff meals and generous discounts across Publican.Co venues

Group‑wide training and development opportunities

Employment conditions and additional benefits under the Publican.Co Enterprise Agreement

A workplace that values good leadership, professional standards and a strong kitchen culture

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences. Great pubs, like great communities, thrive on diversity.