Sous Chef

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holistic wellbeing fund

Home office allowance

Job summary

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP in Melbourne is seeking an experienced Sous Chef to join our professional kitchen team. Reporting to the Head Chef, you will support daily kitchen operation, catering services and café offerings, delivering high quality food in a fast-paced environment while upholding safety standards.

This hands-on role requires a hospitality professional who thrives on teamwork, quality presentation and continuous improvement, with a focus on staff development, inventory

Qualifications

• Certificate, Diploma or equivalent qualification in Hospitality.
• Minimum 4 years' experience in a commercial kitchen, catering or hospitality environment.
• Ability to supervise and direct team members.
• Experience with catering operations, menu planning and stock control.
• Proficiency with Office apps.
• Experience with space scheduling systems.

Responsibilities

• Support the daily operation of the kitchen for staff, clients and events.
• Prepare and present food to quality and presentation standards.
• Assist with menu planning, food prep and catering operations.
• Coordinate catering requests and kitchen workflows.
• Manage stock, ordering and supplier relationships.
• Support kitchen administration and reporting.
• Maintain safe, clean kitchen per food safety standards.
• Contribute to teamwork and continuous improvement.

Skills

Team supervision

Food safety & hygiene

Stock management

Catering operations

Microsoft Office

Space-management systems

Communication skills

Curiosity about AI

Education

Hospitality qualification (Certificate/ Diploma or equivalent)

Tools

Manhattan Space Scheduling Software

Job description

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 - 3:06pm 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.