Head Chef

Lake Moodemere Estate is a well-established family-owned business located in Rutherglen, Victoria, with a diverse range of agricultural, wine and tourism operations. The estate is home to the Lakeside Restaurant, located within the heritage cellar door, offering high-quality dining experiences that showcase estate-grown produce, including wine, lamb and citrus, alongside locally and regionally sourced ingredients.

As a progressive and sustainable business, Lake Moodemere Estate is committed to delivering quality food and wine experiences while maintaining a strong focus on sustainability and responsible business practices.

Benefits and Perks

Work in a beautiful waterfront estate and regional hospitality environment.

Join a positive, supportive and collaborative team.

Primarily daytime shifts with occasional evening work for functions and events.

Opportunity to contribute creatively to menu development and culinary offerings.

Career development, training and professional growth opportunities.

Work with fresh, estate-grown and locally sourced produce.

Be part of a progressive business committed to sustainability.

Enjoy the lifestyle and community of the Rutherglen region, within easy reach of Albury/Wodonga and Wangaratta.

About the Role

Lake Moodemere Estate is excited to expand our talented kitchen team. We are looking for an experienced and motivated Head Chef to join our team on a full-time basis. We welcome applicants who demonstrate integrity, pride in their work, strong leadership and a genuine passion for quality food and hospitality. If you are confident working in a hands-on kitchen environment and believe you would be a great culture fit, we would love to hear from you.

The Successful Applicant Will:

Plan, design, develop and update menus in consultation with management, considering seasonal availability, customer preferences and business objectives.

Demonstrate creativity, culinary talent and a genuine passion for the hospitality industry and quality food.

Lead and oversee day-to-day kitchen operations and service, ensuring smooth and efficient delivery and consistently high standards of food quality, presentation and consistency.

Prepare, cook and present dishes to a consistently high standard while supervising and coordinating kitchen staff across all kitchen operations.

Coordinate, motivate, train and mentor kitchen staff to maintain high performance, teamwork and compliance with kitchen procedures.

Demonstrate strong leadership by setting professional standards, leading by example and contributing to a positive and collaborative kitchen culture.

Demonstrate a strong work ethic, positive can-do attitude, flexibility and a hands-on approach, particularly during busy service periods.

Think on your feet, identify operational issues and effectively resolve problems to support smooth kitchen and service operations.

Maintain an impeccable standard of cleanliness, organisation and hygiene throughout the kitchen.

Control food preparation processes, portioning and plating to maintain quality, consistency and cost efficiency.

Monitor and manage food and labour costs, stock levels, ordering and supplier relationships.

Assist with developing and managing budgets, run sheets and reports for functions, festivals and event menus.

Maintain and enforce strict food hygiene and safety standards in accordance with HACCP and relevant requirements.

Demonstrate a strong understanding of workplace health and safety, risk management, record keeping and reporting requirements.

Implement and oversee workplace health and safety, risk management and company policies and procedures within the kitchen.

Monitor daily kitchen operations and service to support customer satisfaction and a high-quality dining experience.

Share and support Lake Moodemere Estate's commitment to sustainability and responsible environmental practices.

Skills and Experience

Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery or equivalent qualification.

Minimum 3 years of relevant full-time professional kitchen experience.

Strong knowledge and practical application of HACCP and food safety requirements.

Demonstrated experience in menu planning and development.

Experience supervising, training or mentoring kitchen staff.

Strong understanding of food preparation, presentation, stock control and cost management.

Excellent communication and teamwork skills.

Strong organisational, time management and problem-solving skills.

Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-standard kitchen environment.

Ability to work weekends and public holidays, with occasional evening work for functions and events.

Food Safety Supervisor certification will be highly regarded.

A genuine passion for quality food, hospitality and delivering a positive dining experience.

If you feel like you'd be a great candidate for this position, we'd love to hear from you. Hit the 'Apply Now' button above and submit a current resume and cover letter outlining your suitability for the position.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $76,515.00 – $80,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person