Head Chef Asian Kitchen

About the role

We're looking for a strong, hands-on Head Chef, with a proven track record at this level to run kitchen operations across both Hawker Bar and Nom Nom Vietnamese, Adelaide Airport. You will work closely with the operations manager on site on a day-to-day, with additional support and oversight from our Melbourne-based Team. This is an airport site — trading 7 days a week with early starts from 5am — so we need someone who thrives on structure, discipline and consistency, not just cooking skill.

In Qtr 1 2027, we will be adding a 3rd venue, Amalfi Express - an italian pasta, focaccia & coffee bar.

Key responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day kitchen operations across both Hawker Bar and Nom Nom Vietnamese
• Work under financial guidelines and brand standards – meeting COGS, labour % targets
• Recruit, train, roster and manage kitchen staff across both sites, including cross-training team members between the Asian menus.
• Build and manage production schedules to have both kitchens fully prepped and ready for 5am trade, 7 days a week
• Monitor and control food costs — portion control, waste, stocktakes and supplier ordering — against budget
• Own food safety compliance across both kitchens: HACCP/food safety program adherence, temperature logs, audits and staff training
• Champion food preparation, plating and quality control to spec, and liaise with the Melbourne team on menu standards and development
• Assist with menu execution, prep lists and kitchen setup for the Amalfi Express opening
• Maintain standards under the fast turnaround, high-volume conditions typical of an airport venue

About you

• Trade qualification (Certificate III in Commercial Cookery or equivalent) and current Food Safety Supervisor certificate
• Proven experience as a Head Chef, ideally with people-management/training responsibility
• Demonstrated experience managing food costs and production scheduling in a high-volume kitchen
• Experience in Asian (hawker-style) and/or Italian cuisine — or a genuine interest and willingness to cross-train in whichever you don't yet know
• Strong leadership and staff training ability — comfortable managing rosters and developing junior chefs
• Able to commit to early starts (from 5am) across a 7-day trading week, including weekends and public holidays
• Comfortable working with some remote oversight, reporting into a Melbourne-based Executive Team
• A hands-on, adaptable approach — happy to help build and open a brand-new venue from scratch

About us

TAG Hospitality Group is a multi-brand Australian hospitality business with venues spanning Italian, Vietnamese and Southeast Asian cuisine. At Adelaide Airport, we operate Hawker Bar and Nom Nom Vietnamese, bringing bold Asian hawker-style and Vietnamese flavours to travellers, and are about to launch Amalfi Express, a fast-paced Italian concept opening soon in the same terminal.

Benefits

• The opportunity to help launch a brand-new venue (Amalfi Express) from day one
• Career growth within a multi-brand hospitality group with venues across Australia
• Ongoing training and cross-skilling across Italian and Asian cuisine styles
• Pay reflective of the experience and leadership you bring to the role