Head Chef

Head Chef | Full-Time

Humble Cafe | Southport, Gold Coast, QLD

Humble Cafe is looking for an experienced and capable Full-Time Head Chef to lead our kitchen operations and take ownership of food quality, menu development, stock management and kitchen performance.

We are looking for more than just a chef who can cook. We need a true Head Chef with strong leadership, management and commercial skills who understands how to run an efficient, organised and profitable kitchen.

The successful candidate will be responsible for managing the kitchen team, maintaining food consistency, controlling food costs, managing stock and ordering, and developing menus that balance quality, creativity and profitability.

Key Responsibilities

Kitchen Leadership & Management

• Lead, train and manage the kitchen team to maintain high standards of food quality, consistency and service.
• Organise kitchen operations, staff responsibilities, preparation schedules and daily workflow.
• Maintain food safety, hygiene and workplace standards.
• Take ownership of kitchen performance and ensure smooth daily operations.

Stock Control & Ordering

• Manage stock levels and place supplier orders based on actual business needs.
• Forecast ingredient requirements and prevent over-ordering, wastage and unnecessary stock holding.
• Monitor stock usage, storage, rotation and expiry dates.
• Maintain appropriate par levels and ensure ingredients are available without excessive inventory.

Menu Development & Food Cost Control

• Develop, review and improve menu items based on customer demand, operational efficiency and profitability.
• Calculate recipe costs, portion costs and food cost percentages accurately.
• Control portion sizes, ingredient usage, food waste and overall food costs.
• Understand menu pricing, gross profit margins and the commercial performance of individual dishes.
• Create standardised recipes and preparation procedures to ensure consistency across the kitchen.

Quality & Operational Standards

• Maintain consistent presentation, taste and portion control.
• Ensure the kitchen operates efficiently during busy service periods.
• Identify operational problems and implement practical improvements.
• Work closely with management to improve kitchen efficiency, cost control and overall business performance.

What We Are Looking For

• Proven experience working as a Head Chef or in a senior kitchen management role.
• Strong leadership skills and the ability to manage, train and hold a kitchen team accountable.
• Demonstrated experience in stock management, supplier ordering and inventory control.
• Strong knowledge of recipe costing, food cost percentages, menu pricing and gross profit margins.
• Experience in menu development and creating commercially viable dishes.
• Excellent organisational skills, attention to detail and problem-solving abilities.
• A hands-on approach combined with strong management and commercial awareness.
• The ability to work independently, make decisions and take responsibility for kitchen performance.

Important

This is a Head Chef position, not a standard Cook or Chef role.

We are looking for someone who can manage the kitchen as a business operation, not simply prepare food according to recipes. You must understand how to lead a team, control stock, manage suppliers, develop menus and maintain food cost targets.

Candidates who only have cooking experience without proven kitchen management and cost-control skills may not be suitable for this position.

Employment Details

• Position: Full-Time Head Chef
• Location: Humble Cafe, Southport, Gold Coast, Queensland
• Employment Type: Full-Time
• Salary: Negotiable, based on experience and capability

If you are a motivated and commercially minded Head Chef who can take ownership of a kitchen and contribute to the overall success of our business, we would love to hear from you.

Please submit your resume outlining your relevant experience in kitchen leadership, menu development, stock management and food cost control.

Pay: $75,000.00 – $85,000.00 per year

Work Location: In person