Head Chef - Production / R&D

Head Chef - Production

Premium Food Production | Mascot | Monday-Friday

Lead product innovation and culinary development for an established premium food brand.

JRM Hospitality Recruitment is seeking an experienced and creative Head Chef to oversee a specialist production kitchen in Mascot.

This is an opportunity for a commercially minded chef who enjoys developing new products, refining recipes and delivering exceptional food quality within a premium culinary environment.

Working with a small team of 4-6 chefs, you will lead the production and ongoing development of an extensive retail food range, including restaurant-quality ready meals, pantry products, sauces, condiments and seasonal specialty items.

The position combines hands-on cooking, product innovation and kitchen leadership, offering the opportunity to influence an evolving product range while enjoying predominantly Monday-to-Friday working hours.

The Role

• Lead the daily operation of a premium food production kitchen, managing a team of 4-6 chefs.
• Drive research and development of new products across ready meals, pantry items, sauces, condiments and retail food lines.
• Develop, test and refine recipes, ensuring consistency, flavour, presentation and suitability for retail production.
• Oversee production planning, kitchen workflow and efficient allocation of resources.
• Establish recipe specifications, costing, portion control and production procedures to maintain quality and commercial viability.
• Collaborate with senior management on product innovation, seasonal ranges and opportunities to expand the retail offering.
• Maintain exceptional food safety standards, including HACCP compliance, traceability, labelling and shelf-life requirements.
• Manage purchasing, stock control, wastage and production costs.
• Mentor and develop the kitchen team, promoting accountability, creativity and continuous improvement.

About You

• Proven experience as a Head Chef, Senior Sous Chef or Production Chef within a premium culinary environment.
• A strong background in recipe development, product innovation and food production.
• Experience in central production kitchens, premium retail food, catering or high-end restaurant operations will be highly regarded.
• Excellent technical cooking ability with an understanding of a broad range of cuisines and cooking techniques.
• Commercial awareness, including recipe costing, production efficiencies and waste management.
• Strong knowledge of food safety standards and production processes.
• A creative, organised and hands-on approach to kitchen leadership.
• Confidence working independently while collaborating with senior management and other departments.

Hours & Benefits

• Monday to Friday, approximately 6:00am-3:30pm.
• Predominantly daytime hours with occasional overtime during peak seasonal periods.
• Opportunity to lead research, development and innovation within an established premium food business.
• Work with exceptional ingredients and high-quality products.
• Lead a small, skilled culinary team with scope to develop and expand the product range.
• Uniform provided and attractive staff discounts.
• A stable working environment offering an excellent balance between professional development and lifestyle.

Apply Now

If you are an experienced chef with a passion for product development, premium food production and leading a successful kitchen team, we would welcome the opportunity to speak with you.

Apply now or contact JRM Hospitality Recruitment for a confidential discussion.
#joinJRMhospitality #SCR-andy-ball