Sous Chef

Sous Chef | Panton Hill Hotel

Full-time | Panton Hill, Victoria

Lead the service. Develop the team. Help shape the kitchen.

Named Triple M Melbourne’s Best Pub two years running, Panton Hill Hotel is looking for an experienced Sous Chef to work alongside our Head Chef and take a leading role in our kitchen.

We’re a busy community pub with a loyal local following. Food is a big part of why people come here—and why they come back. We’re looking for someone who understands how to deliver quality at volume and can build a team that does it consistently.

As second-in-command, you’ll help lead the whole kitchen. You’ll organise the team, oversee service and take responsibility for the kitchen in the Head Chef’s absence. You’ll also have a voice in our menus, kitchen operations and the development of our chefs.

Your role

Working closely with the Head Chef, you’ll turn the day’s bookings, staffing and preparation needs into a clear plan, then lead the team through service.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading the kitchen during service: directing the pass, coordinating sections and controlling the timing and quality of food leaving the kitchen.
• Managing the team: allocating duties, setting expectations and making sure every chef understands their responsibilities.
• Taking charge in the Head Chef’s absence: making decisions, resolving problems and maintaining standards across the kitchen.
• Developing our chefs: identifying training needs, coaching through service and giving clear, constructive feedback.
• Planning ahead: organising preparation and staffing requirements around bookings, functions and peak trading periods.
• Maintaining kitchen standards: taking ownership of consistency, portioning, presentation, food safety and cleanliness.
• Supporting financial performance: monitoring ordering, stock rotation, waste and labour use, and acting on opportunities to improve.
• Contributing to the menu: developing dishes and specials that suit our guests, work during busy services and meet costing targets.
• Working with front-of-house and management: communicating clearly about service capacity, dietary requirements and guest feedback.

This is a hands-on leadership position. You’ll be cooking alongside the team while keeping an eye on the whole operation.

Who we’re looking for

You’re an experienced chef who can earn the team’s respect through your cooking, judgement and the way you treat people. You’re comfortable giving direction, addressing issues early and holding standards when the kitchen is under pressure.

You’ll bring:

• Experience as a Sous Chef or in a comparable kitchen leadership role.
• A strong background in busy pub, restaurant or similar high-volume kitchens.
• Proven ability to lead the pass and coordinate multiple sections through service.
• Experience supervising, training and developing chefs.
• Sound knowledge of food costing, ordering, stock control and waste management.
• The ability to plan workloads, delegate effectively and follow through.
• Strong cooking skills and a clear understanding of flavour, consistency and presentation.
• A relevant cookery qualification or equivalent professional experience.
• Availability to work evenings and weekends.

We welcome chefs from all backgrounds and value relevant experience gained in Australia and overseas. We’re interested in the kitchens you’ve helped lead, the standards you’ve maintained and what you can bring to our team.

What you can expect from us

• A full-time leadership role at an established, award-winning venue.
• Remuneration that reflects your experience and responsibilities.
• A close working partnership with the Head Chef, with meaningful input into how the kitchen runs.
• The opportunity to shape dishes, improve systems and develop your team.
• A respectful workplace where your judgement and contribution are valued.
• A commitment to fair rostering and clear communication.

We want a Sous Chef who takes ownership and wants to build something lasting with the team. In return, you’ll have the opportunity to make a visible contribution to the food, the kitchen and the wider venue.

Interested? Let’s talk.

Send us your CV and a short introduction outlining your kitchen leadership experience and what you’re looking for in your next role.

Please include your availability and current Australian work rights.

We look forward to meeting you.