Head Chef in Sydney

Aqua Dining is preparing to reopen above North Sydney Olympic Pool, overlooking Sydney Harbour, the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. As one of the venues at the heart of SRG Hospitality's story, Aqua is entering an exciting new chapter and we're looking for an exceptional Head Chef to help define it.

This is an opportunity for a chef who has earned their place at the pass, knows what excellence looks like, and has the leadership and commercial acumen to build a kitchen that delivers it consistently.

As Head Chef, you will take ownership of Aqua Dining's kitchen performance, leading the brigade, driving culinary execution and establishing the disciplines that underpin an outstanding restaurant. Working in partnership with SRG's Executive Chef and Head of Culinary, you will translate culinary direction into exceptional food, a well-drilled kitchen and a team that takes genuine pride in its work.

You will have the opportunity to help shape the kitchen for Aqua's next chapter building capability, establishing high-performance routines and creating a culture where great cooking and great leadership go hand in hand. This is a hands-on leadership role. Your influence will be felt in the quality of every plate, the confidence of every cook and the performance of every service.

WHAT YOU'LL OWN

• The food. The standard. Every service. You set the benchmark for culinary execution. From flavour and presentation to portioning and consistency, you take personal accountability for what leaves the pass.
• The kitchen. The rhythm. The execution. You establish the preparation, briefing, service and close routines that keep a kitchen performing at its best.
• The numbers. The discipline. The result. You understand that culinary excellence and commercial performance must work together.
• The people. The culture. The future. You build a brigade that wants to perform. You develop your Sous Chef and emerging leaders, coach your team to higher standards and address performance issues directly and constructively.
• The responsibility. No shortcuts. Food safety, allergen management, HACCP and workplace safety are non-negotiable.

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR

• You're an accomplished kitchen leader who combines genuine culinary ability with the judgement, discipline and maturity to lead a premium dining operation.
• You will bring proven experience leading a kitchen brigade as a Head Chef, or as a highly capable senior Sous Chef ready to step into full kitchen leadership.
• A strong culinary foundation, with the ability to execute to a high standard and develop that capability in others.
• Experience in premium dining, fine dining or another demanding restaurant environment where consistency and guest expectations matter.
• A commercially minded approach to food cost, COGS, labour, purchasing, portion control and waste.
• The ability to build, lead and retain a capable team, with a genuine commitment to coaching and succession development.
• Confidence managing busy services, maintaining composure under pressure and making sound decisions when it counts.
• A rigorous approach to food safety, allergen controls, compliance and kitchen standards.
• The communication skills and professional maturity to work closely with senior culinary leadership and the front-of-house team.

WHY AQUA. WHY SRG.

A landmark venue with a new chapter ahead. Aqua offers an extraordinary Sydney Harbour setting and the opportunity to help shape the next era of a venue with a long-standing place in Sydney's dining landscape.

A platform to build something that lasts. You'll have the opportunity to establish the standards, routines and team culture that define Aqua's kitchen - with the support of SRG's culinary leadership and the broader business.

A hospitality group with genuine breadth. SRG Hospitality is a family-owned group spanning premium restaurants, waterfront destinations, events and hotel food and beverage.

A culture built on craft, ownership and people. At SRG, our values are Heart, Ownership, Craft and Together.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

• Aqua delivers consistently exceptional food, service after service.
• The kitchen is prepared, disciplined and confident before every service begins.
• Food cost, labour and waste are actively managed, with clear accountability for results.
• Your team is developing, your future leaders are growing and strong people want to work in your kitchen.
• Food safety and allergen standards are embedded in daily practice.
• The kitchen operates as an integral part of the wider Aqua experience.

If you have the culinary capability, commercial discipline and leadership presence to build an outstanding kitchen, we’d like to hear from you. Tell us about the kitchens you've led, the teams you've developed and the standards you believe every great kitchen should uphold.

Applicants must have full working rights in Australia. SRG Hospitality is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds, abilities, and identities.