The Budgie Bar is one of the east’s leading hospitality venues, and with the launch of Holly’s Bar & Kitchen, we’re looking for a passionate Head Chef to take our food offering to the next level.
This is your opportunity to take ownership of an established kitchen, develop exciting new menus and lead a small team across Holly’s Italian-inspired offering, Budgie’s bar menu and our extensive events and functions.
You’ll have the creative freedom to shape our food direction while managing the day-to-day kitchen operations, maintaining strong cost controls and working closely with our General Manager, FOH, Bar and Marketing teams.
We’re looking for someone who brings fresh ideas, takes pride in their food and understands the importance of working together to create one of the eastern suburbs’ leading hospitality experiences.
The Role
You’ll be responsible for:
Day-to-day management of the kitchen
Menu creation and development across our core menu, weekly specials, functions and events
Food costing, stock control, ordering and wastage
Kitchen rostering and labour management
Leading and developing a small kitchen team
Maintaining food quality, consistency and presentation
Managing prep and service across regular trade, functions and larger venue events
Maintaining food safety and kitchen compliance
Working closely with management and the bar team on the overall venue operation
Collaborating with marketing on specials, events and activations to continue growing the venue
About You
Previous experience in a senior kitchen role, ideally 3+ years as a Head Chef
Current Food Safety Supervisor certificate
Strong understanding of food costing, stock control and kitchen operations
Confident leading a small team while remaining hands-on
Organised and comfortable managing multiple menus, specials, functions and events
Available to work weekends and required prep days
Italian or Italian-inspired cooking experience is highly regarded
Most importantly, you’re a team player who wants to run a great kitchen as part of a broader hospitality team
This is a great opportunity for someone who wants genuine ownership of a kitchen, creative input into the food offering and the opportunity to help shape what comes next for Holly’s.
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Head Chef — Italian Kitchen & Events Leader in Melbourne employer: The Budgie Smuggler
Holly's Bar & Kitchen offers an exceptional work environment for culinary professionals, where creativity and collaboration are at the forefront. As a Head Chef, you'll enjoy the freedom to innovate with menu development while leading a dedicated team in one of the eastern suburbs' premier hospitality venues. With a focus on employee growth and a supportive culture, this role provides a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in a vibrant community setting.
