We're looking for a Head Chef who genuinely loves hospitality—not just cooking. Someone who enjoys mentoring others, communicates calmly during busy service, takes pride in cooking from fresh ingredients, and creates a kitchen where people enjoy coming to work.
You'll be a hands-on leader who embraces new ideas, values teamwork over ego, and understands that the best food comes from a well-led, collaborative team.
If you lead with humility, take pride in your craft, and believe great kitchens are built through respect, communication and continuous improvement, we'd love to hear from you.
WHERE MAKING OTHERS FEEL GOOD, FEELS GREAT!
Welcome to Maylands Hotel — one of Adelaide's most iconic and beautifully renovated hospitality venues.
Blending old-world charm with a modern dining experience, the Maylands Hotel is known for exceptional food, genuine hospitality, and a buzzing atmosphere. With a busy bistro, premium functions and events, and a strong local following, this is a venue that takes pride in delivering quality at every level.
As part of Matthews Hospitality Group, we've proudly operated hotels across South Australia for over 80 years. We believe in empowering our people, developing talent, and creating hospitality experiences that guests genuinely remember.
We're now searching for an experienced and inspiring Head Chef to lead our kitchen team and continue elevating the Maylands food offering.
ABOUT THE ROLE
This is a genuine leadership opportunity for a passionate, hands-on Head Chef who thrives in a busy, high-standard kitchen.
You'll lead from the front—whether that's running the pass during peak service, mentoring junior chefs, refining kitchen systems, or fostering a positive culture where high standards and teamwork go hand in hand.
This role is about far more than producing exceptional food. It's about building an engaged, motivated team that consistently delivers outstanding quality, service and hospitality.
Working closely with venue leadership and the Matthews Hospitality operations team, you'll drive kitchen performance, develop your people and continue building a culture that others want to be part of.
-
Your day-to-day will include:
-
Leading a busy, high-performing kitchen through fast-paced service periods.
-
Leading from the pass while maintaining calm, organised service flow.
-
Training, mentoring and developing chefs and kitchen attendants.
-
Building kitchen capability, succession planning and service standards.
-
Championing a scratch-cooking philosophy wherever practical, with a focus on freshness, quality and consistency.
-
Designing and delivering fresh, seasonal menus using quality produce and modern techniques.
-
Working collaboratively with venue leadership to continually improve menus, systems and guest experiences.
-
Encouraging ideas, innovation and continuous improvement throughout the kitchen.
-
Managing ordering, stock control, supplier relationships and food costings.
-
Preparing rosters and managing labour in line with business needs.
-
Maintaining exceptional kitchen organisation, cleanliness and preparation standards.
-
Driving consistency, presentation and food quality every service.
-
Ensuring compliance with Food Safety, HACCP and WHS requirements.
-
Creating a positive, respectful and accountable kitchen culture where people enjoy coming to work.
ABOUT YOU
You understand that exceptional kitchens aren't built by shouting the loudest—they're built through preparation, communication, consistency and trust. You're approachable, naturally organised and lead with confidence rather than ego.
You take genuine pride in cooking with quality ingredients, enjoy developing others, and remain calm under pressure. Rather than becoming overwhelmed, you prioritise, adapt and keep your team focused on delivering an exceptional service.
You're curious, open to feedback, willing to try new ideas, and always looking for ways to improve the food, the systems and the experience for both guests and your team.
Most importantly, you understand that leadership isn't about having all the answers—it's about bringing out the best in the people around you.
-
You'll ideally bring:
-
Proven experience as a Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef in a premium, high-volume
-
kitchen.
-
A strong background in restaurant, gastro pub or elevated dining environments.
-
Trade qualifications in Commercial Cookery.
-
A genuine passion for cooking from fresh, quality ingredients rather than relying on shortcuts.
-
Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills.
-
A positive, approachable leadership style that earns respect through actions, not titles.
-
Experience mentoring, coaching and developing kitchen teams.
-
The ability to remain calm, organised and solutions-focused during busy services.
-
Strong organisational and prioritisation skills.
-
Pride in maintaining exceptionally high standards of cleanliness, preparation and consistency.
-
Strong commercial understanding of labour management, food costings, ordering and stock control.
-
Confidence working collaboratively with venue leadership to continually improve menus, systems and operations.
-
Excellent understanding of Food Safety, HACCP and WHS requirements.
-
Full Australian working rights.
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE In your first 12 months you'll have:
-
Built a kitchen culture where people enjoy coming to work.
-
Earned the respect and trust of your team through fairness, communication and leading from the front.
-
Developed your chefs through coaching, mentoring and regular feedback.
-
Delivered consistently high-quality food with efficient, organised service.
-
Introduced fresh ideas while respecting what already works.
-
Created systems that keep the kitchen calm, prepared and running efficiently.
-
Continued strengthening the Maylands Hotel's reputation as one of Adelaide's leading hospitality destinations.
WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT HERE
- Competitive salary of $90,000 – $105,000, commensurate with experience.
-
Lead one of Adelaide's most respected and beautifully renovated hospitality venues.
-
Work with a passionate and capable kitchen team.
-
Career progression opportunities across Matthews Hospitality Group.
-
Collaborate with experienced venue leaders and operational support teams.
-
Staff discounts across Matthews Hospitality venues.
-
Salary sacrifice options.
-
Meals while on shift.
-
Be part of a supportive, family-owned hospitality group with genuine values.
Make a real impact on kitchen culture, standards and team development.
WHY MATTHEWS HOSPITALITY?
At Matthews Hospitality, we believe that people create great hospitality.
We're looking for leaders who are humble enough to keep learning, confident enough to support others, and passionate enough to set high standards every day.
We value respect, accountability, teamwork and continuous improvement. We believe the strongest leaders listen well, communicate openly, embrace new ideas and create environments where people can do their best work.
If that sounds like the kind of kitchen you want to lead, we'd love to meet you.
APPLY NOW
ONLINE: Have your current resume and a tailored cover letter ready to upload and complete all application questions.
As part of your application, we'd love you to answer one question:
Tell us about the best chef or leader you've worked for. What did they do that made them effective, and how has that influenced the way you lead others?
You must have full Australian working rights to apply.
We can't wait to meet you!
