Role - Chef
Full-time (Minimum 38 hours per week) On-site Position
Location: Kew VIC
Employment duration: 3 years
Salary range - $80,000 to $83,000 per annum plus superannuation
About Business
DNAP Solutions Pty Ltd, trading as La Q Woodfire Pizza and Restaurant, is an authentic Italian restaurant located at 223 High Street, Kew, Victoria. The restaurant specialises in woodfire pizza and traditional Italian cuisine, offering dine-in and takeaway services to a loyal and growing clientele in Melbourne's inner east. La Q Woodfire Pizza and Restaurant is committed to delivering a genuine Italian dining experience, with a focus on quality ingredients, traditional cooking techniques, and consistent food standards across all service periods. As the business continues to grow its operations and customer base, it is seeking an experienced and passionate Chef to join its kitchen team on a full-time, ongoing basis.
About the Role
La Q Woodfire Pizza and Restaurant is seeking an experienced Chef to join its kitchen team at 223 High Street, Kew, Victoria. The successful candidate will be responsible for the preparation, cooking, and presentation of authentic Italian-style dishes, including woodfire pizzas and traditional pasta, entrée, and main meal offerings, in accordance with the restaurant's recipes, quality standards, and service requirements. The role requires demonstrated experience in Italian cuisine, the ability to manage food production across multiple kitchen sections, and the capacity to maintain food safety compliance and service consistency during both standard and peak trading periods.
Key Responsibilities
- Plan and develop menus in consultation with the Restaurant Manager and business owner, including seasonal updates and specials reflective of authentic Italian cuisine.
- Prepare, cook, and present a variety of Italian dishes in accordance with established recipes, portion controls, and presentation standards, including woodfire pizzas, pasta, sauces, and entrée and main meal items.
- Supervise food preparation processes across kitchen sections, including pasta, sauces, grill, entrée, and main meal production, to ensure consistency and quality throughout service.
- Monitor food quality at all stages of preparation and service to ensure consistency in flavour, presentation, and portioning in accordance with restaurant standards.
- Manage kitchen inventory, stock rotation, and ordering of food supplies and raw ingredients to maintain operational requirements and minimise wastage.
- Monitor kitchen costs and assist with budget control measures, including portion management and waste reduction initiatives.
- Ensure proper handling, storage, labelling, and preservation of food products in accordance with food safety and temperature control requirements.
- Maintain compliance with HACCP principles, food safety regulations, hygiene standards, and workplace health and safety procedures.
- Coordinate kitchen workflow during service periods to ensure timely preparation and efficient service delivery across all sections.
- Supervise, train, and support junior kitchen staff, apprentices, and kitchen hands to maintain operational consistency and kitchen standards.
- Assist with staff rostering, task delegation, and coordination of kitchen duties across trading periods.
- Liaise with suppliers and distributors regarding stock availability, deliveries, and product quality.
- Plan and coordinate food preparation for functions, group bookings, and special events in accordance with client requirements and operational capacity.
- Ensure all kitchen equipment is maintained, cleaned, and operated safely and efficiently.
Required Skills and Qualifications
Qualification and Employment:
- A Certificate IV or Diploma level qualification in Commercial Cookery, Hospitality Management, or a related field. In lieu of formal qualifications, a minimum of three (3) years of relevant full-time experience in a commercial kitchen environment may be considered.
- A minimum of one (1) year of recent relevant full-time experience working as a Chef within a commercial kitchen environment, with demonstrated experience preparing Italian-style cuisine.
Required Skills and Attributes
- Demonstrated experience preparing Italian-style cuisine, including woodfire pizzas, pasta, sauces, and traditional Italian dishes, in a commercial hospitality environment.
- Sound knowledge of food safety, HACCP requirements, hygiene regulations, and kitchen compliance standards.
- Experience using commercial kitchen equipment including woodfire ovens, grills, pasta preparation equipment, and food storage systems.
- Strong leadership and kitchen coordination skills with the ability to supervise and train junior staff effectively.
- Ability to manage food production across multiple kitchen sections during high-volume service periods.
- Strong organisational, problem-solving, and time management skills.
- Effective communication and teamwork capability within a commercial kitchen environment.
- Ability to work independently and under pressure during peak trading periods.
To Apply
Please submit your resume together with a brief cover letter outlining your relevant culinary experience and suitability for the position.
Pay: $80,000.00 – $83,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
