Head Pastry Chef

Head Pastry Chef – Matcha Desserts & Product Development

About Matcha Kobo

Crafted by Hand. Ground Fresh.

Matcha Kobo is a specialty matcha brand built on a deep respect for Japanese tea craftsmanship. From heritage tea farms in Uji, Japan, to our stone mill in Melbourne, we create premium matcha drinks and desserts with precision, creativity and care.

Recognised by The Age, Broadsheet and other leading media shortly after opening, Matcha Kobo is setting a new standard for specialty matcha in Australia.

We are now looking for an experienced and creative Head Chef to lead our kitchen operations, product development and culinary innovation.

About the Role

This is a hands-on leadership role combining kitchen management, dessert and beverage development, team training and operational improvement.

You will work closely with the founders to develop new matcha products, refine our existing menu, improve kitchen systems and support the future growth of the Matcha Kobo brand.

Key Responsibilities

Product Development and Innovation

• Lead the development of seasonal matcha drinks, desserts and specialty products.

• Create innovative matcha-based products aligned with the Matcha Kobo brand.

• Test and refine recipes based on quality, customer feedback, cost and operational practicality.

• Prepare detailed recipes, production guides, plating standards and operational SOPs.

• Maintain a high standard of flavour, presentation and consistency.

Kitchen Leadership

• Lead, train and support kitchen team members.

• Build a positive, professional and accountable kitchen culture.

• Set clear performance expectations and maintain consistent kitchen standards.

• Assist with recruitment, onboarding, training and development of kitchen staff.

• Organise production schedules and allocate daily responsibilities effectively.

Kitchen Operations and Quality Control

• Oversee daily kitchen preparation and production.

• Maintain product consistency across all drinks, desserts and menu items.

• Manage supplier ordering, stock levels and inventory accuracy.

• Monitor food costs, wastage, labour efficiency and kitchen productivity.

• Establish and continuously improve kitchen workflows and SOPs.

• Ensure compliance with food safety, hygiene and HACCP requirements.

• Maintain a clean, organised and safe kitchen environment.

Business Growth

• Work closely with the founders on new products, menu launches and brand development.

• Develop scalable recipes, systems and training materials for future stores.

• Support kitchen setup, equipment planning and operational preparation for new locations.

• Assist with maintaining consistent standards across multiple venues as the brand expands.

About You

To succeed in this role, you will ideally have:

• At least 3–5 years of experience in a kitchen leadership role within hospitality, pastry, desserts, cafés or a related environment.

• Proven experience in menu development, recipe creation and product testing.

• Strong leadership, communication and people-management skills.

• Experience managing food costs, stock control, ordering and kitchen operations.

• A good understanding of food safety regulations and HACCP principles.

• The ability to create clear recipes, documentation, training materials and SOPs.

• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.

• The ability to work effectively in a fast-paced and growing business.

• A genuine commitment to quality, consistency and continuous improvement.

Highly Regarded

You will stand out if you have:

• Experience in pastry, desserts, wagashi, Japanese cuisine or specialty cafés.

• Experience opening or supporting new hospitality venues.

• Experience working across multiple venues or supporting multi-site operations.

• A passion for matcha, Japanese tea culture and premium ingredients.

• A strong creative eye for flavour, presentation and product innovation.

Why Join Matcha Kobo?

• Join one of Australia’s most dedicated specialty matcha brands.

• Work with premium matcha sourced from heritage tea farms in Japan.

• Take genuine ownership of menu development and culinary innovation.

• Lead the creative direction of our drinks and desserts.

• Work directly with the founders in a young and ambitious business.

• Help develop the systems, products and teams behind future Matcha Kobo locations.

• Build toward a broader multi-site culinary leadership or product development role.

If you are a creative and commercially minded kitchen leader who is passionate about desserts, innovation and Japanese food culture, we would love to hear from you.

Please submit your resume together with a brief introduction outlining your relevant experience. A portfolio or examples of previous menu and product development work would be highly regarded.