Head Chef

We’re looking for a talented head chef to join the Meat Me Now team. You’ll be working with premium meat, creating high-quality dishes, and keeping the kitchen running smoothly. If you’ve got passion, energy, and a love for fresh food, we’d love to have you on board.

Main Duties/Responsibilities

• Take charge of the kitchen’s day-to-day rhythm, from stock levels and supplier orders to keeping costs under control and service running without a hiccup.

• Shape the food offering by developing and refreshing menus, including seasonal specials, while keeping an eye on ingredient use and staffing needs.

• Keep a close watch on every plate leaving the pass, making sure flavor, consistency, and presentation stay on point throughout prep and service.

• Lead by example in the kitchen: cook dishes hands-on, show the team new techniques, and guide them on how to execute recipes properly.

• Build a strong, confident kitchen team by training, mentoring, and supporting staff and assisting in choosing the right people when recruitment is needed.

• Hold weekly catchups with the director and the team to review what’s working, what needs improving, and what’s coming up on the menu.

• Uphold strict food safety and hygiene practices, making sure everyone understands and follows the standards every single day.

• Work closely with management and front-of-house when challenges arise, coordinating solutions that keep service flowing smoothly.

• Oversee proper storage, preservation, and freezing of ingredients to maintain quality and minimize waste.

Experience & Qualifications

• Confident in crafting eye-catching, refined canapés that look as good as they taste.

• First Aid certification is a bonus, but not essential.

• Holds an Diploma in hospitality or a higher culinary qualification.

• Brings at least 3 years’ experience leading a commercial kitchen, driving both service quality and team performance.

• Strong creative instincts, from menu development right through to plating finesse and flavor balance.

• Comfortable handling tricky situations and resolving kitchen escalations with a level head.

• Works well with others and contributes positively to a team environment.

• Self-directed and reliable, able to run sections or shifts without constant oversight.

• Skilled in managing kitchen budgets, food costs, and resource planning.

• Fully across food safety, HACCP requirements, and workplace health & safety, and committed to maintaining high compliance standards.

About Company

Meat Me Now is a family-owned business known for delivering premium meats and ready-to-cook favorites across Melbourne. We focus on quality, freshness, and great service, and we’re now growing our kitchen team to support our expanding menu. Meat Me Now is a cosy meeting place for couples, families and colleagues. Guests can relax and enjoy their dining experience, coupled with a wide selection of wine, spirits and cocktails.