Head Chef & Sous Chef - Inclusive Hospitality
Join the kitchen leadership team at our new Hawthorn café, creating exceptional seasonal food while supporting people with disability to build skills and pathways into meaningful employment. Join a growing hospitality-led social enterprise where great food creates opportunities.
All Things Equal is a hospitality based social enterprise providing award-wage employment, training and pathways toward meaningful careers for people with disability. Through our cafés, venues, catering and programs, we operate high-quality hospitality businesses while creating inclusive, supportive and ambitious workplaces.
Our work is grounded in excellence, dignity and the belief that when people are properly supported, they thrive.
We currently operate a flourishing café in Balaclava, a pop-up site in West Melbourne, a local football club canteen, and deliver catering and events throughout the year, which has included outlets at Australian Open and Australian Grand Prix.
We are in a period of growth and are thrilled to be opening a café in Hawthorn in the coming months.
THE ROLE
We're looking for an experienced and passionate Head Chef and Sous Chef to join our new Hawthorn café. Whether you're an established Head Chef or an experienced Sous Chef ready to take the next step, this is an exciting opportunity to lead a purpose-driven kitchen where culinary excellence and social impact go hand in hand. The Head and Sous chefs will lead the day-to-day kitchen operations, ensuring exceptional food quality, consistency and service while creating a positive, supportive and meaningful workplace for employees and trainees alike.



Working alongside employees and trainees, you'll foster an inclusive kitchen culture where people can build confidence, develop new skills and thrive. You'll play an important role in supporting trainees participating in our Employment Pathway Program, helping to create meaningful learning opportunities while maintaining the high standards of food and service our customers expect. Depending on your experience, you'll take responsibility for menu planning and development, food preparation and service, ordering and inventory management, rostering, cost control, recipe development, food safety, and kitchen leadership. You'll also work closely with the broader leadership team to develop efficient systems and scalable processes as we continue to grow. This is a unique opportunity to combine exceptional culinary leadership with meaningful social impact.
OUR DREAM CANDIDATE
You're an experienced culinary professional with proven Head Chef or Sous Chef experience and a passion for creating exceptional food experiences. Culinary excellence is second nature to you, and you thrive on developing fresh, seasonal menus while maintaining consistently high standards in a busy café environment.
You're a hands-on leader who enjoys mentoring others,



building positive team cultures and leading by example. You're organised, accountable and committed to maintaining high standards across food quality, safety and operations. Most importantly, you're inspired by the opportunity to make a difference. You enjoy working alongside people from diverse backgrounds and abilities, supporting trainees participating in our Employment Pathway Program while balancing the operational needs of a busy commercial kitchen.
To be successful in this role, you'll also have:
Certificate III in Commercial Cookery (or equivalent).
Proven experience as a Head Chef or Sous Chef in a high-volume café environment.
Strong organisational, communication and leadership skills.
Experience with ordering, stock control and kitchen operations (rostering and menu development experience will be highly regarded).
An NDIS Worker Screening Check and a current First Aid Certificate (or a willingness to obtain these).
WHAT WE'RE OFFERING
A full-time, permanent management role (5 days per week, including a minimum of one weekend day).
The exciting opportunity to lead and shape the operations of a café as All Things Equal expands into a new Hawthorn location.
A values-driven organisation where hospitality excellence and social impact go hand in hand.
A warm, supportive team that champions belonging, excellence, growth, collaboration and meaningful impact.
The opportunity to build careers, create opportunities, and make a genuine difference in the lives of trainees and the wider community.
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📌 Head Chef & Sous Chef - Inclusive Hospitality (Melbourne)
🏢 All Things Equal
📍 Melbourne