Job Description

Client Profile

This independently owned Melbourne hospitality group operates two established restaurants with distinct identities and loyal followings. Combining an intimate, produce-driven dining experience with a larger, high-volume neighbourhood restaurant, the business has strong foundations, experienced teams and an engaged owner committed to the continued evolution of both venues.

Job Description

As Executive Chef, you will take overall culinary and operational leadership across both restaurants, working closely with the owner and existing kitchen leadership teams. This is a genuinely hands-on position requiring a visible presence in both kitchens, balancing creativity and service with strong commercial management, systems and people development.

You will respect the individual identity of each restaurant while creating greater consistency, accountability and structure across the broader operation.

Key responsibilities include:

- Lead, mentor and develop kitchen teams across both restaurants, strengthening senior leadership capability and creating opportunities for progression
- Maintain an active presence in service while driving consistently high standards across food quality, execution and the guest experience
- Oversee menu development, food strategy and culinary direction while protecting the distinct positioning of each venue
- Take ownership of food costs, labour, rostering, productivity, purchasing, stock control, wastage and overall kitchen profitability
- Build effective systems and strong communication across kitchen, front-of-house, management, suppliers and ownership

Candidate Profile

You will be an accomplished and grounded culinary leader with proven experience overseeing multiple restaurant kitchens simultaneously. Previous multi-venue restaurant leadership experience is essential, along with the ability to combine strong commercial discipline with a genuine passion for food, produce and service.

Your leadership style will be confident, collaborative and considered. You will know how to establish accountability and high standards while developing people, building trust and creating a positive kitchen culture.

You will bring:

- Previous Executive Chef, Group Executive Chef or comparable senior multi-venue restaurant leadership experience
- Strong commercial capability across food cost, labour management, kitchen performance and operational reporting
- Demonstrated success developing Head Chefs, senior chefs and high-performing kitchen teams




- A hands-on approach, strong organisational skills and the ability to remain calm and pragmatic in demanding restaurant environments
- Excellent communication skills and the confidence to work closely with an engaged owner, front-of-house leaders, suppliers and industry partners

Offer

This is an opportunity to take meaningful culinary leadership across two established Melbourne restaurants while remaining genuinely connected to food, kitchens and service. You will inherit strong foundations and established teams, with the autonomy to develop people, improve systems and influence the next stage of both businesses.

A competitive senior remuneration package will be offered to attract an accomplished culinary leader, with the potential for performance-based incentives.

To learn more about this role, submit your CV or contact Lee Thompson via for a confidential discussion.

By applying to this role, you are agreeing to the terms set out in Hastings People's privacy policy available at the Hastings People website.

Client Profile

This independently owned Melbourne hospitality group operates two established restaurants with distinct identities and loyal followings. Combining an intimate, produce-driven dining experience with a larger, high-volume neighbourhood restaurant, the business has strong foundations, experienced teams and an engaged owner committed to the continued evolution of both venues.

Job Description

As Executive Chef, you will take overall culinary and operational leadership across both restaurants, working closely with the owner and existing kitchen leadership teams. This is a genuinely hands-on position requiring a visible presence in both kitchens, balancing creativity and service with strong commercial management, systems and people development.

You will respect the individual identity of each restaurant while creating greater consistency, accountability and structure across the broader operation.

Key responsibilities include:

- Lead, mentor and develop kitchen teams across both restaurants,



strengthening senior leadership capability and creating opportunities for progression
- Maintain an active presence in service while driving consistently high standards across food quality, execution and the guest experience
- Oversee menu development, food strategy and culinary direction while protecting the distinct positioning of each venue
- Take ownership of food costs, labour, rostering, productivity, purchasing, stock control, wastage and overall kitchen profitability
- Build effective systems and robust communication across kitchen, front-of-house, management, suppliers and ownership

Candidate Profile

You will be an accomplished and grounded culinary leader with proven experience overseeing multiple restaurant kitchens simultaneously. Previous multi-venue restaurant leadership experience is essential, along with the ability to combine strong commercial discipline with a genuine passion for food, produce and service.

Your leadership style will be confident, collaborative and considered. You will know how to establish accountability and high standards while developing people, building trust and creating a positive kitchen culture.

You will bring:

- Previous Executive Chef, Group Executive Chef or comparable senior multi-venue restaurant leadership experience
- Strong commercial capability across food cost, labour management, kitchen performance and operational reporting
- Demonstrated success developing Head Chefs, senior chefs and high-performing kitchen teams
- A hands-on approach, strong organisational skills and the ability to remain calm and pragmatic in demanding restaurant environments
- Excellent communication skills and the confidence to work closely with an engaged owner, front-of-house leaders, suppliers and industry partners

Offer

This is an opportunity to take meaningful culinary leadership across two established Melbourne restaurants while remaining genuinely connected to food, kitchens and service. You will inherit strong foundations and established teams, with the autonomy to develop people, improve systems and influence the next stage of both businesses.

A competitive senior remuneration package will be offered to attract an accomplished culinary leader, with the potential for performance-based incentives.

To learn more about this role, submit your CV or contact Lee Thompson via for a confidential discussion.

By applying to this role, you are agreeing to the terms set out in Hastings People's privacy policy available at the Hastings People website.

📌 Executive Chef, Multi-Venue Culinary Leadership – Melbourne
🏢 Hastings People
📍 Melbourne