About the role

As Head Chef, you will take ownership of the day-to-day operation of the kitchen at Lord Roberts Hotel, a well-established neighbourhood pub in Darlinghurst offering quality gastro-pub food. This is a hands-on leadership role with a small kitchen and close-knit team.

Key responsibilities
Leading, training and managing a small kitchen team
Preparing and delivering consistent, high-quality gastro-pub food
Managing kitchen rosters and staffing requirements
Managing food costs, stock levels, ordering and waste
Maintaining appropriate labour and food cost targets
Overseeing food preparation, service and kitchen standards
Ensuring food safety, hygiene and WHS requirements are consistently maintained
Working closely with venue management to continually improve the food offering and overall guest experience
Contributing to menu development and seasonal changes

About you
Previous experience as a Head Chef, Sous Chef or in a similar senior kitchen role
Solid rostering and kitchen team management experience
Understanding of food costing, stock control, margins and waste management




Organised and comfortable taking ownership of a kitchen
Leads by example and works well within a small team
Can maintain quality and consistency during busy services
Current Food Safety Supervisor Certificate or relevant food safety certification
Genuine interest in quality pub and gastro-pub food

About us Part of the Universal Hotels group, The Lord Roberts is the genuine local: warm, a little quirky, and proudly here for the community. A proper neighbourhood pub since 1901 — with a rooftop bar upstairs, a private function space in Bob’s Lounge, and a bottle shop out front. Pub classics, daily specials, and the kind of room where new faces become regulars, and regulars become furniture.

Perks
Full time role, 45 hours per week
Competitive salary package negotiable based on experience
A manageable, established kitchen with a small team
The opportunity to take ownership of the kitchen and food offering
Support from an established hospitality group
Genuine opportunities for career progression within Universal Hotels

📌 Head Chef Universal Hotels The Lord Roberts Darlinghurst
🏢 Universal Hotels
📍 Darlinghurst