Head Chef

• Lead and support a professional kitchen team at Richmond RAAF Base in Western Sydney
• Combine hands-on cooking with kitchen leadership responsibilities
• Enjoy excellent work-life balance with weekday, daytime shifts
• Close to public transport
• Career progression opportunities within Compass Group

ESS Defence provides food service and hospitality support to Defence sites across Australia. We deliver high-quality meals that support the wellbeing of Australian Defence Force personnel.

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Head Chef to join our team at Richmond RAAF Base. This is an excellent opportunity for a hospitality professional who enjoys leading teams, maintaining high culinary standards and delivering exceptional dining experiences in a structured environment.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Lead and support kitchen team members during daily operations
• Prepare high-quality meals for breakfast, lunch, dinner and functions
• Oversee food preparation, presentation and portion control standards
• Maintain food safety, hygiene and HACCP compliance
• Assist with menu implementation and daily food production planning
• Support stock control, ordering and inventory management
• Train, coach and develop team members
• Ensure a positive and productive kitchen culture

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
• Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery
• Strong people management and leadership experience, with the ability to maintain high standards
• Solid financial understanding and reporting capability
• Experience in bulk catering or high-volume food production environments
• Intermediate computer and Microsoft Office skills
• In-depth knowledge of HACCP, food safety and allergen management
• Excellent organisational and communication skills
• Reliable, professional and customer-focused approach




• Ability to obtain and maintain a National Police Check and Defence clearance

BENEFITS
• Full time leadership opportunity
• Weekday position with daytime shifts
• Training and ongoing professional development
• Career progression opportunities within Compass Group
• In office parking, uniforms and meals provided
• Close to public transport
• Employee discounts and benefits
• Supportive and structured team setting

Apply now to join our Defence kitchen team at Richmond RAAF Base.

All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory background checks, including a National Police Check and Defence clearance.

We are committed to a fair and accessible recruitment process. If you need adjustments or another communication method during the process, please contact 1300 TALENT or ••••@compass-group.com.au.

We welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and from people of all backgrounds, ages, abilities, sexual orientations and gender identities. We also welcome applications from Veterans and Defence family members.

We are committed to providing a recruitment process that is fair, equitable and accessible for all. If you require adjustments or alternative methods of communication in the recruitment process, please reach out to us on either 1300TALENT or [email protected]

Our people’s unique backgrounds, experience, and abilities are at the heart of our vibrant workforce. We strive to create workplaces that reflect the diverse communities that we serve, where everyone feels empowered and valued. By building diverse teams means we are creating inclusive environments for all our people and those we connect with through our day-to-day operation. We welcome & encourage applications from Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples, people of all backgrounds, ages, sexual orientation, gender expressions, gender identity and people with disability.

📌 Head Chef (Richmond)
🏢 Compass Group
📍 Richmond