Group Head Chef – Little Mali Tuck Shop & The Salty

Chook

Rainbow Bay – Coolangatta

We’re looking for a proven Head Chef, leader and food person to oversee the kitchens across Little Mali and The Salty Chook.

Little Mali is a well-established coastal café known for fresh breakfast, lunch and taqueria nights, while The Salty Chook is a fast-paced contemporary chicken shop built around rotisserie chicken, burgers and quality comfort food.

Both venues have strong foundations, established teams and loyal local followings. We’re now looking for someone who can help take the food, systems and kitchen culture to the next level.

For us, passion is everything. We want someone who genuinely loves food, gets excited about new ideas and wants to keep evolving what we do. Someone who is constantly thinking about better dishes, smarter systems, stronger margins and where the businesses can go next.

This is also very much a hands-on Head Chef position. You will be working on the tools alongside your team, leading service from the front while also taking responsibility for the bigger picture across both kitchens.

As the businesses continue to grow, we want someone who can grow with us and play an important role in the future direction of the venues, including the potential for further locations down the track.

The Role

You will oversee kitchen operations across both venues while remaining actively involved in day-to-day service.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Working on the tools and leading busy services alongside the kitchen teams
• Leading, mentoring and developing chefs and kitchen staff
• Maintaining consistently high food quality and presentation




• Ensuring food is prepared and cooked correctly and safely every time
• Bringing fresh menu ideas, creativity and energy to both venues
• Developing weekly specials and seasonal menu improvements
• Continually looking for ways to evolve and improve the food offering
• Managing kitchen labour and rostering
• Controlling food cost, portioning and wastage
• Ordering and supplier management
• Improving ingredient cross-utilisation across both menus
• Building and refining kitchen systems and processes
• Supporting both venues during busy service periods
• Taking genuine ownership of the performance and standards of both kitchens

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience as a Head Chef or highly experienced Senior Sous Chef
• A genuine passion for food and hospitality
• Creativity and confidence developing dishes, specials and new menu ideas
• Someone ambitious who wants to evolve and grow with the businesses
• Strong leadership and team development skills
• Someone who leads from the front and is happy working on the tools
• Experience running high-volume kitchens
• Strong understanding of food cost, labour, margins and wastage
• Excellent organisation and kitchen management skills




• Passion for quality ingredients and well-executed food
• Someone who takes pride in teaching and inspiring younger chefs
• Drive, initiative and a strong sense of ownership

We’re not looking for someone who simply wants to maintain what is already there.

We want someone who sees opportunities, brings ideas to the table and is genuinely excited about helping us continue to grow Little Mali and The Salty Chook.

The right person will balance creativity and passion with strong commercial awareness — understanding that excellent food, strong systems, controlled costs and a motivated team all need to work together.

What We Offer

• Leadership across two established and growing venues
• Established kitchens and strong teams already in place
• Genuine creative input into specials, menus and the future food direction
• Prospect to build systems and improve operations
• The ability to make a real impact across both businesses
• Opportunity to grow alongside the group as we explore future venues
• Work closely with passionate owners building strong local brands

Salary

Salary + Super

Performance bonuses available based on venue targets.

Location

Rainbow Bay – Coolangatta

Apply

If you’re an experienced chef who loves being in the kitchen, is passionate about creating great food and wants the opportunity to help shape and grow two established local venues, we’d love to hear from you.

Please send through your resume along with a little bit about yourself, your experience and what excites you about the role.

📌 Group Head Chef – Little Mali Tuckshop & The Salty Chook (Coolangatta)
🏢 The Salty Chook
📍 Coolangatta