Head Chef – New Venue Opening Hoopla Pakenham Kitchen & Bar JOIN AN ESTABLISHED TEAM BUSINESS IN A NEW STORE OPENING Full-Time | Leadership Opportunity | $85,000 – $95,000 Salary Package At Hoopla Kitchen & Bar, we are building a destination for families, food lovers, and people looking for a fun, energetic experience. With the exciting launch of our brand-new Hoopla Pakenham Kitchen & Bar venue, we are searching for an experienced, passionate, and hands-on Head Chef to lead our kitchen from day one. This is a genuine leadership role for someone who thrives in fast-paced hospitality environments, understands modern café/restaurant operations, and takes pride in building strong kitchen culture, systems, consistency, and quality. We need the right leader to execute it at a high standard while building and leading an exceptional kitchen team. The Role You will be responsible for recruiting, developing, leading, and managing the kitchen team while ensuring the delivery of high-quality food, efficient service, excellent hygiene standards, and strong operational performance. This is a venue-opening opportunity, meaning you will play a key role in setting the culture, standards, structure, and workflow of the kitchen from the beginning. This is not a “clock in and clock out” role — we are looking for a true hospitality professional who takes pride in leadership, consistency, and building a successful team environment. Weekends and Public are a must. Key Responsibilities Kitchen Leadership & Team Management Train, lead, and mentor kitchen staff Build a positive, high-performing kitchen culture Create structure, accountability, and strong communication within the team Manage kitchen rosters and staffing requirements Lead by example during busy service periods Food Quality & Service Deliver consistent, high-quality food standards Ensure all dishes are presented correctly and efficiently Maintain speed of service without compromising quality Monitor portion control and kitchen consistency Work closely with management to maintain brand standards Operations & Kitchen Management Oversee daily kitchen operations from open to close -Hands on Manage ordering, stock control, stocktakes, and supplier relationships Ensure compliance with food safety and hygiene standards Maintain clean, organised, and professional kitchen operations Manage kitchen labour costs and productivity Venue Opening Responsibilities Assist with kitchen setup and operational systems Help establish kitchen procedures and workflow Build the kitchen team prior to opening Set expectations, standards, and processes from day one About You We are looking for someone who is: An experienced Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef ready to step up A strong leader who can build and manage a team Calm under pressure and confident during busy service Organised, reliable, and operationally strong Passionate about hospitality and quality food Professional, hands-on, and proactive Comfortable working in a fast-paced family entertainment venue Weekends and peak hospitality periods are mandatory Essential Experience & Requirements Previous experience in a Head Chef or senior kitchen leadership role Experience managing high-volume café or restaurant kitchens Strong understanding of kitchen operations and team leadership Knowledge of food safety and hospitality compliance Ability to manage ordering, rostering, labour, and stock control Strong communication and organisational skills Full working rights in Australia What We Offer Salary package of $85,000 – $95,000 (based on experience) Full-time secure role Exciting new venue opening opportunity Opportunity to build and lead your own kitchen team Supportive management environment Long-term growth opportunities within a growing entertainment brand A vibrant, energetic workplace unlike traditional hospitality venues Where else can a Head Chef do almost all day hours - mnimal nights Venue Information Hoopla Pakenham Kitchen & Bar Hoopla Pakenham Kitchen & Bar is a modern family eatertainment venue combining hospitality, fun &food, all under one roof. Our venues focus on creating memorable experiences for families while delivering high-quality food and exceptional service. Apply Now If you are a passionate hospitality leader ready to take ownership of a brand-new kitchen and help launch an exciting new venue, who wants a long stable future , we would love to hear from you. Please submit: Your resume A short cover letter outlining your experience Availability and expected start date Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
