HEAD CHEF — The New Era of King & Godfree
Full-time | Carlton | Brand-New Italian Restaurant (3-Venue Precinct)
A Carlton landmark is about to evolve.
King & Godfree has lived on Lygon Street for over 150 years — a building layered with story, community and food culture. We are now opening a new chapter with a premium Italian restaurant supported by Garfield Pizzeria and an upcoming cocktail bar — three venues under one roof, each with its own identity, rhythm and expectation.
We're searching for a Head Chef who wants to help write this chapter — someone who leads with flavour, discipline and heart. Someone who sees food as culture, not just product.
THE ROLE
This is a kitchen leadership position with operational accountability and cultural influence. You will be responsible for leading the brigade, and maintaining standards worthy of the building's history — and its next era.
Lead, develop and elevate a full kitchen brigade
Deliver dishes with precision, seasonality and purpose
Drive culture — discipline, teamwork, momentum, pride
Manage COGs, yield, waste and margin without losing soul
Oversee ordering, supplier relationships & stock integrity
Collaborate with two other venues on site for alignment + efficiency
Build training, growth pathways and skill development
Set the tone — calm, structured, confident leadership
Deliver consistency nightly, not occasionally
This is a role for someone who wants to execute and scale excellence.
WHO YOU ARE
You may already be a Head Chef — or a Senior Sous ready to step up into true leadership. Either way, you are driven by quality, by people, by the plate itself.
Technical depth in Italian cuisine + regional nuance
Confidence managing costs, labour, stock & production systems
Leadership that inspires, not intimidates
Ability to collaborate across venues, departments & service styles
A calm tone, steady hands & high communication
Commitment to culture — consistency, cleanliness, care
You make people better — and the food better because of it.
WHY THIS IS RARE
A brand-new kitchen — built right, equipped properly
Premium produce, real suppliers, no shortcuts
Opportunity to shape a restaurant rather than inherit one
Three venues under the same roof — diversity, scale, creativity
A chance to build a legacy inside a historic Melbourne building
Work with an experienced, people-focused leadership team
This is a job for someone who wants to build a benchmark — not just run a pass.
APPLY
If the next era of King & Godfree excites you, and you want a kitchen, team and platform worthy of your craft — we'd love to talk.
Apply with your resume and a short note about your cooking philosophy.
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