Head Chef / Senior Sous Chef - French Bistro (Southern Highlands)
Refined French Cuisine | Creative Input | Multi-Hatted Mentorship | Lifestyle Opportunity
A rare chance has opened for an ambitious Head Chef or an exceptional Senior Sous Chef ready to step up and lead the kitchen of a newly opened French-style bistro in the beautiful Southern Highlands.
Owned by a highly successful hospitality couple with multiple acclaimed venues already under their belt, this bistro delivers refined, classic French fare reminiscent of high-end Parisian dining. You'll work closely with a multi-hatted, award-winning chef, gaining mentorship and genuine creative input into menu direction and culinary standards.
Perfect for a driven chef seeking career progression, creativity, and a move away from the city hustle-while still being only 90 minutes to Sydney.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead daily kitchen operations to a consistent, refined standard.
* Develop, execute, and evolve seasonal French-inspired menus.
* Manage ordering, stock control, and supplier relationships.
* Uphold food safety, compliance, and kitchen hygiene practices.
* Train, mentor, and develop a small, high-performing team.
* Collaborate with owners and Executive Chef on menu direction, specials, and long-term strategy.
Role Highlights
* Work alongside and be mentored by an award winning management team.
* Genuine creative input into menu design and culinary direction.
* A collaborative, supportive ownership group with a proven track record of successful venues.
* Ideal stepping-stone for a driven Senior Sous seeking their first Head Chef role, or an experienced Head Chef hungry for a new challenge.
* Attractive lifestyle balance in the Southern Highlands.
* Salary to $120k + super, career progression and opportunities.
What We're Looking For
* Experience as a Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef in premium dining.
* Background in French cuisine, European techniques, or refined bistro cooking.
* Michelin-starred or Chef Hat experience highly regarded.
* A strong communicator with a calm, mature leadership style.
* Passion for mentoring, training, and building positive kitchen culture.
* Full Australian working rights and genuine interest to move to the Highlands.
If you're inspired by French cooking, thrive in a hands-on environment, and want to shape a standout regional dining destination, we'd love to hear from you.
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