About Us:
Established in 2007, Shanika's Pakenham has been a go-to dining destination in Melbourne’s South-East for 18 years. Loved by locals and visitors alike, we’ve built a strong reputation for authentic Italian cuisine, quality ingredients, and warm, professional service. Shanikas offers a welcoming atmosphere and a team culture driven by passion, excellence, and genuine hospitality.
Key Responsibilities:
- Prepare and cook all menu items from scratch, ensuring each dish is delivered to an exceptional standard.
- Design seasonal menus with a focus on Italian cuisine, aligning with Shanikas' brand and culinary identity. This includes managing recipe costing, portion sizes, and liaising with suppliers to maintain both quality and cost-effectiveness.
- Maintain consistent excellence in taste, presentation, and portion control across all dishes. Conduct routine checks and adapt workflows or training as needed to uphold Shanikas' high standards.
- Lead and support the kitchen team through clear communication and effective delegation. Collaborate with front-of-house staff and management to ensure smooth daily operations and swift problem-solving.
- Provide hands-on training in authentic Italian cooking methods, knife skills, and food prep, encouraging ongoing development and a high-performance kitchen culture.
- Ensure full adherence to food safety and hygiene standards. Monitor sanitation practices, maintain detailed logs, and uphold safety protocols to provide a clean and secure working setting.
- Manage inventory, storage, and stock rotation practices to keep ingredients fresh and reduce waste. Apply preservation techniques and efficiency strategies to optimize usage and minimize spoilage.
What You’ll Bring
- Qualifications: Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery
- Experience: Minimum 2 years as a Chef, with demonstrated ability to prepare food from scratch.
- Culinary Knowledge: Strong understanding of traditional Italian recipes, ingredients, and methods.
- Work Ethic: High attention to detail, time management, and pride in your work.
- Leadership: Ability to guide junior staff and keep kitchen operations running smoothly.
- Passion: Genuine love for food and hospitality
Entitlements:
- Annual salary plus superannuation
*
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: $75,000.00 – $78,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Employee discount
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Pakenham VIC 3810: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)
Experience:
- Chef: 1 year (Required)
Language:
- English (Required)
Licence/Certification:
- Chef qualification: Certificate IV Commercial Cookery (Required)
Work Authorisation:
- Australia (Required)
Work Location: In person
📌 Chef
🏢 Shanika's Pakenham
📍 Pakenham