Job Title: Senior Chef
Location: Cooks Hill, Newcastle, NSW
Salary: $85,000-$95,000 per annum + overtime (depending on experience)
Schedule: Permanent Full Time (38 hours per week)
About Us: Autumn Rooms is a vibrant café on Darby St in Cooks Hill, known for seasonal, produce-driven food and exceptional specialty coffee. Our goal is simple – to be a place our team is proud to work, where culture is positive, creativity thrives, and staff genuinely enjoy showing up for each other.
We are building a two-person senior kitchen leadership team that works side-by-side to manage the kitchen, support the team, and maintain our high standards. You will be the second member of this team, sharing leadership responsibilities and collaborating closely with our Executive Chef as well as senior management.
The RoleThis is a hands-on leadership position focused on:
· Overseeing day-to-day kitchen operations and supporting a positive, respectful team culture.
· Producing consistently high-quality dishes in line with our seasonal menu.
· Sharing responsibility for rostering, training, mentoring, and performance management with your co-lead.
· Collaborating with the Executive Chef on specials, menu ideas, and seasonal changes.
· Managing kitchen standards for food safety, hygiene, and presentation.
· Keeping food and wage costs on target without compromising quality.
What Makes This Role DifferentYou won't be left to juggle everything alone – we provide strong administrative and creative support so you can focus on cooking and leading. Our Executive Chef, owner and administrative team assist with:
· Menu writing, recipe costings, and creativity.
· Recruitment, onboarding, and performance reviews.
· Rostering templates and wage budgeting.
· Supplier relationships and big-picture planning.
About You
· Proven experience as a Head Chef, Senior Sous Chef, or equivalent leadership role.
· A passion for food, quality, and consistency.
· Strong communication skills and a collaborative leadership style.
· Organised and adaptable in a fast-paced environment.
· Solid understanding of kitchen financials and operations.
What We Offer
· Competitive salary + staff benefits.
· Flexible working days across a 7-day roster.
· A supportive leadership structure with Executive Chef and owner involvement.
· A positive, creative, team-focused structure.
· Ongoing career development and opportunities for growth.
How To Apply:
If you are a talented, team focused chef looking to step into a well-supported leadership role, we'd love to hear from you. Send your resume and cover letter to