Job Description

Executive Chef – Melbourne

Foodfolk Australia is a leading provider of airline catering services, delivering fresh, high-quality meals to customers across Australia. We're all about generous servings of fresh, natural produce, prepared by people who love to cook—not by machines. We believe food is more than fuel; it's packed with emotion, culture, discovery and desire.

We're excited to be opening our brand new, state-of-the-art facility in Melbourne and are seeking an experienced Executive Chef to lead our new high-volume kitchen operation. This is a unique opportunity to join Foodfolk Australia at an exciting stage of our growth. The successful applicant will help build & develop a high-performing team and help shape the success of our newest facility from day one.

Our ideal team member is more than an accomplished chef you'll be a passionate culinary leader with extensive experience in Vietnamese, Thai and Filipino cuisine. You'll thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume environment and be committed to delivering exceptional food, developing high-performing teams and driving operational excellence.

In this role you will be responsible for:

• Leading the day-to-day operations of a high-volume commercial kitchen.
• Building, leading and developing a high-performing kitchen team.
• Planning and coordinating daily food production to meet customer requirements and operational deadlines.
• Ensuring all meals are prepared in accordance with recipes, specifications, and portion controls.
• Maintaining exceptional standards of food quality, presentation, and consistency.
• Driving compliance with Food Safety, HACCP, GMP, and Workplace Health & Safety requirements.
• Managing labour planning, productivity, and rostering to maximise operational efficiency.
• Monitoring food costs, stock levels, inventory, and waste to achieve business objectives.
• Working closely with Operations, Production, Procurement, Quality Assurance, and Menu Development teams.
• Driving continuous improvement initiatives to enhance quality, efficiency, and customer outcomes.

Key Selection Criteria:

Essential:

• Certificate III or IV in Commercial Cookery.
• At least 8 – 10 years’ experience as an Executive Chef or Head Chef leading a fast-paced, high-volume commercial kitchen.
• Extensive experience preparing and leading the production of authentic Vietnamese, Thai and Filipino cuisine within a high-volume commercial kitchen.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, execute and maintain authentic recipes while ensuring consistency, quality and presentation at scale.
• Strong understanding of traditional ingredients, flavours and cooking techniques across Vietnamese, Thai and Filipino cuisines.
• Excellent knowledge of HACCP, GMP, food safety legislation and workplace safety requirements.
• Demonstrated experience leading, coaching and developing high-performing kitchen teams.
• Strong organisational, production planning, and labour management skills.
• Commercial understanding of food costing, inventory management, stock control, and waste reduction.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build strong relationships across all levels of the business.

Desirable:

• At least 3 – 5 years’ experience in airline catering, large-scale catering, food manufacturing, or industrial food production.
• Intermediate to advanced computer skills, including Microsoft 365. Experience using ERP systems such as SAGE is highly regarded.
• A proactive, hands-on leadership style with the ability to remain calm under pressure and deliver exceptional results in a fast-moving environment.

This is a full-time leadership position and requires flexibility to work across a variety of shifts, including weekends and public holidays, in line with operational requirements.

Please note, as part of our recruitment process candidates will be required to undergo and successfully pass a Pre-Employment Medical (PEM). You will be on your feet for most of the day and required to lift/move heavy items (5 - 20kg).

Why Choose Foodfolk?

Our people are the core of our operation. We value our staff and work as a close-knit team. We offer benefits such as:

• Free onsite parking.
• A supportive and collaborative team environment.
• Ongoing leadership development and career progression opportunities.
• The opportunity to play a key role in launching and leading Foodfolk's Melbourne kitchen operation.
• The chance to make a real impact within a growing Australian business.

Values We Live By

🤝 Camaraderie

We're all in this together. We support one another and celebrate success as a team.

😄 Optimism

We bring a positive mindset to every challenge and are always looking for a better way.

🔄 Responsive

We operate in a fast-moving industry and pride ourselves on being adaptable, solutions-focused and reliable.

🌱 Ethical

We are committed to safety, quality, and doing the right thing for our people, customers, community, and environment.

If you're an experienced Executive Chef looking for an opportunity to lead a new operation, shape a high-performing team and make your mark in a growing business, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply now and help us deliver exceptional food experiences from Melbourne to the skies.

To apply, please submit a current CV and a covering letter (maximum one page) outlining how you meet the essential and desirable selection criteria for the position.

Foodfolk Australia is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from First Nations peoples, Torres Strait Islander peoples, and individuals of all cultures, backgrounds and identities.