Chef jobs in Melbourne VIC

Ready to put your culinary skills to work in a role that gives you your evenings and weekends back?

Imagine...

• Finishing work at 4:00pm every afternoon.
• No nights.
• No weekends.
• No split shifts.
• No public holiday work.

And instead of cooking for anonymous diners, you'll use your culinary skills to prepare fresh, nutritious meals for children who know you by name and genuinely look forward to what's for lunch every day.

Welcome to Playmakers Early Learning.

Our much-loved chef is moving into an exciting new chapter of his career after building wonderful relationships with our children, families and team. While we're genuinely sad to see him go, we're excited to welcome someone new who wants to make our kitchen their own for years to come. We're not looking for someone to simply fill a vacancy - we're looking for the next long-term chef to become an important part of our valued Playmakers family.

If you've been looking for a career that still allows you to do what you love - without the pressure and lifestyle demands of hospitality - this could be exactly what you've been waiting for.

About the Role

This isn't your typical chef position.

You'll have genuine ownership of the kitchen, with the freedom to create seasonal menus, work with quality local produce and prepare fresh, nutritious meals from scratch that help shape children's lifelong relationship with food.

You'll enjoy genuine autonomy over your kitchen, with the opportunity to:

• Plan, prepare and present fresh morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea each day using quality ingredients.
• Design and rotate your own seasonal menus.
• Select seasonal fruit and vegetables from trusted local suppliers.
• Work directly with our local butcher to source quality meats.
• Manage purchasing, ordering and stock control for the kitchen.
• Drive efficient kitchen operations with a strong focus on minimising food waste.
• Cater for allergies, cultural preferences and dietary requirements.
• Maintain a clean, organised and compliant commercial kitchen.
• Run fun cooking experiences with the children on Friday mornings, helping them develop confidence, curiosity and a love of healthy food.
• Build genuine relationships with children, families and educators who truly appreciate the work you do.

At Playmakers, food isn't simply served - it's an important part of our educational program. We value fresh, nutritious food and encourage our chef to continually refine menus, introduce seasonal produce and create meals that children genuinely enjoy eating.

Who We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who genuinely loves cooking and takes pride in preparing fresh, quality food.

This role would suit someone who is:

• A qualified chef looking to leave the hospitality industry.
• Passionate about cooking with fresh, seasonal ingredients.
• Organised, proactive and capable of managing their own kitchen.
• Looking for long-term stability and work-life balance.
• Friendly, approachable and happy to become part of our close-knit team.
• Someone looking for a long-term role where they can continue practising their craft while enjoying genuine work-life balance.

Essential Requirements

• Certificate III in Commercial Cookery (or equivalent trade qualification).
• At least three years' experience working as a qualified chef.
• Current Food Safety Supervisor certification (or willingness to obtain).
• Strong understanding of food safety, hygiene and allergen management.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage your own kitchen.
• Current Employee Working with Children Check (Victoria), or willingness to obtain one prior to commencement.

What We Offer

• Monday to Friday roster.
• 8:00am to 4:00pm working hours.
• Every evening and weekend free.
• No late nights or split shifts.
• No public holiday work.
• Competitive above-award package of $40.42-$44.42 per hour + super (inclusive of the current Worker Retention Payment allowance of $4.42 per hour, applicable while the program remains in place).
• A supportive, family-owned workplace where you're genuinely valued.
• Autonomy to manage your own kitchen and menus.
• Fresh local ingredients and quality suppliers.
• The opportunity to make a real difference in children's lives every single day.

Interested?

If you're an experienced chef who's wondering whether there's a better way to use your skills, we'd love to hear from you.