Head Chef

Camp Grounds – Head Chef

Position: Full-Time Salary Role

Reports To: Venue Manager (Matt)

Location: Tamworth, NSW

About Camp Grounds

Camp Grounds is a specialty coffee shop and wine bar in the heart of Tamworth, blending daytime café trade with an evolving evening offering of natural/lo-fi wines, small plates, and community events. We're committed to shaking up the local food scene with approachable, nostalgic, and creative food concepts – from Modern Aussie breakfasts to creative twist on the aussie canteen tuckshop, and collaborative events with chefs and winemakers.

Our team is passionate, curious, and ambitious – and we're looking for a Head Chef to lead our kitchen into its next chapter.

Role Purpose

The Head Chef is responsible for the leadership, creativity, and operational performance of the Camp Grounds kitchen. This role will develop menus aligned with our brand vision, manage a small but growing kitchen team, maintain quality and consistency across service, and deliver on financial targets for food sales, COGS, and labour efficiency.

Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, train, and inspire the kitchen team to consistently deliver food to Camp Grounds standards.
• Foster a positive, collaborative culture between kitchen and front-of-house.
• Mentor junior staff, with a focus on skills development and professional growth.
• Manage rosters and ensure efficient staff deployment across shifts.

Menu & Food Development

• Create, test, and implement seasonal menus for both day and night trade (breakfast, lunch, evening snacks).
• Design batch recipes and prep systems that work with Camp Grounds' kitchen equipment (Unox combi, sandwich press, etc.).
• Incorporate local produce and suppliers to highlight the New England region.
• Innovate and execute event-driven menus (e.g., Camp Fire Nights, Backyard BBQ series, chef collaborations).

Operations & Compliance

• Ensure food safety, hygiene, and compliance with all health regulations.
• Maintain kitchen organisation, cleanliness, and efficiency.
• Oversee stock control, ordering, and supplier relationships.
• Implement waste reduction systems and daily checks on prep, rotation, and best-before dates.

Financial Performance

• Deliver food GP targets (approx. 70%).
• Maintain labour efficiency, aligning kitchen wages to budget (approx. 10% of weekly revenue).
• Monitor daily and weekly sales performance, providing reports and insights to the Venue Manager.
• Work with leadership to plan menu pricing, promotions, and event budgets.

Skills & Attributes

• Strong background in café/restaurant kitchens, ideally with both breakfast/lunch and small-plate wine bar experience.
• Ability to create simple yet memorable dishes that fit the Camp Grounds ethos of nostalgic, approachable fun.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills with the ability to motivate and manage a small team.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• Understanding of financials – GP, COGS, and labour control.
• Passion for local produce, community, and creativity in food.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years in a Head Chef or Sous Chef position.
• Cert III/IV in Commercial Cookery (or equivalent experience).
• Food Safety Supervisor certification (required).
• RSA preferred but not essential (for events).

Package & Conditions

• Full-time salaried position (38–45 hours per week, flexible around events).
• Salary package negotiable based on experience.
• 3-month probationary period with performance review.
• Opportunities for growth as Camp Grounds expands its food and event offerings.

Why Join Camp Grounds?

At Camp Grounds, you'll have the creative freedom to shape menus, work closely with passionate wine and coffee professionals, and be part of a venue leading the hospitality culture in Tamworth. We're not just serving food – we're building experiences.

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