Head Chef

Head Chef – The Chambers

Are you a talented and passionate Head Chef ready to take the reins in an award-winning café with excellent work-life balance? If you thrive in a creative, leadership-driven environment and want to lead a team to success, we want to hear from you

The Chambers, an established café in Cairns City, is seeking a Head Chef to lead our culinary team in delivering outstanding food across breakfast, brunch, lunch, and private functions. This is a rare opportunity to showcase your creativity, culinary expertise, and leadership skills while enjoying a fulfilling and balanced lifestyle.

About the Role:

As our Head Chef, you'll be responsible for curating and maintaining an exceptional menu that delights our guests. Your creativity and leadership will be essential in ensuring the kitchen runs smoothly, and our food continues to impress. You will report directly to the Owner and you will lead the team collaborating with Café Sous Chef and Functions and Event Sous Chef along with the kitchen team as a whole. You will also work closely with the front of house team including Café Manager and FOH team along with our Functions and Events Manager and Supervisor, ensuring excellent communication and a collaborative environment.

This full-time role offers a 40-hour work week with early mornings, weekends, and occasional evening shifts for private or special events on occasion. Normal working hours 6am to 3:00pm - 3:30pm (on average) 5 days a week. It's a challenging yet rewarding opportunity where your leadership will directly impact the success of the team and the café.

What You'll Be Doing:

• Leading a talented team of chefs and kitchen staff, ensuring smooth timely service and high standards
• Overseeing the creation and daily execution of the menu, with an emphasis on fresh, locally sourced ingredients
• Collaborating with the team to write new dishes, refine recipes, and manage food costings
• Ensuring a clean, organised, and compliant kitchen environment at all times
• Managing inventory, ordering stock, and minimising food wastage
• Rostering the kitchen team in line with expected trade, company goals and wage costs
• Training and mentoring kitchen staff, fostering a positive, team-focused culture
• Maintaining excellent communication between upper management the kitchen and front-of-house team

About Us:

The Chambers is a vibrant café in Cairns City, known for its exceptional brunches, efficient service, delicious flavours, and beautiful presentation. We focus on locally sourced ingredients, creating dishes that both satisfy and surprise. Open 7:00 am to 2:00 pm, Monday to Sunday, with private functions and events throughout the week/weekend. Our team is passionate, friendly, and hardworking, and we're committed to offering a supportive, positive work environment.

What We're Looking For:

• Experience: At least 3+ years in a Head Chef role in a similar face paced café environment
• Creativity: A passion for innovative menu creation and knowledge of current food trends
• Leadership: Strong management skills to lead and motivate a diverse team, while also being a hands-on mentor
• Organisation: Ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritise efficiently in a fast-paced environment
• Flexibility: Availability for early mornings, weekends, and occasional evenings
• Trade Qualifications: Cert IV or equivalent experience
• Work Ethic: A reliable, trustworthy, and positive attitude that sets the tone for the kitchen
• Location: Currently located (or soon to be) in Cairns and planning to stay long-term

Why Join Us?

• Enjoy a great work-life balance with a 40-hour work week
• Paid overtime
• Work with a friendly, passionate team in an award-winning café
• Two consecutive days off each week
• Leadership role that allows you to shape and elevate our menu, staff, and reputation
• Generous renumeration and salary package options available

How to Apply

If you're excited to bring your culinary skills and leadership to a team that values creativity, work-life balance, and a great environment, we'd love to hear from you. Please email your resume and a little bit about yourself to -

We can't wait to meet you

ALL APPLICATIONS ARE TREATED WITH CONFIDENTIALITY