HEAD CHEF | MAYLANDS HOTEL | LEAD FROM THE PASS AT ONE OF ADELAIDE’S BEST

🔥 Love food, leadership, and a fast-paced kitchen with high standards? This is your moment.
Step into a senior role at one of Adelaide’s most beautiful heritage venues, delivering fresh, seasonal menus with a talented crew behind you.

ABOUT THE VENUE

Welcome to the Maylands Hotel – a stunningly renovated, award-winning pub in Adelaide’s Eastern Suburbs. With a busy restaurant, all-day dining, and a full calendar of events, we’re known for great food, great service, and an even greater team. As part of Matthews Hospitality Group – an SA family business with 80+ years of experience – we believe in good produce, honest leadership, and making others feel good… because it feels great!

ABOUT THE ROLE

We’re on the hunt for a hands-on Head Chef who’s confident in the kitchen, calm under pressure, and committed to quality. This is a senior leadership role where you’ll be on the pans or pass and using your business acumen and admin skills for menu design, food costings, rosters, and budgets.

You’ll drive the kitchen forward with energy, creativity, and rock-solid standards, inspiring your team and delivering dishes that make guests smile.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Lead a high-performing kitchen team during busy services

Create fresh, seasonal menus that reflect our venue’s modern-Australian identity

Maintain top-level food presentation, quality, and consistency

Manage stock control, costings, supplier relationships at venue and group level, and wage-to-sales

Roster effectively for smooth kitchen operations

Promote a clean, safe, positive kitchen culture that’s fun, focused, and professional

Ensure compliance with WHS, HACCP, and all food safety regulations

ABOUT YOU

Proven experience as a Head Chef in a fast-paced kitchen

Trade qualification and strong skills across all sections

Confident running the pass and supporting junior chefs

Passionate about fresh produce, flavour, and technique

Able to manage the business side: budgets, stock, rosters, and compliance

Natural team leader – fair, approachable, and high standards

Great communicator with a cool head and a bit of fun thrown in!

PERKS & BENEFITS

💰 Attractive salary package based on experience starting at $105k + time-in-lieu for public holidays

🧑‍🍳 Beautiful kitchen in a renovated Eastern suburbs venue

📈 Career progression across nine venues within Matthews Hospitality

🎓 Training & support from the group Operations and Exec team

🍻 Staff discounts across food, drinks, and accommodation

🫶 Supportive family culture that values wellbeing and growth

🌱 Opportunity to cook with local, sustainable SA produce and suppliers

READY TO LEAD WITH FLAVOUR?

If you’re a hands-on Head Chef ready to take charge of a respected, high-volume kitchen with a strong team behind you, this could be your next big move.

📍 Maylands, SA 5069
📝 Apply now to join the Matthews Hospitality family