🌟 Head Chef / Head of Production – Pet Food Kitchen 🌟

Location: Hobart, TAS
Type: Full-Time
Salary: $65,000–$70,000 + super

Are you a passionate and experienced chef ready to step into a leadership role that goes beyond the plate? Jack and Chelo is a fast-growing, female-led, 100% Tasmanian-owned business producing premium, sous vide pet food — and we're looking for a Head Chef to lead our production kitchen!

This is not your average chef job — it's a dynamic, hands-on leadership role in a purpose-driven business that puts quality, care, and creativity first.

💼 The Role:

This is a dynamic, fast-paced role where no two days are the same. Being part of a small team, you'll be expected to wear many hats — from managing the kitchen and overseeing production, to packing online orders, fulfilling wholesale deliveries, and even jumping into customer service when needed. If you thrive in a varied role and enjoy being part of something hands-on and impactful, this is the role for you.

As Head Chef / Head of Production, you'll be responsible for managing our production kitchen and team. From ordering and prep to managing kitchen staff and inventory, you'll ensure every batch of our food is produced to the highest standard — efficiently, safely, and on schedule.

🔧 Your Responsibilities Will Include:

· Kitchen Operations

· Oversee all aspects of production and food preparation

· Ensure weekly output meets targets and par levels

· Manage ordering, supplier relationships, and stock forecasting

· Maintain food safety standards (HACCP) and kitchen cleanliness

· Complete weekly and monthly inventories and records

· Team Leadership

· Lead, train, and motivate our small but mighty kitchen crew

· Allocate tasks and ensure high-quality output

· Foster a fun, respectful and productive work environment

· Mentor young and apprentice staff

· Business Support

· Collaborate with our COO and Retail Manager

· Contribute ideas to improve kitchen efficiency and new product development

· Serve customers in our retail shop when needed

· Lock up the premises and manage site security

🎯 About You:

- Minimum 3 years' experience working in a kitchen
- Proven team leadership or people management skills
- Manufacturing or production kitchen experience is a bonus
- Fit and physically capable — regular lifting of up to 20kg is required
- Passion for food production and operational efficiency
- Reliable, organised, and calm under pressure
- Able to work independently and within a small, collaborative team

Bonus points if you love dogs. 🐾

🎁 What We Offer:

- Monday to Friday roster – no weekends, no late nights

-3-month trial on a casual basis – to ensure the right fit for both sides
- Following successful trial, move to a permanent full-time role on an above-award salary of $65,000–$70,000 per annum + super

- Brilliant hours, with flexibility negotiable within reason
- Staff discounts on all our premium pet food products
- Supportive, small, and friendly team
- Growing business with exciting future opportunities
- A chance to be part of something special, with real impact

📬 Ready to apply?

Click Apply Now with your resume and a short cover letter telling us why you're the right fit for this role. We're excited to meet you!