At Next Door, we’re not just another cafe. We’re a community-driven, trend-focused hospitality brand on the Gold Coast, building a cult following for our coffee, matcha, and food that goes beyond the ordinary. Next Door is looking for a Head Chef who can take our kitchen to the next level.

This isn’t a back-of-house role for someone who just wants to cook and clock off. We want a creative, outgoing, and ambitious leader who lives and breathes food, stays ahead of global trends, and has the drive to build the brand.

🚀 What You’ll Do

Lead and inspire the kitchen team, setting high standards in execution, quality, and creativity.

Develop menus that push boundaries, from viral-worthy dishes to seasonal staples that keep people coming back.

Collaborate with our brand and social media team to create food that doesn’t just taste incredible, but looks and feels “Next Door.”

Manage kitchen systems using apps like Deputy, Restoke, and Clickup - you’ll need to be tech-savvy and confident in using digital tools.

Ensure smooth operations across food costing, prep, stock control, and service.

Drive consistency while still keeping innovation and creativity at the heart of what we do.

🌟 Who We Are in Food

High-volume café food – quick, consistent, scalable.

Classics with a twist – familiar dishes, done better and fresher.

Trending & viral-worthy – food that excites customers + works on socials.

Takeaway-friendly – built for speed, packaging, and portability.

House-made quality – baked goods, sweets, and kitchen staples with our stamp.

Fresh, vibrant, approachable – never fine dining, always craveable.

Operationally smart – efficient prep, streamlined execution, cost-aware.

Brand-defining – food that feels uniquely Next Door and sets us apart.

🌱 Who You Are

A qualified and experienced chef with a strong background in cafés or creative kitchens.

A natural leader and communicator who thrives in a fast-paced, team-focused environment.

Passionate about trending food concepts, whether it’s LA-style smoothie culture, modern café classics, or reimagined comfort food.

Tech-friendly, comfortable using apps and systems to manage people, costs, and processes.

Outgoing, approachable, and excited to be part of a brand that connects with its community.

✨ Why Join Next Door?

Work with a growing hospitality group that values creativity, innovation, and team culture.

Be part of a brand that’s expanding, with opportunities to grow into senior roles as we scale.

Enjoy a community-first venue where your food makes a real impact.

Competitive salary, great work-life balance, free coffee & meals daily, and the chance to put your stamp on something big.

Show Us You Get It

As part of your application, we’d love you to submit a 3-dish mini menu that you believe could fit within the Next Door vibe. Think modern, creative, and trend-led – dishes that would turn heads on Instagram but also work in a busy café environment. You don’t need to go overboard with detail – just the dish names, a short description, and (if you like) a quick note on why it works for us.