Head Chef, Gilson - South Yarra's Iconic All-Day Italian Restaurant

Gilson

Location: South Yarra VIC

Classification: Hospitality & Tourism / Chefs/Cooks

Work Type: Full Time

Salary: Competitive Salary + Performance Incentives (Add expected salary to your profile for insights)

Posted: Today

About Gilson

Gilson is a highly regarded, high-volume all-day Italian restaurant nestled on Domain Road in South Yarra, directly opposite the Royal Botanic Gardens. Gilson is a local institution celebrated for its relaxed, friendly atmosphere and commitment to simple, classic Italian-focused cuisine with a modern Australian edge. We operate seven days a week, serving a bustling service across breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a strong focus on seasonal produce and wood-fired cooking.

The Opportunity: Head Chef

We are seeking an established and mature Head Chef or a highly skilled Sous Chef ready for their next leadership step. This is a pivotal role requiring exceptional culinary skill, proven leadership, and strong business acumen to lead our busy kitchen team.

A Snapshot of What We Offer:

Exceptional Remuneration: A competitive salary and performance incentives commensurate with the seniority of this role.

Creative Autonomy: The opportunity to shape and evolve the menu, focusing on fresh, seasonal, and simple Italian/Modern Australian dishes.

Lead a Proven Venue: Run the kitchen of a financially stable and consistently busy restaurant in a prime location.

Strong Support: Work alongside experienced owners who offer robust support in business, finance, and HR.

Career Building: The chance to recruit, mentor, and develop a high-performing kitchen brigade.

Key Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will take full ownership of the kitchen operation, including:

Culinary Direction: Developing, costing, and executing a high-quality menu across three demanding service periods (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).

Operational Excellence: Managing all BOH operations, ensuring consistency, high standards of food presentation, and impeccable hygiene.

Financial Control: Overseeing inventory, managing supplier relationships, and controlling food and labour costs to meet business targets.

Leadership & Culture: Leading, training, and motivating the kitchen team, fostering a positive, professional, and efficient work environment.

Skills & Experience Required:

Demonstrated experience as a Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef in a busy, high-volume restaurant environment.

Strong technical proficiency, particularly with Italian cuisine, wood-fired cooking, and handling seasonal ingredients.

Proven ability to manage costs, minimise waste, and run a kitchen efficiently.

Exceptional leadership skills with a focus on team development and retention.

Love restaurants? Love food? This is your chance to lead one of South Yarra's best.

All applications and enquiries will be treated with the utmost confidence.

How to Apply: Please email your resume and cover letter detailing your relevant experience to: [email protected]