Head Chef

At Maxwell, we are united by a passion for creating exceptional culinary experiences, where our innovative approach to food is as important as our wines.
Guest experience and sustainability drives everything we do, ensuring that every meal and moment reflects our dedication to quality and the future of our industry and communities.

Back in 1969, Mark Maxwell's father helped put the region on the map with its first standout eatery.
Mark built on that legacy when he founded the winery, and today, our dining experience—led by Executive Chef Fabian Lehmann—offers an exquisite, ever-changing, tasting menu that champions seasonal produce from local producers and provides a truly memorable dining experience for diners.

Our team's dedication to quality has earned us some amazing recognition, notably South Australia's Best Restaurant at the 2024 Gourmet Traveller Restaurant of the Year Awards, adding to our three Chef Hats and Best Regional Restaurant award.

As a family owned and operated business, we're committed to creating an environment where both our guests and team can thrive—making Maxwell not just a great place to dine, but also a fantastic place to work.

ABOUT THE POSITION
We are seeking a visionary Head Chef to lead our talented team based in McLaren Vale.
We're so proud of what's been achieved but our ambition for the future drives us to aim even higher, and we need a passionate and creative chef to help us reach that next milestone.

In this role, you'll have the freedom to innovate and shape the menu in collaboration with our renowned Executive Chef, Fabian Lehmann.
With his expert guidance and support , you'll have the perfect balance of creative freedom and mentorship to push culinary boundaries and deliver unforgettable dining experiences that complement our award-winning wines.

If you're an experienced Head Chef or ambitious Sous Chef ready to take on the challenge of leading a celebrated restaurant to even greater success, this is your chance to shine, backed by a small, supportive and extremely dedicated team that shares your passion for excellence.

Open for just 3 lunches and 1 dinner service per week, this role offers a genuine commitment to work-life balance.

POSITION DETAILS
• Lead the daily kitchen operations, ensuring exceptional culinary experiences and menu innovation.
• Supervise, train, and encourage our engaged kitchen and FOH teams.
• Collaborate with the Executive Chef, Restaurant Manager and the broader business team to create innovative event and promotional initiatives.
• Develop creative menus, harmonizing food with wine pairings to drive customer satisfaction, restaurant revenue, and wine club engagement.
• Maintain strong relationships with suppliers and ensure efficient inventory management and food cost control.
• Ensure compliance with food quality, safety, sanitation, and nutrition regulations.
• Stay ahead of culinary trends and apply best practices to keep the kitchen cutting-edge.
• Enjoy the creative freedom to shape the kitchen's direction, with support from a very approachable Executive Chef.

BENEFITS
• Work in a family owned, multi award-winning fine dining restaurant
• Competitive salary
• Great work-life balance with 4 services over a 4 day week (Thursday to Sunday)
• Staff pricing on our range of wines
• Wine allowance
• Opportunity to work in a creative and motivating team
• An intimate 40-seater dining room with vineyard views from every table (from the kitchen as well)
Applicants must have a passion for food and demonstrate excellent interpersonal and leadership skills.
Competitive salary for the right candidate.

Your application will include the following questions:
Which of the following statements best describes your right to work in Australia?
How many years' experience do you have as a Head Chef?
What's your expected annual base salary?
How much notice are you required to give your current employer?
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