Head Chef
- Lead a fast-paced kitchen team to deliver high-quality meals and services.
- Oversee menu planning and food production while ensuring compliance with food safety regulations.
- Manage operational costs and drive continuous improvement in food service delivery.
Head Chef
Hamilton | Hotel Services
Full Time
$88,000 Package (inclusive of superannuation) + Salary Packaging + 5 Weeks Annual Leave
Lead with Purpose. Create Food That Makes a Difference.
This is more than just a Head Chef role — it’s an opportunity to lead a servicethat makes a real difference in people’s lives.
At Western District Health Service, every meal matters. From supporting patient recovery in acute care to enhancing the daily lives of aged care residents and delivering vital Meals on Wheels services, your leadership will directly contribute to the health and wellbeing of our community. In this hands-on leadership role, you will oversee a fast-paced, purpose-driven kitchen while helping shape the future of our Green Bean Café and catering services, bringing creativity, innovation, and excellence to everything you do.
This is a unique opportunity to lead with purpose in a role where the food and services you provide have a direct impact on care outcomes and customer experience. You will have the opportunity to influence a growing and evolving food service operation, drive meaningful improvements in quality, systems, and efficiency, and build a high-performing team that takes pride in delivering exceptional service every day.
If you are a passionate and experienced chef who thrives on leadership, values continuous improvement, and wants to leave a lasting legacy through better food, better service, and better experiences, we would love to hear from you.
What You'll Be Doing
Leadership & Team Development
Provide hands-on leadership to the kitchen team, fostering a positive, collaborative, and high-performing culture. Support, coach, and develop staff while promoting accountability, safety, and excellence.
Food Service Operations
Oversee the day-to-day operation of a busy commercial kitchen, ensuring the consistent delivery of high-quality meals and services across acute care, aged care, Meals on Wheels, catering, and café operations.
Menu Planning & Food Quality
Lead menu development and food production practices that meet nutritional, dietary, and consumer requirements while maintaining exceptional presentation, taste, and quality standards.
Innovation & Continuous Improvement
Identify opportunities to improve systems, processes, efficiencies, and service delivery. Contribute ideas and initiatives that enhance the customer and patient experience.
Compliance & Food Safety
Ensure compliance with food safety legislation, health regulations, infection prevention requirements, and organisational policies while maintaining a safe working environment.
Financial & Resource Management
Manage food and operational costs, oversee stock control and procurement processes, and support sustainable and efficient use of resources.
Customer & Community Impact
Play a vital role in supporting patient recovery, resident wellbeing, and community nutrition outcomes through quality food services that make a meaningful difference every day.
What You Bring
- Qualified Chef with relevant trade qualifications
- Demonstrated experience leading a commercial kitchen or food service operation
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and develop teams
- Experience in menu planning, food production, and quality management
- Sound knowledge of food safety legislation and compliance requirements
- Strong organisational, communication, and problem-solving skills
- Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
- Experience within healthcare, aged care, hospitality, or institutional food services (highly regarded)
- Commitment to continuous improvement, customer service, and operational excellence
Why Join Western District Health Service?
About Us
Western District Health Service (WDHS) is committed to delivering high-quality, person-centred healthcare to communities across the Southern Grampians and Glenelg Shire. As the region’s largest employer employing over 1000 people, we provide a comprehensive range of acute inpatient, residential aged care, and community health services, supported by a strong culture of teamwork, community connection, and excellence in rural health delivery.
We are proud to foster a diverse, inclusive, and accessible workplace for our staff, consumers, and visitors, guided by our core values of Integrity, Innovation, Collaboration, Accountability, Respect and Empathy.
Discover Life in Hamilton
Located in the heart of Victoria’s Southern Grampians region, Hamilton offers the perfect blend of career opportunity and lifestyle. With a welcoming community of around 10,000 people (serving a broader catchment of 16,500), it’s an ideal place to build your career while enjoying a relaxed, regional way of life.
From the stunning landscapes of the Grampians National Park to nearby coastal gems including Warrnambool, Port Fairy and Portland — plus local wineries and outdoor experiences — Hamilton provides an enviable work/life balance.
To learn more about WDHS, visit: ******************************** />To explore the region, visit: ************************************************************************** we offer:
- Work-life balance that’s hard to find in hospitality
- Monday to Friday roster (including public holidays that fall on those days)
- Typical hours Monday: 6:30am – 3:00pm and Tuesday to Friday: 6:30am – 2:30pm
- Minimal after-hours or weekend work
- 5 weeks annual leave
- Excellent salary sacrificing including capped expenses ($9010) + meals & entertainment ($2900) + novated vehicle leasing opportunities
- A meaningful role where your work has real community impact
- The autonomy and support to lead, innovate, and improve
- Professional development and career advancement opportunities
- A stable and rewarding leadership position in a respected organisation
Interested?
For more information, view the position description at [link].
For a confidential discussion, contact Stuart Thomson on ***********************
How to Apply
To apply via our careers page, commence your application by completing the form below and selecting “Next” to continue.
If applying through SEEK, simply click “Apply” and follow the prompts.
Applications must include a current resume and a cover letter outlining your suitability for the role.
Applications close: Monday 26th of October 2026
Applications will be reviewed as received — early applications are encouraged.
Western District Health Service is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive and culturally safe workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We are dedicated to transparent and equitable hiring practices that recognise the strengths, experiences and perspectives people bring from all walks of life.
We actively encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, members of the LGBTIQA+ community, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and people living with disability.
If you require any support or adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact our People & Culture team, we are here to ensure you can participate fully and comfortably.
All successful applicants will be required to hold (or be willing to obtain) a current National Criminal Police Check. Depending on the role, a Working with Children Check and/or NDIS Worker Screening Check may also be required. Compliance with WDHS’s immunisation and vaccination requirements is a condition of employment.
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