Executive Chef
Lead a commercial kitchen by managing menus, staff and working closely with restaurant management.
Job opportunities
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Jobs in SEEK right nowJob growth
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5-year projectionSalary
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Typical salaryJob satisfaction
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Job opportunities
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Jobs in SEEK right nowSalary
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Typical salaryJob growth
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5-year projectionJob satisfaction
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On this page
- What's it like to be an Executive Chef?
- How to become an Executive Chef
- Latest Executive Chef jobs
- Top skills and experience for Executive Chefs
- Is Executive Chef the right role for you?
- Executive Chef role reviews
What's it like to be an Executive Chef?
An Executive Chef (sometimes called a Chef de Cuisine) is the leader of a kitchen with regard to managing menus, staff and administration.
Tasks and duties
- Responsible for designing and planning menu ideas, creating recipes and establishing cooking standards within a kitchen.
- Setting budgets, writing and costing menus, and ensuring the kitchen adheres to budgets and food costs are controlled.
- Works closely with restaurant manager, chef team and customer service to ensure smooth operation of the business.
How to become an Executive Chef
To become an Executive Chef in Australia, you usually have to complete an apprenticeship in cooking while also gaining a TAFE qualification in cookery. Employers generally require that you have completed year 10.
- Complete an apprenticeship or traineeship. Full-time apprenticeships usually last for 36 months. Concurrently, complete a qualification in cooking, such as a Certificate III in Commercial Cookery (or equivalent).
- Once you’ve gained your qualification, ensure you have a food safety supervisor certificate.
- Work your way up the kitchen ladder to become a Commis Chef, then Chef de Partie, Sous Chef and then an Executive Chef.
Compare your salary
Find out how your salary compares with the average salary for Executive Chefs.Latest Executive Chef jobs on SEEK
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Skills and experience employers are looking for
Having the right skills and experience can make you an in-demand applicant. Executive Chef employers on SEEK are looking for job seekers with expertise in the following areas. Kitchen Operations
Food Safety
Menu Development
Cost Control
Cooking
Culinary Operations
Food Quality
Hygienic
Food Preparation
HACCP
Source: SEEK job ads and SEEK Profile data
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Latest Executive Chef reviews
Sep 2023
Managing kitchen operations at a macro level
Reviewer's QualificationCertificate IV in Cookery (Commercial)
Experience10+ years
Organisation sizeMedium (20-199 employees)
SpecialisationHospitality & Tourism
The good thingsBeing an executive chef is a thrilling culinary journey that blends passion, creativity, and leadership. It’s a role that demands both precision and innovation. As an executive chef, you have the oppo...
The challenges 1. Long and Irregular Hours: The culinary industry often requires working evenings, weekends, and holidays, which can strain work-life balance and limit time with family and friends.
2. High Stress ...
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Oct 2018
Executive Chef is an elegant and prestigious job but it needs commitment and passion to be a good one.
Reviewer's QualificationBachelor of Business
Experience10+ years
Organisation sizeLarge (200+ employees)
SpecialisationFOOD AND BEVERAGE DEPARTMENT
The good thingsThe role of the Executive Chef involves a lot of good things like, culinary exploration and arts, management skills ad financially stable. The job is very rewarding and in demand in all continents and...
The challengesAll the challenges of being an Executive Chef such as your culinary expertise, management skill and human behavior expertise can be attained through persistent and continuous training and education.
...
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SEEK has not verified the truth or accuracy of these comments and does not adopt or endorse any of the comments posted on this page.SEEK collects and posts the comments for what they are worth and for information purposes only to assist candidates to find employment through www.seek.com.au
