Chef (Phillip)

About us Naadam is Canberra's only Mongolian and Central Asian fusion restaurant, bringing the bold flavours of the steppe to Phillip. We're a passionate team dedicated to showcasing a cuisine most Australians have never experienced — and we're looking for a talented chef to lead our kitchen. The role You'll be the creative and operational heart of our kitchen — responsible for delivering authentic Mongolian and Central Asian dishes with consistency, quality, and care. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who takes real pride in their craft and wants to cook food that means something. What you'll do
- Lead all kitchen operations including prep, service, and close
- Cook and plate Mongolian and Central Asian dishes to a consistently high standard
- Mentor and develop junior kitchen staff
- Manage food ordering, stock rotation, and waste minimisation
- Design and update menus in collaboration with ownership
- Maintain strict food safety, hygiene, and temperature standards
- Coordinate with front-of-house for smooth service flow
- Help prepare food for cultural events and community dinners Requirements — Essential (must-have)
- Fluent Mongolian — spoken and written, required for communication with Mongolian-speaking ownership, staff, and suppliers
- Hands-on knowledge of Mongolian cuisine — including traditional dishes, ingredients, and cooking techniques (e.g. khorkhog, buuz, tsuivan, bansh)
- Minimum 3 years' professional kitchen experience, with at least 1 year in a senior or lead cook role
- Strong understanding of food safety and hygiene regulations (Food Handler Certificate or equivalent)
- Ability to work efficiently under pressure during service
- Available for evening and weekend shifts Highly regarded
- Formal culinary training or apprenticeship
- Broader Central Asian or nomadic cuisine knowledge
- Experience designing or adapting menus
- Basic English proficiency for supplier and customer-facing communication
- Experience catering events or large-group dining What we offer
- Competitive salary commensurate with experience
- Staff meals and a supportive, culture-forward team setting
- Creative input into the menu — your voice matters
- Opportunity to be the defining chef of a truly unique Canberra restaurant Pay: $65,000.00 – $75,000.00 per year Work Location: In person Apply on Kit Job: kitjobau.com/job/3rrjqf