Sous Chef - Powerhouse Parramatta | Chef Simon Sandall

A landmark new restaurant is opening on the banks of the Parramatta River, and it's being built around live fire from the ground up. The Powerhouse Parramatta is Western Sydney's first state cultural institution.

This is a brand new, state of the art kitchen fitted with the latest fire and grill equipment, built for cooks who want to work with the best tools in the business rather than adapt around old infrastructure. We're looking for chefs with a genuine background in cooking over fire, dry ageing, and premium produce, from Sydney's leading live fire and grill focused kitchens, who are ready to bring that discipline to a brand new venue and help set the standard from day one.

This is a rare opportunity to help build a kitchen from the ground up, working directly under the Executive Chef and shaping the food program, the team, and the standard from day one.

This is a role for a technically strong cook who is ready to take the next step into kitchen leadership. Working directly under the Executive Chef, you will bridge the pass and the sections, support daily operations, develop the team around them, and hold the standard when it matters most. If you are ready to lead as well as cook, this is your opportunity.

Kitchen Operations & Service

• Support the Executive Chef in leading services from the pass and across all sections

• Maintain a high standard of mise en place and station readiness before every service

• Step up to lead the kitchen in the Executive Chef's absence

Culinary Standards

• Execute the food programme with precision and consistency across every service, with live fire and grill work at its core

• Demonstrate strong knowledge of fire-based technique, premium produce, and the story behind every dish

• Get hands on with a brand new suite of fire, grill, and specialist cooking equipment, and help shape how it's used

• Contribute to a culture of excellence, discipline, and care in every aspect of kitchen output

Team Support & Development

• Guide and support Chefs de Partie and Commis Chefs throughout service

• Assist with onboarding and training of new kitchen team members

• Reinforce standards, workflows, and accountability across the kitchen

Operations & Compliance

• Assist with ordering, stock rotation, and waste management under the direction of the Executive Chef

• Uphold all food safety, HACCP, and WHS standards without exception

• Maintain kitchen cleanliness and organisation throughout service and pack-down

We Are Looking For

• Experience in a premium or hatted venue, ideally with genuine live fire or grill experience

• Strong technical skills across fire driven, produce led modern Australian cuisine

• Confidence leading a section and a team under pressure

• Organised, reliable, and highly attentive to detail

• Genuine excitement to work with brand new, top-of-the-range kitchen equipment and be part of opening a new, high-profile venue

What Success Looks Like

• Your sections are consistently ready, organised, and performing to standard before service begins

• The team around you is guided, supported, and held to a clear standard on every shift

• Food quality and consistency are maintained whether the Executive Chef is on the pass or not

• You are growing into a leadership presence the kitchen responds to with confidence