Chef Required

Killarney Vale Bakery is seeking an experienced Chef to join its expanding bakery and restaurant operation. The successful applicant will plan and prepare high-quality meals, support efficient kitchen operations and consistently maintain food-safety, presentation and service standards.

About the Business

Killarney Vale Bakery is a long-established, family-owned food business serving the Central Coast community. Building on its bakery and cafe operations, the business is expanding its food service to include restaurant-style meals alongside its established range of breads, pastries, cakes, pies, sandwiches and wholesale products. The Chef will play an important role in developing and delivering the savoury restaurant menu while working collaboratively with the bakery and front-of-house teams.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

· Menu planning: Plan menus in consultation with management, taking account of seasonal availability, customer demand, food costs and the bakery and restaurant service model.

· Food preparation and cooking: Prepare, season and cook a range of restaurant meals, sauces, soups, vegetable dishes, meat, poultry, seafood and other menu items to established recipes and quality standards.

· Quality and presentation: Check the quality of ingredients and finished dishes and ensure meals are portioned, plated and presented consistently.

· Kitchen operations: Organise preparation schedules, coordinate service priorities and monitor the timely delivery of meals during busy service periods.

· Food safety and hygiene: Maintain safe food-handling, storage, temperature-control, cleaning and sanitation practices in accordance with applicable requirements.

· Stock and cost control: Estimate food and labour requirements, monitor stock levels, rotate ingredients, reduce wastage and assist with ordering supplies.

· Special dietary requirements: Prepare meals for dietary, allergy and customer requirements while following appropriate cross-contamination controls.

· Team supervision: Guide cooks, kitchen hands, apprentices and junior employees in food preparation, portioning, presentation and safe work practices.

· Equipment and work areas: Use kitchen equipment safely and keep preparation, cooking and storage areas clean, organised and ready for service.

· Continuous improvement: Contribute ideas for new menu items, daily specials and improvements to kitchen efficiency, food quality and customer satisfaction.

Qualifications and Experience

· Certificate IV in Kitchen Management, Certificate III in Commercial Cookery, or an equivalent relevant qualification.

· 1-2 years of relevant full-time experience as a Chef in a commercial kitchen. Additional relevant experience may be considered where appropriate.

· Demonstrated ability to plan menus, prepare and cook restaurant meals and maintain consistent portion and presentation standards.

· Sound knowledge of food safety, allergen management, stock rotation, kitchen hygiene and safe equipment use.

· Ability to work effectively under pressure and manage competing priorities during service periods.

· Good communication, teamwork, organisation and time-management skills.

· Availability to work a rotating roster that may include early mornings, evenings, weekends and public holidays.

How to Apply

Please submit your current resume and a short cover letter through the online job portal. Your application should outline your relevant qualifications, commercial-kitchen experience, work availability and current Australian work-rights status. Applications will be assessed against the requirements of the position, and only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Pay: $80,000.00 – $85,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Salary packaging

Work Location: In person