Cafe chef

Imagination Nation; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free parking at Chadstone

Job summary

Imaginationation is a premium kids' play and dining venue at Chadstone Shopping Centre, Melbourne. We’re seeking an experienced chef to run the cafe kitchen day to day, lead catering for birthday parties and events up to 150 guests, and create new dishes that delight families.

You'll cost recipes, manage ordering and stock, own allergen management and food safety, and train casual kitchen staff. Daytime hours with the evenings free—own the menu and make your mark.

Qualifications

• Trade qualified with 2+ years as a chef.
• Café or brunch experience – running a kitchen solo.
• Experience with high-volume or event catering.
• Food Safety Supervisor certificate or willingness to obtain.
• Organised, reliable and passionate about family-friendly food.
• Daytime hours; evenings are your own.
• Ownership of the menu and room to make your mark.

Responsibilities

• Run the café kitchen day to day – brunch, lunch and a kids' menu families love.
• Lead catering for birthday parties and full-venue events up to 150 guests.
• Develop new dishes to grow adult spend – brunch, platters and seasonal specials.
• Cost recipes, manage ordering and stock, hit food cost targets.
• Own allergen management and food safety, and train our kitchen casuals.

Skills

Brunch kitchen experience

High-volume catering

Menu ownership

Organised reliability

Education

Cert III/IV Commercial Cookery

Job description

Run the café kitchen day to day at a premium kids' play and dining venue inside Chadstone Shopping Centre, Melbourne. Lead catering for birthday parties and full-venue events of up to 150 guests, develop new dishes that grow spend, cost recipes, manage ordering and stock, and own allergen management and food safety.

Key responsibilities

Run the café kitchen day to day – brunch, lunch and a kids' menu families love

Lead catering for birthday parties and full-venue events of up to 150 guests

Develop new dishes that grow adult spend – brunch, platters and seasonal specials

Cost recipes, manage ordering and stock, and hit food cost targets

Own allergen management and food safety, and train our kitchen casuals

About you

Trade qualified (Cert III/IV Commercial Cookery) with 2+ years as a chef

Café or brunch experience – ideally running a kitchen on your own

Experience with high-volume or event catering

Food Safety Supervisor certificate, or willing to get it

Organised, reliable and genuinely excited about great food for families

Daytime hours – your evenings are your own

Real ownership of the menu and room to make your mark

• Free parking at Chadstone

A fun, beautifully designed venue with a great team

About us

Imaginationation is a premium kids' play and dining venue inside Chadstone – often called Australia's most beautiful play space.