Cafeteria Manager/Head Chef

Pinnacle People; Sydney; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Structured daytime hours

Long-term role

Supportive leadership

School community impact

Job summary

Pinnacle People seeks an experienced Head Chef / Cafeteria Manager to lead food operations in a premium private school setting. You will manage menu planning, sourcing, production, and service across on-site dining, boarding meals, and events.

Ideal candidates bring proven leadership in large-scale catering, strong food safety credentials, and the ability to steer diverse teams within an institutional environment. Structured daytime hours and work-life balance are offered.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading Head Chef or Cafeteria Manager teams.
• Background in schools or large-scale catering.
• Strong leadership and organisational skills.
• Experience with food safety compliance and NSW Health standards.
• Experience with Flexischools or similar systems advantageous.
• Current Food Safety Supervisor certification.
• Valid Working With Children Check.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all food service operations including menu planning, ordering, production and service.
• Lead and roster a kitchen and cafeteria team; train staff.
• Deliver nutritious meals aligned with guidelines and dietary requirements.
• Manage on-site café, boarding meals, and school events.
• Oversee stock, supplier relationships and cost management.
• Ensure compliance with food safety standards and NSW Health regulations.
• Manage budgets, cash handling and end-of-month reporting.
• Support a positive dining environment for students and staff.

Skills

Leadership

Menu planning

Rostering

Training

Food safety

Compliance

NSW Health regulations

Flexischools

Kitchen management

Education

Food Safety Supervisor certificate

Working With Children Check

Tools

Flexischools

POS system

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Head Chef / Cafeteria Manager to lead food operations within a well-established, premium private school environment. This is a rare opportunity to step into a stable, community-focused role offering work-life balance, structured hours, and a supportive team.

The role

• Oversee all food service operations, including menu planning, ordering, production, and service
• Lead and manage a dedicated kitchen and cafeteria team, including rostering and training
• Deliver nutritious, high-quality meals aligned with school guidelines and dietary requirements
• Manage a busy on-site café, boarding house meal service, and school events/functions
• Oversee stock control, supplier relationships, and cost management
• Maintain compliance with food safety standards and NSW Health regulations
• Support a positive, inclusive dining environment for students and staff
• Manage basic financials including budgets, cash handling, and end-of-month reporting

Operational environment

• Monday to Friday roster, 8.00am to 5.00pm
• Additional hours may be required for events and boarding service support
• Working café, plus boarding and function catering
• Online ordering ordering experience

About you

• Proven experience as a Head Chef, Cafeteria Manager, or similar leadership role
• Background in schools, large-scale catering, or institutional environments highly regarded
• Strong leadership capability with experience managing diverse teams
• Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple service streams
• Strong understanding of food safety, compliance, and operational standards
• Experience with Flexischools or similar systems advantageous
• Current Food Safety Supervisor certification
• Valid Working With Children Check

What’s on offer

• Stable, long-term role within a respected organisation
• Structured daytime hours supporting work-life balance
• Supportive leadership and well-established systems
• Opportunity to make a positive impact within a school community