Casual Chef

Bennett Hotel; Newcastle; On-site; AUD 34,000 - 44,000; Part time

Job summary

The Bennett Hotel in Newcastle is seeking a passionate and reliable Chef to join our kitchen team on a casual basis, with shifts available up to 38 hours per week. You will manage larder, fryer and prep sections during busy service and help keep the kitchen well set up and stocked.

You will work alongside our Head Chef and a professional senior kitchen team in a well-established venue known for its strong team culture, quality food and supportive environment.

Qualifications

• Solid fryer, larder and prep experience
• Strong knife skills and high organisation in a fast-paced kitchen
• Reliable, adaptable and works well as part of a team

Responsibilities

• Running the larder and fryer sections during service
• Completing daily prep to a high standard, making sure the kitchen is fully set up before each service
• Preparing and plating cold dishes, salads, entrées and fried items to a consistent standard
• Managing stock rotation, labelling and storage, and supporting ordering and waste control
• Working flexibly across other sections as required
• Working closely with the Head Chef and kitchen brigade during service
• Maintaining a clean, organised and efficient workstation, including safe fryer operation and oil management
• Upholding food safety, hygiene and kitchen compliance standards
• Contributing positively to team culture and the overall kitchen environment

Skills

Larder experience

Fryer experience

Prep experience

Knife skills

Team player

Organised

Job description

The Bennett Hotel is looking for a passionate and reliable Chef to join our kitchen team on a casual basis, with shifts available up to 38 hours per week. This role suits a chef with solid fryer, larder and prep experience who's confident running these sections during busy service and keeping the kitchen well set up and stocked. You'll also be comfortable moving across other areas of the kitchen as needed.

Working alongside our Head Chef and a professional, hard-working senior kitchen team, you'll join a well-established venue known for its strong team culture, quality food and supportive working environment.

Key responsibilities

• Running the larder and fryer sections during service
• Completing daily prep to a high standard, making sure the kitchen is fully set up before each service
• Preparing and plating cold dishes, salads, entrées and fried items to a consistent standard
• Managing stock rotation, labelling and storage, and supporting ordering and waste control
• Working flexibly across other sections as required
• Working closely with the Head Chef and kitchen brigade during service
• Maintaining a clean, organised and efficient workstation, including safe fryer operation and oil management
• Upholding food safety, hygiene and kitchen compliance standards
• Contributing positively to team culture and the overall kitchen environment

About you

• Has strong, hands-on experience on larder, fryers and prep in a fast-paced kitchen
• Is organised and efficient, with good knife skills and the ability to work through a prep list with minimal supervision
• Is confident across multiple sections and comfortable adapting as service demands
• Performs well under pressure while maintaining consistency and composure
• Is reliable, adaptable and works well as part of a team
• Communicates well and brings a positive attitude to every shift
• Takes pride in quality food, presentation and clean execution
• Holds full Australian working rights

About us

The Bennett Hotel is one of Newcastle's established local hotels, known for its quality food and strong local following. We are a well-established venue with a strong team culture and supportive working environment.

Flexible, well-structured roster with casual hours up to 38 per week, designed to support a genuine work/life balance

Strong team culture with a professional and hard-working kitchen brigade that values teamwork and consistently high standards

Real variety across sections and shifts, working alongside experienced chefs in a supportive kitchen

A great opportunity to build your skills across the kitchen and grow with the team