Catering Manager - Thornton Campus

Government schools; Shire of Murrindindi; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Catering Manager at Rubicon Outdoor School runs the Thornton Campus kitchen, delivering nutritious meals to students, staff and visiting groups. You will plan menus, manage the budget, ordering and stock, and supervise the Catering Assistant.

You will uphold food safety and OHS standards, work with teaching staff on dietary needs, and pursue sustainable purchasing. This role may require early starts and a varied roster aligned with residential and expedition programs.

Qualifications

• SC1 Demonstrated experience managing a commercial kitchen, including menu planning and catering for large groups.
• SC2 Demonstrated knowledge of food safety, hygiene and OHS requirements.
• SC3 Budgeting, stock control, ordering and supplier relationships with sustainable purchasing.
• SC4 Leadership and the ability to supervise and train catering staff.
• SC5 Commitment to ongoing professional learning and adaptation to new systems.

Responsibilities

• Assist with budgeting and annual catering budget.
• Plan menus meeting nutritional standards with teaching staff.
• Order goods for incoming groups via online system and receipt deliveries.
• Identify suppliers meeting sustainable purchasing policies.
• Prepare, cook and serve meals for required numbers.
• Provide meals for special dietary needs and dietary considerations.
• Manage waste, composting, and recycling following site requirements.
• Provide hirers with kitchen access and equipment as directed.
• Manage the Catering Assistant and coordinate daily tasks.
• Induct and train staff in catering and safe handling.
• Ensure health regulations, hygiene standards and Food Act compliance.
• Maintain safety procedures and OHS record-keeping.
• Continue professional development and adopt new systems.
• Undertake other duties as directed.

Skills

Menu planning

Budget management

Stock control

Supplier relationships

Food safety

OHS compliance

Leadership

Staff training

Team supervision

Job description

Rubicon Outdoor School is a specific purpose outdoor state school working with government secondary students. Rubicon comprises two campuses: Thornton Campus is located in the picturesque Rubicon Valley approximately 100 km north-east of Melbourne, on the edge of the Great Dividing Range. The Nayook Campus, located near Neerim Junction at the foot of Mt Baw Baw, is approximately 100 km east of Melbourne in a bush setting. The school has a long history of excellence in teaching and learning in the outdoors.The values ofSustainable Futures, Shaped by Challenge, Building Community, andMeaningful Experiencesunderpin the core work of our school.

Rubicon provides teaching and learning programswithinboth residential, basecamp and journey based spaces and a history of consistent innovation and improvement in Outdoor and Learning Away practices. Students attend for approximately five days and live either;onsite as part of a residential programor with their group in the context of an expedition or basecamp program away from the campus cooking on camp stoves or, where applicable, camp fires. The Catering Manager leads a small, collaborative team to provide nutritious, appetising and sustainable meals that support our teaching and learning programs. The role focuses on the running of the kitchen located onsite at the Thornton Campus where the role is located.

Location Profile

Rubicon Outdoor School is a specific purpose outdoor state school working with government secondary students. Rubicon comprises two campuses: Thornton Campus is located in the picturesque Rubicon Valley approximately 100 km north-east of Melbourne, on the edge of the Great Dividing Range. The Nayook Campus, located near Neerim Junction at the foot of Mt Baw Baw, is approximately 100 km east of Melbourne in a bush setting. The school has a long history of excellence in teaching and learning in the outdoors.The values ofSustainable Futures, Shaped by Challenge, Building Community, andMeaningful Experiencesunderpin the core work of our school.

Rubicon provides teaching and learning programswithinboth residential, basecamp and journey based spaces and a history of consistent innovation and improvement in Outdoor and Learning Away practices. Students attend for approximately five days and live either;onsite as part of a residential programor with their group in the context of an expedition or basecamp program away from the campus cooking on camp stoves or, where applicable, camp fires. The Catering Manager leads a small, collaborative team to provide nutritious, appetising and sustainable meals that support our teaching and learning programs. The role focuses on the running of the kitchen located onsite at the Thornton Campus where the role is located.

Selection Criteria

SC1 Demonstrated experience managing a commercial kitchen, including menu planning, preparing, cooking and serving nutritious meals in large quantities, and catering for special dietary, allergy, medical, cultural and religious requirements.

SC2 Demonstrated knowledge of, and commitment to, food safety, hygiene and occupational health and safety requirements.

SC3 Demonstrated ability to manage a budget, ordering, receipting and stock control, and to build effective supplier relationships, with a commitment to sustainable purchasing and waste minimisation practices.

SC4 Demonstrated leadership, communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to supervise, induct and train staff and to work collaboratively with teaching staff, students, visiting groups and hirers.

SC5 Demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional learning and the ability to adapt to new systems, technologies and practices in a commercial kitchen environment.

Role

The Catering Manager provides a high-quality catering service to students, staff and visiting groups, in line with school, Department of Education and legislative requirements. Supported by the Catering Assistant, the Catering Manager is responsible for the day-to-day running of the kitchen. This includes menu planning, budgeting and ordering, food preparation and service, food safety and OHS compliance, and supervision of catering staff.

Education support class roles at this level may involve undertaking tasks under general direction, applying specialised skills and knowledge, and supervising other staff.

Due to the residential nature of the school's programs, the role may involve early starts, later finishes, or a varied roster. [Confirm hours of duty/roster arrangements.]

Responsibilities

• Assist with the preparation of the annual catering budget and manage the campus catering budget.
• Plan menus that meet nutritional standards, in consultation with teaching staff.
• Order all goods required for incoming groups using the school's online ordering system, and receipt and check all deliveries.
• Identify and engage suppliers who meet the school's sustainable purchasing policy and practices where possible.
• Prepare, cook and serve meals for the numbers required.
• Provide meals for special dietary needs (e.g. diabetic, vegetarian, allergies), taking into account students' cultural and religious backgrounds.
• Remove waste and packaging after each service and comply with site requirements for composting and recycling.
• Provide hirers who self-cater with access to the kitchen, scullery, dining room and equipment, as directed by the Principal or nominee.
• Manage the Catering Assistant on site, including allocating duties and coordinating daily tasks.
• Induct and train staff in catering and safe food handling.
• Keep all food preparation, serving and eating areas compliant with health regulations, hygiene standards and the Food Act 1984 (Vic).
• Manage safety procedures, OHS practices and record keeping for kitchen operations in accordance with school and Department policies.
• Keep developing knowledge of commercial kitchen food management and new operating systems, and attend mandatory and professional learning as required.
• Undertake other duties as directed by the Principal or delegate.

Who May Apply

Individuals who meet the selection criteria and are eligible to work in Australia. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.

Diversity and Inclusion

The department is committed to diversity and inclusion and developing a workforce that is representative of the community we service. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQA+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department.The Department recognises that the provision of safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work and diversity across all schools and Department workplaces.It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for staff with disability (seeWorkplace adjustment guidelines).

Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander candidates from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via*******@education.vic.gov.au

Applicants seeking part-time employment are encouraged to apply for any teaching service position and, if they are the successful candidate, request a reduced time fraction. Such requests will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and will be subject to the operational requirements of the school.

Child Safe Standards

Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the department's exemplar available at:

https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/child-safe-standards/policy

DE Values

The department's employees commit to upholding the department's Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. The department's Values complement each school's own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees,including those who work in Victorian Government Schools. Information on the department values is available at:

https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/values-department-vps-school-employees/overview

Other Information

This role requires attendance at the school site (Thornton Campus) from Monday to Friday during term time with a minimum of two nights a week to support provision of meals. There is no weekend work and attendance during identified term break periods is commensurate with other school support staff employees

Conditions of Employment

• All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.
• A current Food Safety Supervisor qualification, or a willingness to obtain one, is required.
• Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.
• A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.
• Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal