Chef - Osteria La Vallata

Kangaroo Valley Golf & Country Retreat; Kangaroo Valley; On-site; AUD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Onsite accommodation

Competitive salary

Scenic regional retreat

Job summary

Osteria La Vallata, located within Kangaroo Valley Golf & Country Retreat, seeks a qualified Chef to join and support daily kitchen operations. You will work under Head Chef Marco Salvestrin to contribute to menu development while maintaining high quality and presentation.

The restaurant opens Thursday to Saturday for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and Sundays for breakfast and lunch, with a permanent full-time roster. Onsite accommodation may be available.

Qualifications

• AQF Certificate IV in Kitchen Management or equivalent.
• Minimum 2+ years of post-qualification full-time kitchen experience in a similar role.
• Strong leadership, communication and organizational skills with ability to train staff.
• Full Australian working rights and willingness to commit to a permanent full-time roster.

Responsibilities

• Plan menus and estimate food and labour costs with Head Chef to maximise profitability.
• Train, mentor, and support junior kitchen staff and apprentices.
• Prepare, cook and plate authentic Italian dishes to recipe standards.
• Oversee dish quality, temperatures and line consistency.
• Enforce WHS, food hygiene and HACCP regulations.
• Manage kitchen storage, stock, inventory and replenishment.
• Oversee sanitation and maintenance of cooking equipment.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Organizational skills

Team player

Reliability

Education

AQF Certificate IV in Kitchen Management / Commercial Cookery

Job description

We are on the lookout to expand our kitchen with another qualified Chef (ANZSCO 351311).

Osteria La Vallata is a well-established restaurant known for its authentic, high-quality Italian-inspired cuisine located within the Kangaroo Valley Golf & Country Retreat.

You’ll be working alongside Head Chef Marco Salvestrin, who brings over 17 years of experience and a passion for excellence in every dish.

You’ll play a key role in supporting the daily operations of the kitchen, maintaining high standards of food quality and presentation, and contributing to menu development.

Our restaurant is open Thursday to Saturday for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and Sundays for breakfast and lunch.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan menus and estimate food and labour costs in collaboration with the Head Chef to ensure operational profitability and minimise waste.
• Train, mentor, and support junior kitchen team members and apprentices in culinary techniques, knife skills, and food presentation.
• Prepare, cook, and plate authentic, high-quality Italian dishes to strict recipe benchmarks and presentation standards.
• Oversee dish quality, cooking temperatures, and line consistency at all stages of food preparation and service.
• Enforce strict compliance with Workplace Health and Safety (WHS), food hygiene, and HACCP food safety regulations.
• Manage kitchen food storage, stock preservation, routine inventory checks, and ingredient replenishment.
• Oversee routine kitchen sanitation and the maintenance of commercial cooking equipment.

About You (Skills & Experience Required)

• Relevant commercial cookery qualification (AQF Certificate IV in Kitchen Management / Commercial Cookery or equivalent).
• Minimum 2+ years of post-qualification full-time commercial kitchen experience in a similar role.
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills with proven ability to train kitchen staff.
• Passion for culinary excellence, reliability, and a genuine team-player attitude.
• Full Australian working rights and ability to commit to a permanent full-time roster (including weekends and public holidays as required).

What We Offer

• Highly competitive salary package ($75,000 – $85,000 p.a. + Superannuation).
• Permanent, stable full-time employment (38 hours per week).
• Opportunity to work under Head Chef Marco Salvestrin, a highly experienced culinary professional.
• Onsite accommodation may be available for the successful applicant.
• Supportive, family-like team culture in a scenic regional retreat environment.