Executive Chef - Parkville

Cater Care; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Shape Something Exceptional

Work-Life Balance

Professional Development

Exclusive Employee Benefits

Culture that cares

Job summary

Cater Care is seeking an Executive Chef to launch and lead a new dining operation at Trinity College, University of Melbourne. You will define culinary direction and oversee a high-performing kitchen ahead of the January 2027 opening.

You will recruit, mentor staff, manage menus, deliver quality and ensure food safety, cost control and exceptional guest experiences in a prestigious education setting. This is a Monday–Friday roster with a permanent full-time appointment in a renowned

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading professional kitchen operations as an Executive Chef.
• Experience in bulk catering for education or premium hospitality.
• Experience in high-profile settings with discerning clientele.
• Strong leadership to inspire teams and develop talent.
• Commercial acumen in food costs, labour, procurement and inventory.
• Culinary qualifications and sound food safety knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Lead kitchen operation and set standards for quality and service.
• Plan and execute high-volume catering with efficiency.
• Develop refined menus for diverse dietary needs.
• Recruit, mentor, and manage kitchen team.
• Oversee food cost, labour, procurement and waste.
• Uphold food safety and OH&S standards.

Skills

Executive leadership

Bulk catering

Menu development

Staff mentoring

Food cost control

Education

Culinary qualifications

Job description

Shape the Future of Dining at Trinity College

Salary: Circa $100,000 per annum + superannuation
Job Type: Permanent, Full-Time
Roster: Monday to Friday, 10:00 am - 6:30 pm
Location: Trinity College, University of Melbourne, Victoria
Commencement: Ahead of the January 2027 site opening

An exceptional opportunity to shape a distinguished culinary operation from the ground up.

gather by Cater Care is seeking an accomplished Executive Chef to lead our new food service operation at Trinity College, one of Melbourne’s distinguished university college environments.

Combining culinary excellence, large-scale catering expertise and refined operational leadership, this is your opportunity to create an outstanding dining experience in a prestigious education setting. Ahead of the January 2027 opening, you will shape the culinary direction, build a high-performing team and establish the standards that define the operation from day one.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Lead the kitchen operation, setting exceptional standards for food quality, presentation, consistency and service delivery
• Plan and execute high-volume catering, ensuring efficiency and quality at scale
• Develop refined, well-balanced menus that cater to diverse dietary requirements and elevate the dining experience
• Recruit, lead and mentor a high-performing kitchen team, fostering accountability, collaboration and pride
• Oversee food costs, labour, procurement, stock control and waste to drive strong commercial outcomes
• Uphold rigorous food safety, hygiene and workplace health and safety standards

What You Will Bring

• Proven experience leading professional kitchen operations as an Executive Chef, ideally within education, institutional catering or premium hospitality
• Demonstrated expertise in bulk catering, delivering exceptional food quality and presentation at scale
• Experience in a prestigious or high-profile setting, with an appreciation for the standards and expectations of discerning clientele
• A strong leadership approach, with the ability to inspire teams, develop talent and foster a culture of excellence
• Commercial acumen across food costing, labour management, procurement, inventory and operational planning
• Relevant culinary qualifications, sound food safety knowledge and a commitment to maintaining the highest standards of compliance

Why Join Cater Care?

• Shape Something Exceptional: Play a pivotal role in establishing a new culinary operation at Trinity College, helping set the standard ahead of its January 2027 opening
• Work-Life Balance: Enjoy a consistent Monday-to-Friday roster, working 10:00 am to 6:30 pm
• Professional Development: Access ongoing training and career development opportunities within an established Australian-owned organisation
• Exclusive Employee Benefits: Enjoy a uniform, discounts across 650+ retailers and confidential wellbeing support through our Employee Assistance Program
• A Culture That Cares: Be part of a values-driven organisation that champions Care, Pride and Community, celebrates diversity and invests in its people

About Us

Cater Care is a leading, 100% Australian-owned contract catering service provider, operating across multiple sectors (Aged Care, Education, Retirement, Retail and Remote Services).

Through our values of Care, Pride and Community, we pride ourselves on diversity, work-life balance and providing excellent career opportunities to our employees. We encourage First Nations people to consider a career with us.