Executive Chef - Rydges Resort Hunter Valley

EVT - Entertainment | Ventures | Travel; Abernethy; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Dining & stays discount

Movie ticket discounts

Seasonal perks at Thredbo

Career growth opportunities

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Rydges Hunter Valley, part of EVT, seeks an Executive Chef to lead a 65-strong culinary team and oversee multi-outlet operations including dining, conferencing, weddings and major events. You will own menus, food safety, budgeting and cost controls while driving consistency and quality across venues.

Formal culinary qualifications and strong leadership are essential, with flexibility for weekends and peak periods to meet busy service demands.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as an Executive Chef or Head Chef in a high-volume hotel, resort or large-scale events operation.
• Formal culinary qualifications (e.g. Certificate III in Commercial Cookery or equivalent).
• Strong leadership skills with a track record of building and developing multi-level kitchen brigades.
• Commercial acumen, including budgeting, food and labour cost control, and waste management.
• Deep knowledge of food safety, allergen management and WHS compliance.
• Flexibility to respond to changing occupancy, dietary requirements and event demands, including weekends and peak periods.

Responsibilities

• Lead, inspire and develop a culinary team of up to 65 chefs, cooks and kitchen hands, including hiring, rostering, training and succession planning across every outlet
• Oversee high-volume, multi-stream food production across restaurant dining, conferencing, weddings and major functions, approving all food that leaves the kitchen
• Plan and deliver seasonal menus that balance quality, consistency, guest expectations and commercial outcomes
• Own food cost, labour, portion and waste targets, managing purchasing, stock control and supplier relationships
• Uphold the highest standards of food safety, allergen management, hygiene and kitchen safety
• Partner closely with the F&B Manager, outlet supervisors and front-of-house teams to deliver seamless service

Skills

Executive Chef experience

Leadership

Budgeting

Food cost control

Food safety & WHS

Allergen management

Hospitality operations

Event catering

Education

Formal culinary qualifications such as Certificate III in Commercial Cookery

Job description

Executive Chef | Rydges Hunter Valley

About EVT:

Rydges Hunter Valley is part of EVT, one of Australasia's market-leading experience creators offering careers that can take you wherever you want to go across entertainment, ventures, and travel. In a world of cookie cutter experiences, here at EVT we believe in changing the game. It's why we all call ourselves Daymakers - because each day is a chance to add the wow factor for our customers and continually grow in our own careers.

About the Property:

Rydges Resort Hunter Valley sits in Lovedale, in the heart of the Lower Hunter wine country near Cessnock, about two and a half hours' drive from Sydney. The resort is set around an 18-hole golf course, with tennis and basketball courts, a gym, and both family and adults-only pools. Guests can enjoy tours and tastings at the on-site microbrewery and whiskey distillery, and casual dining at Lovedale Bar + Grill. The resort also has a full-service day spa. With weddings, conferences and events alongside restaurant dining, it's a busy, varied kitchen operation in one of Australia's best-known wine regions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, inspire and develop a culinary team of up to 65 chefs, cooks and kitchen hands, including hiring, rostering, training and succession planning across every outlet
• Oversee high-volume, multi-stream food production across restaurant dining, conferencing, weddings and major functions, approving all food that leaves the kitchen
• Plan and deliver seasonal menus that balance quality, consistency, guest expectations and commercial outcomes
• Own food cost, labour, portion and waste targets, managing purchasing, stock control and supplier relationships
• Uphold the highest standards of food safety, allergen management, hygiene and kitchen safety
• Partner closely with the F&B Manager, outlet supervisors and front-of-house teams to deliver seamless service

What You'll Bring

• Proven experience as an Executive Chef or Head Chef in a high-volume hotel, resort or large-scale events operation
• Formal culinary qualifications (e.g. Certificate III in Commercial Cookery or equivalent)
• Strong leadership skills with a track record of building and developing multi-level kitchen brigades
• Commercial acumen, including budgeting, food and labour cost control, and waste management
• Deep knowledge of food safety, allergen management and WHS compliance
• Flexibility to respond to changing occupancy, dietary requirements and event demands, including weekends and peak periods

How You Work

• Daymaker ethos - no one's too big for the small things.
• Hands-on and non-hierarchical - leads from the front.
• Owner's mindset - acts on data/feedback; ships improvements.
• Growth mindset - learns, shares, and levels up others.

Perks from Day One

As part of EVT, you unlock Elevate Perks from your first day. Parity for all levels - no ivory towers.

• 50% off dining and stays across EVT hotels – QT, Rydges, Atura, LyLo and more.
• $2 movie tickets + discounts on Gold Class, Moonlight Cinema and Candy Bar.
• Seasonal perks at Thredbo.
• Rapid career growth across our hotel & entertainment network.
• Paid parental leave; community & volunteering opportunities.