Head Chef

Crystalbrook Collection Hotels; Byron Bay; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

50% F&B discount

Staff room rates

Parental leave & benefits

Sustainability focus

Job summary

Crystalbrook Byron is seeking an accomplished Head Chef to lead our culinary leadership team, reporting to the Executive Chef. This role focuses on guiding daily kitchen operations, inspiring the brigade, and delivering dishes that reflect fresh, seasonal and sustainably sourced produce.

You will partner with the Executive Chef to shape menus, drive innovation and maintain high standards across quality, presentation and service in a five-star resort environment.

Qualifications

• Strong experience within a premium hotel, resort or high-quality restaurant environment.
• Proven leadership capability within a fast-paced, high-volume kitchen.
• A passion for fresh, seasonal and sustainably sourced produce.
• Creative confidence and a strong eye for presentation.
• Sound commercial understanding across labour, food cost and kitchen performance.
• The ability to remain calm, organised and decisive during busy service periods.
• A collaborative leadership style that brings out the best in others.
• Relevant culinary qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Lead the culinary direction and daily operation of the kitchen.
• Inspire, coach and develop the kitchen brigade.
• Bring creative flair to menu development, seasonal concepts and presentation.
• Lead service with confidence, energy and attention to detail.
• Maintain consistency, quality and exceptional culinary standards.
• Manage food costs, labour, ordering, stock control and kitchen productivity.
• Champion food safety, hygiene and compliance requirements.
• Build a collaborative kitchen culture where people feel supported, challenged and proud of their work.
• Step into full kitchen leadership responsibilities when required.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Staff coaching

Menu development

Food safety

Kitchen management

Budgeting

Education

Culinary qualifications

Job description

Crystalbrook Byron is a five-star rainforest resort set across 45 acres of magical subtropical landscape, just moments from the energy and creativity of Byron Bay.

Immersed in nature, Byron is a place where thoughtful luxury, stillness and connection come together. Surrounded by rainforest, wildlife and open space, the resort offers a deeply restorative guest experience designed to relax the heart and reinvigorate the mind.

With sustainability at its core and a genuine respect for the environment, Crystalbrook Byron invites guests and collaborators to experience luxury in a way that feels calm, considered and beautifully connected to place.

We are seeking an accomplished and creatively driven Head Chef to join our culinary leadership team. As the second-in-command to the Executive Chef, Elizabeth O'Brien, this is a significant leadership opportunity within an exceptional kitchen, offering the freedom to bring fresh ideas, culinary flair and genuine personality to the guest experience.

You will play a key role in leading daily kitchen operations, inspiring the brigade and maintaining outstanding standards across quality, consistency, presentation and service. Working closely with the Executive Chef, you will help shape menus, elevate team capability and ensure every dish reflects our commitment to fresh, seasonal and sustainably sourced produce.

The Opportunity:

This role is ideal for an experienced culinary leader who is ready to step into greater responsibility while remaining closely connected to the creativity and energy of the kitchen.

You will be trusted to lead service, develop talent, support menu innovation and provide confident leadership in the Executive Chef’s absence. Your ability to balance creativity with strong operational discipline will be central to your success.

The position:

• Partner closely with the Executive Chef to lead the culinary direction and daily operation of the kitchen
• Inspire, coach and develop a talented kitchen brigade
• Bring creative flair to menu development, seasonal concepts and presentation
• Lead service with confidence, energy and attention to detail
• Maintain consistency, quality and exceptional culinary standards
• Manage food costs, labour, ordering, stock control and kitchen productivity
• Champion food safety, hygiene and compliance requirements
• Build a collaborative kitchen culture where people feel supported, challenged and proud of their work
• Step into full kitchen leadership responsibilities when required

About you:

You are an experienced Head Chef or highly capable Senior Sous Chef ready to take the next step in your culinary leadership career.

You will bring:

• Strong experience within a premium hotel, resort or high-quality restaurant environment
• Proven leadership capability within a fast-paced, high-volume kitchen
• A passion for fresh, seasonal and sustainably sourced produce
• Creative confidence and a strong eye for presentation
• Sound commercial understanding across labour, food cost and kitchen performance
• The ability to remain calm, organised and decisive during busy service periods
• A collaborative leadership style that brings out the best in others
• Relevant culinary qualifications

Why Us:

You will work alongside exceptional people in a supportive, collaborative and agile environment. We are proud to offer a range of industry-leading benefits that support your lifestyle, career and wellbeing including:

• 50% F&B discount across all Crystalbrook restaurants and bars
• $99 room rates and a generous friends and family discount
• Enhanced parental Leave and lifestyle benefits
• A commitment to a green future through enhanced sustainability practices
• Access to our internal mobility program and team reward schemes
• Online learning and training with tailored career development pathways
• A culture of collaboration, elevating experiences and diversity
• Limitless career opportunities in a fast growing, dynamic environment
• Regular service recognition and team engagement events

We value diversity and inclusion, welcoming people of all backgrounds. If you need adjustments during the recruitment process, let us know so we can support you to perform at your best. As part of our recruitment and compliance process, we may request eligibility documents, police checks and employment references.

Crystalbrook Collection is a bold and sustainably minded hotel group redefining luxury hospitality in Australia.

Driven by our spirit of wonder, we create locally unique hotels, restaurants and guest experiences that reflect the character of their place and the personality of our people. We believe luxury should feel considered, creative and responsible, with experiences that leave a positive impression on our guests, our collaborators and the communities we are part of.

As our collection continues to grow, including the opening of Crystalbrook Sam in Adelaide at the end of 2026 and Crystalbrook Aurora in Canberra in early 2027, we are entering an exciting new chapter.

Guided by our values — We are Customer Obsessed, We are Collaborators and We are Courageous — we are building more than hotels. We are building careers, experiences and a new standard of hospitality.