Head Chef

Crystalbrook Bailey; Cairns Regional; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

50% F&B discount

Room rate discount

Enhanced parental leave

Sustainability program

Internal mobility program

Career development

Job summary

Crystalbrook Bailey is seeking a Head Chef to lead two distinctive dining venues and oversee catering for conferences and events. You will work with a Sous Chef in each venue to develop seasonal menus that reflect each restaurant's character while coaching teams to maintain flavour, presentation and consistency.

You will manage rosters, labour costs, ordering and stock across both kitchens, upholding food safety, HACCP and sustainability practices in a rapidly evolving hospitality group.

Qualifications

• You will lead busy services with a steady hand and build brigades that take pride in every plate.
• Experience overseeing ordering, stock control and menu costing with responsibility for COGS.
• Sound knowledge of HACCP, hygiene and safe work practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead the teams behind two dining destinations, CC's Bar & Grill and Pachamama rooftop.
• Oversee catering for hotel conferences and events, with hands-on pass supervision.
• Develop seasonal menus reflecting each venue's character while balancing flavour and cost.
• Coach Sous Chefs and lead kitchen teams, ensuring consistent standards.
• Manage rosters, labour costs, ordering and stock across both kitchens.
• Uphold food safety, hygiene and sustainable practices; champion local produce.

Skills

Senior leadership

Menu costing

COGS control

Food safety HACCP

Staff coaching

Labor cost mgmt

Education

Commercial Cookery Cert III/IV

Job description

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.

Crystalbrook Bailey

is modern, creative and quietly confident - a hotel with a deep appreciation for art, design and individuality.

Choosing the path less travelled, Crystalbrook Bailey celebrates originality, thoughtful detail and a genuine connection to local culture. This is the kind of place that feels just as at home exploring a gallery, wandering through a local farmers market or discovering something beautifully unexpected.

With a personality shaped by creativity and curiosity, Crystalbrook Bailey offers a distinctive guest experience where contemporary style, considered hospitality and artistic spirit come together.

The Opportunity

As Head Chef at Crystalbrook Bailey, you will lead the passionate teams behind two distinctive dining destinations and oversee catering for the hotel's conferences and events. At award-winning CC's Bar & Grill, premium beef and local produce anchor a contemporary steakhouse menu. Up on the open-air rooftop at Pachamama, Latin-inspired plates are made to share.

Working with a Sous Chef in each venue, you will develop seasonal menus that reflect each restaurant's character and coach the teams behind them. That work carries into service, where you stay hands-on, overseeing the pass and setting the standards for flavour, presentation and consistency that elevate the dining experience.

Reporting to the General Manager, you will manage rosters, labour costs, ordering and stock across both kitchens and uphold food safety and hygiene standards. At Crystalbrook Collection, responsible luxury means championing local and seasonal produce and reducing food waste through thoughtful menu planning and prep.

In this permanent, full-time role, you will lead the next chapter of dining at Crystalbrook Bailey, bringing fresh ideas to the table and developing the chefs who will bring them to life.

The Talent

You lead busy services with a steady hand and build brigades that take pride in every plate. You set clear standards, give your chefs practical feedback and support your Sous Chefs to lead their teams with confidence. You bring that same judgement to the commercial decisions across both kitchens, keeping food and labour costs on track while maintaining the quality guests expect.

You will bring:

• Senior leadership experience in a commercial kitchen, ideally as a Head Chef or Sous Chef.
• Demonstrated experience building rosters, planning kitchen coverage and managing labour costs.
• Experience overseeing ordering, stock control and menu costing, with responsibility for keeping cost of goods sold (COGS) within budget.
• Ability to develop seasonal menus that reflect each venue's character and balance flavour, consistency and cost.
• Experience coaching chefs and developing kitchen leaders.
• Sound knowledge of food safety, HACCP, hygiene and safe work practices.
• Certificates III and IV in Commercial Cookery, or equivalent qualifications.

Why Us

At Crystalbrook Collection, you will work alongside exceptional people in a supportive, passionate and diverse 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 sustainable luxury practices
• Access to our internal mobility program and team reward schemes
• Online learning and training platforms and tailored career development pathways
• A culture of collaboration, diversity and elevated experiences
• Limitless career opportunities in a fast-growing, dynamic environment
• Regular service recognition and team engagement events

Crystalbrook Collection

is an award-winning hotel development and management company, home to one of Australia's newest portfolios of distinctive upscale hotels, restaurants and bars.

In just eight years, we have grown to own and manage more than AU$1 billion in luxury hotel assets across New South Wales and Queensland, with exciting new hotels planned for Adelaide and Canberra in 2026 and 2027. With continued ambition for growth across Australia and internationally, Crystalbrook Collection is proudly shaping a bold and distinctive future in hospitality.

We're proud to foster a workplace that supports equality, inclusion and accessibility. We welcome applications from all genders, ages, backgrounds, cultures and religions.

If you have a health condition or disability, please let us know early in the recruitment process so we can provide the appropriate support to ensure you can perform at your best.

As part of our recruitment and compliance process, we may request eligibility documents, police checks and employment references.