Head Chef

Arcare Aged Care; Central Coast; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Arcare Aged Care is seeking a Head Chef to lead the kitchen operations and deliver nutritious, tasty meals for residents. You will oversee staff, menu planning, food safety, and quality control across our NSW locations.

The role requires a Certificate III/IV in Hospitality and a Food Safety Supervisor Certification, with a collaborative leadership style and passion for resident wellbeing. This position is on-site within a supportive aged care community.

Qualifications

• Certificate III or IV in Hospitality (Commercial Cookery) required
• Food Safety Supervisor Certification required
• Adaptability and collaborative leadership essential

Responsibilities

• Menu planning: assist with nutritious, diverse menus for residents
• Food preparation: cook meals using fresh ingredients with proper safety protocols
• Quality control: ensure meals meet taste, appearance, and portion standards
• Inventory & budget management: manage stock and source ingredients cost-effectively
• Nutritional analysis: collaborate with dietitians to ensure well-balanced meals

Skills

Leadership

Team leadership

Adaptability

Collaborative

Education

Certificate III or IV in Hospitality (Commercial Cookery)

Food Safety Supervisor Certification

Job description

About the Role

The Head Chef plays a significant role in enhancing the overall quality of life for residents at Arcare by providing delicious and nutritious meals. The Head Chef is responsible for managing the entire kitchen operations, which includes overseeing the staff and ensuring that high standards of food quality and safety are maintained.

:

Key responsibilities:

• Menu Planning: Assist with the design of nutritious and diverse menus that cater to the dietary requirements of Arcare residents, considering their specific health conditions, dietary requirements and preferences
• Food Preparation: Preparation and cooking of meals, ensuring that they are prepared with fresh ingredients and follow proper food handling and food safety protocols
• Quality Control: Ensure that all meals meet high-quality standards in taste, appearance, and portion sizes, and make adjustments as needed based on resident feedback
• Inventory & Budget Management: Manage the kitchen's stock levels and budget efficiently by sourcing ingredients cost-effectively and minimizing food waste
• Nutritional Analysis: Work with dietitians and nutritionists to analyze the nutritional content of the meals, aiming to provide well-balanced and healthy options for residents

What we’re looking for

• Certificate III or IV in Hospitality (Commercial Cookery)
• Food Safety Supervisor Certification
• Adaptability, passion for what you produce and how you lead the team
• Collaborative approach

About Arcare

As one of Australia’s leading aged care providers, Arcare operates over 60 residences across QLD, NSW, ACT, SA and VIC, supported by more than 10, team members. Our focus is simple — building meaningful relationships between residents, families, and staff, with our residents at the heart of everything we do.