Head Chef | Cruise Whitsundays

Chef & Kitchen; Whitsunday Regional; On-site; AUD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounts on Journey Beyond merch

Discounts at Cruise Café & Bar

Private Health discounts

Study Assistance Policy

Parental Leave program

Purchased Leave policy

Employee Referral Policy

Job summary

Cruise Whitsundays, Australia’s leading experiential tourism business, seeks a Head Chef to lead day-to-day production in the Cruise Café & Bar, onboard vessels, Reefworld, and private charters. You will plan, prepare and deliver high-quality catering while upholding safety and food standards.

You will supervise a diverse kitchen team, ensure compliance with WHS and food safety, and drive efficiency, quality, and guest satisfaction across all dining experiences.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years in a similar position.
• Cert III in Commercial Cookery is mandatory.
• HLTAID011 – Provide First Aid & Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation is mandatory.
• Food Safety Supervisor (Level 1/2) is desirable.
• National Police Clearance is mandatory.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily production operations and meetings.
• Identify opportunities to improve kitchen efficiency, workflow, quality and service.
• Support menu implementation and planning with Catering Ops Manager and Reefworld Chefs.
• Provide culinary leadership and cover Reefworld during peak demand or staffing shortages.

Skills

Team leadership

Food safety

Inventory control

Labour productivity

Multitasking in fast-paced env

Education

Cert III in Commercial Cookery

HLTAID011 – First Aid/CPR

Job description

Be a part of sharing special places and shaping lasting memories with Australia’s leading experiential tourism business.

About Us

Cruise Whitsundays, based in Airlie Beach is the largest marine-based tour and transport provider in the Whitsundays. Providing close encounters with the Great Barrier Reef, Whitehaven Beach, and the islands of the Whitsundays, Cruise Whitsundays operates 10, well-equipped, air-conditioned vessels, plus a world-class sailing catamaran, offering a range of tours, as well as an inter-island resort connection service, with regular daily departures at two islands, one airport and two mainland ports.

Cruise Whitsundays also operates Australia’s first underwater accommodation, Reefsuites, and a Reefsleep glamping experience at the Reefworld pontoon, moored offshore at Hardy Reef on the Great Barrier Reef.

From our cruises and sailing adventures to our world-renowned underwater accommodation, there’s no better way to experience the Whitsundays, and you won’t find a friendlier or more experienced crew to work with. When the ocean is your office, every day is good one!

About Journey Beyond

Journey Beyond is Australia's leading experiential tourism group, operating 35 brands across Australia and New Zealand that connect guests to the land and to each other.
The group was formed in 2016 and now includes:
Rail & Touring: Iconic trains: The Ghan, Indian Pacific, Great Southern, The Overland and Vintage Rail Journeys, the Murray Princess, Adelaide Sightseeing, premium small-group outback operator Outback Spirit and New Zealand coach tour specialist Grand Pacific Tours.
Resorts & Lodges: Ayers Rock Resort, Kakadu Crocodile Hotel, Kingfisher Bay Resort and K'gari Beach Resort, Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef and Monarto Safari Resort.
Experiences & Attractions: Cruise Whitsundays, Rottnest Express, Sailaway Port Douglas, Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures, Darwin Harbour Cruises, Journey Beyond Cruise Sydney, Melbourne Skydeck, Eureka 89, Alice Springs Telegraph Station, Exmouth Dive and Whalesharks Ningaloo, Mosman Gorge Cultural Centre, Captain Cook Cruises Sydney & Perth, Starship Sydney, The Jackson, Bells Functions, Swan Valley Tours, Red Cat Adventures, Whitsunday Jetski Tours, K'gari Explorer Tours, and Island Connections: Bruny Island, the Whitsundays, K’gari, Darwin -Mandorah, Tiwi Islands and Groote Eylandt.

About The Role

Reporting to the Catering Operations Manager, the Head Chef is responsible for leading the day-to-day operations of the Cruise Whitsundays production kitchen. The Head Chef will ensure the efficient planning, preparation and delivery of high-quality catering services across all business operations. This dynamic and hands-on leadership role requires a passion for culinary excellence and a commitment to safety and consistency in food production.

As the Head Chef, you will coordinate all production activities, supervise a diverse kitchen team while maintaining supervisory oversight of food handling procedures and compliance with food safety regulations. You will ensure that meals are prepared to meet the high standards expected for Cruise Café & Bar, onboard vessels, Reefworld, private charters, and special events, ensuring every dining experience is exceptional.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Leading daily production meetings and resolving operational issues.
• Proactively identifying opportunities to improve kitchen efficiency, workflow, quality, and service delivery.
• Supporting menu implementation and operational planning in collaboration with the Catering Operations Manager and Reefworld Chefs.
• Providing culinary leadership and operational coverage for Reefworld during peak demand periods or staffing shortages.

About You

You will be a passionate culinary professional with strong expertise in kitchen operations and a commitment to delivering exceptional catering experiences. Your hands-on leadership approach will foster a high-performing team ensuring that all catering is produced safely, efficiently, and to the highest standards of food quality.

You possess excellent organisational skills, enabling you to multitask effectively in a fast-paced environment while focusing on continuous improvement to enhance efficiency and guest satisfaction.

To be successful in this role you will have:

• A commitment to delivering all catering production safely and efficiently.
• Skills to maintain exceptional food quality, consistency, and presentation standards.
• A track record of achieving labour productivity and production efficiency targets.
• Knowledge of Food Safety Standards and WHS requirements.
• Experience with accurate inventory and stock control.
• Proven ability to lead and develop a high-performing production team.
• Capability to ensure all direct reports are engaged and up-to-date with qualifications.
• Drive to achieve strong growth in the food and beverage Net Promoter Score (NPS).
• Minimum 3 years in a similar position, preferably with bulk food preparation experience
• Cert III in Commercial Cookery (Mandatory)
• HLTAID011 – Provide First Aid & Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (Mandatory)
• Food Safety Supervisor (Level 1 - SITXFSA005 Use hygienic practices for food safety & Level 2 -SITXFSA006 Participate in safe food handling practices) (Desirable)
• National Police Clearance (Mandatory)
• Generous discounts on Journey Beyond travel and experiences
• An attractive salary and positive work environment
• Study Assistance Policy
• A career with opportunities for progression, transfers, and secondments
• Employee Referral Policy
• Parental Leave program
• Purchased Leave policy
• Private Health discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Discounts on Journey Beyond merchandise
• Discounts at the Cruise Café & Bar
• Discounts at the bar on board vessels
• Free public transport
• Salary sacrifice remote area benefits