Head Chef | Cruise Whitsundays

Journey Beyond

Whitsunday Regional

On-site

AUD 110,000 - 140,000

Full time

7 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Generous travel discounts

Study Assistance Policy

Career progression opportunities

Employee Referral Policy

Parental Leave program

Purchased Leave policy

Private Health discounts

Employee Assistance Program

Discounts on Journey Beyond merch

Discounts at Cruise Café & Bar

Discounts on onboard bar

Job summary

Journey Beyond seeks a Head Chef to lead Cruise Whitsundays production kitchens across vessels, Reefworld, charters and events. You will supervise a diverse team, ensure safety and high-quality catering, and align with food safety regulations while delivering exceptional guest experiences.

Reporting to the Catering Operations Manager, you will drive menu implementation, production planning and operational coverage during peak periods, maintaining top standards of food quality and presentation

Qualifications

Minimum 3 years in a similar position
Cert III in Commercial Cookery (Mandatory)
HLTAID011 - Provide First Aid & CPR (Mandatory)
Food Safety Supervisor (Level 1 & 2) useful
National Police Clearance (Mandatory)

Responsibilities

Lead daily production meetings and resolve issues
Identify opportunities to improve kitchen efficiency and service
Support menu implementation and operational planning
Provide culinary leadership during peak demand or staff shortages

Skills

Kitchen operations

Food safety

Team development

Staff engagement

Culinary leadership

Education

Cert III in Commercial Cookery

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

Australia's leading experiential tourism group, Journey Beyond, is privileged to operate 20 brands spanning the country and New Zealand, connecting guests to the land, and to each other.

Headquartered in Adelaide, Journey Beyond formed in 2016 and now comprises tourism brands including: iconic trains The Ghan, Indian Pacific, Great Southern, The Overland; premium small-group outback operator Outback Spirit; eco-luxury lodge Sal Salis Ningaloo Reef; aquatic adventures Cruise Whitsundays, Rottnest Express, Sailaway Port Douglas, Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures, Darwin Harbour Cruises and Journey Beyond Cruise Sydney; our tallest members, Melbourne Skydeck and Eureka 89; the historic Vintage Rail Journeys; The Telegraph Station in Alice Springs; Monarto Safari Resort; Exmouth Dive & Whalesharks Ningaloo, New Zealand coach tour specialist Grand Pacific Tours, and Voyages Tourism Australia.

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)

Requirements

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)

Benefits