The Trustee for Diamond Dough No 1 Trust, trading as River Cruz Cafe, operates one of Bundaberg’s most iconic riverfront dining destinations, perfectly positioned along the Burnett River on Quay Street. Renowned for its stunning waterfront views, relaxed yet elevated cafe dining, and vibrant contemporary Australian menu, River Cruz Cafe serves everything from gourmet breakfasts and specialty coffees to full-service lunches, evening dining, and private functions. With a loyal local following and high tourism trade, the venue has built a strong reputation for culinary creativity, fresh local produce, and genuine hospitality operating seven days a week across peak weekend and seasonal periods.
River Cruz Cafe is seeking an experienced and driven Head Chef to lead kitchen operations at the venue. This is a rare opportunity to shape the culinary identity of a well-established, high-volume riverfront destination. This full-time position offers a competitive salary within the range of $80,000 to $85,000 per annum, plus superannuation, benchmarked against market salary rates and commensurate with the technical skill, experience, and accountability required to sustain service standards in a premier hospitality operation.
SCOPE OF THE ROLE:
- Creating and updating menus based on seasonal availability, customer preferences, and cost considerations, drawing on River Cruz Cafe's tradition of delivering contemporary Australian breakfast classics, gourmet lunches, and seasonal dinner offerings that keep guests coming back.
- Overseeing all food preparation processes across the kitchen, ensuring precision, creativity, exceptional food quality under pressure, and strict adherence to food safety standards across all service periods.
- Managing end-to-end kitchen operations, including inventory management, stock control, and ordering supplies to maintain adequate levels while minimising waste.
- Recruiting, training, and supervising kitchen staff, including chefs, cooks, and kitchen assistants, to build a cohesive, professional, and high-performing kitchen team.
- Implementing and enforcing rigorous food safety and hygiene protocols to ensure compliance with health regulations and maintain a clean and safe working environment at all times.
- Monitoring food costs, labour costs, and other operational expenses to meet budgetary targets and maximise venue profitability.
- Collaborating with management, front-of-house staff, and suppliers to coordinate seamless operations, resolve challenges, and maintain River Cruz Cafe's reputation for exceptional guest experiences.
- Staying updated on relevant legislation, regulations, and industry standards relating to food safety, hygiene, and employment practices.
- Driving a positive dining experience by consistently delivering delicious, well-presented meals and championing excellent customer service across all areas of the kitchen.
TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS ROLE, YOU SHOULD:
- Hold at least 7+ years of experience in a management capacity at the Head Chef level, with a demonstrated track record of leading high-performing kitchen teams.
- Be willing to relocate to Bundaberg if currently based interstate or in another city.
- Hold a relevant hospitality or culinary qualification — a Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery, Diploma in Hospitality Management, or equivalent is preferred.
- Demonstrate expertise in contemporary Australian cafe and bistro cuisine with the versatility to execute a broad, complex menu range to a premium standard.
- Bring previous experience in high-volume, restaurant/cafe hospitality environments, including waterfront, tourism-driven, or year-round high-trade venues.
- Have a strong understanding of structured breakfast, lunch, and dinner service operations, quality control, and disciplined brigade workflows.
- Demonstrate a proven ability to perform in fast-paced, operationally demanding environments under pressure, including elevated weekend and seasonal peak trade.
- Possess strong organisational skills and leadership capability, with the ability to motivate and develop a diverse kitchen team.
- Have full availability across mornings, evenings, weekends, public holidays, and the ability to work split shifts as required by the venue's operating hours.
- Must hold valid Australian work rights at the time of application.
WHAT YOU'LL GET IN RETURN:
- A competitive senior leadership salary of $80,000–$85,000 per annum, plus superannuation, negotiated based on experience and commercial responsibility.
- The opportunity to shape the culinary direction of one of Bundaberg's most recognised waterfront dining venues, with the creative and operational freedom to make a lasting impact.
- A fully resourced, high-volume kitchen environment backed by an experienced management team and the operational infrastructure of an established, premium hospitality operation.
- A genuine sense of community and belonging — River Cruz Cafe is committed to the long-term development of its people and its culture.
HOW TO JOIN THE TEAM
Please submit an online application to join our diverse, dedicated and community-focused team for a rewarding career at River Cruz Cafe. Australian citizens and permanent residents are strongly encouraged to apply and will be given priority in accordance with labour market testing requirements and the objective of supporting the domestic workforce. Only successful applicants will be contacted.
The Trustee for Diamond Dough No 1 Trust t/as River Cruz Cafe is committed to an Australian-first employment strategy and a recruitment process that is fair, transparent, and strictly merit-based. Applications are assessed solely on skills, qualifications, experience, and role suitability, without regard to personal background.
Only where genuine recruitment efforts confirm that no suitably qualified or experienced local candidates are available will individuals with valid work rights, or those eligible for employer sponsorship, be considered, strictly in line with the Migration Act 1958, Migration Regulations 1994, and current Department of Home Affairs policy. Employer sponsorship is approached as a measure of last resort, reflecting our commitment to workforce integrity, regulatory compliance, and the long-term development of local talent.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: $80,000.00 – $85,000.00 per year
Application Question(s):
- If you are a visa holder, provide a subclass and expiry date.
- Do you have a valid skills assessment related to the role? Please provide your skills assessment status.
- Do you have a valid PTE/IELTS? If yes, provide each band score.
Work Location: In person
