Executive Head Chef

About the role

As Executive Head Chef, you will lead culinary strategy across the Retirement Living portfolio, overseeing Cornerstone Cafe, and providing governance for Signature Cafés and Restaurants. You will drive menu innovation, food quality, safety standards, chef development, and operational excellence to deliver consistent, high-quality dining experiences for residents. Reporting to the Senior Leadership, you will be responsible for setting the culinary vision and standards across the portfolio, ensuring residents enjoy contemporary, high-quality dining experiences every day. You will play a critical role in creating exceptional dining experiences that balance innovation, nutrition, hospitality, quality, and commercial sustainability.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the culinary strategy and food philosophy across the Retirement Living portfolio
• Drive menu development, food quality, presentation, and innovation
• Establish culinary standards and operational excellence across multiple sites
• Monitor food costs, waste, productivity, and kitchen performance
• Ensure food safety, dietary compliance, and nutritional standards
• Coach, mentor, and develop chefs and culinary teams
• Partner with Procurement and key stakeholders to improve quality, value, and efficiency
• Provide culinary input into kitchen design, equipment selection and hospitality projects, including new developments and refurbishments

What you'll bring

You will be a passionate and strategic culinary leader with extensive experience leading multi-site food operations, developing high-performing teams, and delivering innovative food strategies. You will bring expertise in menu development, food quality, food safety, commercial performance, and stakeholder engagement, with a proven ability to enhance resident experiences while driving operational excellence and sustainable business outcomes.

Requirements

• Recognised Commercial Cookery qualification and food safety certification
• 10+ years' culinary experience, including 5+ years in an Executive Chef or multi-site leadership role
• Proven success leading multi-site café, restaurant, or hospitality operations
• Strong expertise in menu development, food quality, cost management, and kitchen performance
• An understanding of service environments where customer experience is key
• A passion for creating food experiences that bring people together
• Demonstrated ability to develop high-performing culinary teams
• Strong commercial acumen and stakeholder management skills

Benefits

• Flexible work options
• Salary packaging up to $15,900 of your income tax free, plus up to $2,650 on accommodation, meals, and entertainment
• Ongoing professional development and leadership training
• Exclusive discounts to over 400 retailers
• Employee Assistance Program
• Fitness Passport with discounts to over 800 gyms for you and your family