Cooks & Chefs [Crest Trust ATF Crest Birubi Beach Pty Ltd]

Our client, Crest Trust ATF Crest Birubi Beach Pty Ltd, operates Crest Birubi Beach, an iconic coastal dining and event destination perched directly on the headland at 73 James Paterson Street, Anna Bay NSW 2316. Boasting panoramic ocean views across Birubi Beach and the Stockton Bight sand dunes in the Port Stephens region, the venue delivers a celebrated contemporary Australian dining experience. Renowned for fresh regional seafood, seasonal produce, vibrant all-day dining, and bespoke wedding and private function catering, Crest Birubi Beach accommodates strong year-round tourist traffic and consistent local patronage across bustling breakfast, lunch, sunset dining, and large-scale event services.

To support sustained growth and maintain high culinary standards, the business is seeking dedicated, qualified, and motivated full-time Cooks and Chefs to join their kitchen brigade in Anna Bay, NSW. Reporting to the Head Chef and senior kitchen leadership, successful candidates will play a key role in managing daily kitchen operations, executing fast-paced service shifts, maintaining consistent food presentation, and supervising station preparation. This role requires practical culinary craftsmanship, speed, attention to detail, and a collaborative team attitude in a dynamic beachfront hospitality environment.

These are permanent, full-time positions offering a competitive salary within the range of $75,000 to $85,000 AUD per annum, plus superannuation, benchmarked against market rates and commensurate with the candidate's skills, qualifications, and demonstrated operational capability.

SCOPE OF THE ROLE:

• Overseeing daily kitchen operations, including staff delegation, station readiness, stock rotation, and maintaining accurate kitchen records.
• Preparing and cooking a variety of dishes—including modern Australian breakfast and brunch items, fresh coastal seafood dishes, premium chargrilled mains, and tailored banquet menus for weddings and private events.
• Managing production schedules and section workflows to ensure timely and coordinated service delivery during high-volume breakfast, lunch, and event periods.
• Estimating food supply needs, calculating ingredient costs, and managing orders for fresh seafood, regional produce, meats, and dry goods to maintain uninterrupted trade without shortages.
• Inspecting incoming supplies, equipment, and work areas to ensure strict adherence to established quality, freshness, and cleanliness standards.
• Analysing recipes and advising on prices for menu items based on food, labour, and overhead costs aligned with business gross profit targets.
• Working closely with team members to execute established recipes and menus with consistency and precision, ensuring alignment with seasonal availability and anticipated customer volume.
• Demonstrating new cooking techniques and introducing modern kitchen equipment to staff for continual culinary improvement and operational efficiency.
• Overseeing workstation readiness by ensuring mise en place is complete, equipment is fully functional, and kitchen stations are primed for service efficiency and presentation benchmarks.
• Preparing and cooking dishes in strict compliance with food safety and health regulations, ensuring the highest quality, strict allergen management, and hygiene standards are maintained.
• Assisting in onboarding, training, and supervising new team members, providing practical guidance and fostering a collaborative, supportive work environment.
• Monitoring and enforcing sanitation practices to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations, including Work Health and Safety (WHS) and HACCP protocols.

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS ROLE, YOU SHOULD:

• Hold a minimum of 2 to 3 years of relevant professional work experience as a Chef or Cook in a fast-paced restaurant, coastal bistro, hotel, or high-volume event venue.
• Preferably hold a Certificate III and Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery (or equivalent recognized culinary qualification).
• Demonstrated expertise in managing high-volume service periods, line cooking, pan and grill stations, and fresh seafood preparation.
• Practical working knowledge of Work Health and Safety (WHS) regulations, food hygiene standards, and HACCP compliance.
• Strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills, with a proven ability to perform effectively within a team under high ticket volume.
• Full availability to work flexible schedules, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, public holidays, and split shifts as required by venue trade.
• Willingness to work on-site in Anna Bay, NSW, with the ability to commute reliably or relocate to the Port Stephens / Hunter region if currently based interstate or in another city.
• Must hold valid Australian work rights permitting full-time employment at the time of application.

WHAT'S ON OFFER:

• A competitive full-time salary package of $75,000–$85,000 AUD per annum, plus superannuation, negotiable based on qualifications and operational experience.
• The opportunity to work with an established, creative, and highly regarded hospitality operator at a beachfront venue in Port Stephens.
• A supportive, collaborative kitchen team environment with hands-on leadership and clear operational systems.
• Genuine opportunities for career growth, skill development, and progression within a high-profile hospitality destination.
• Enjoy an enviable coastal and beach lifestyle in Anna Bay and the greater Port Stephens region of regional New South Wales.

HOW TO JOIN THE TEAM

Please submit an online application to join our diverse, compassionate, and dedicated team for a rewarding career. 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.

Crest Trust ATF Crest Birubi Beach Pty Ltd 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.