Executive Chef – Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge

Managed by 1834 Hotels
Cradle Mountain, Tasmania
Full Time, Competitive Salary Package + Super
Live-On-Site Accommodation + Meals Included
Sponsorship Considered for the Right Candidate

Create exceptional food in one of Australia’s most extraordinary locations

Imagine leading a kitchen surrounded by ancient rainforest, alpine wilderness and some of the finest produce in Australia.

Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge is looking for an exceptional Executive Chef to lead the culinary direction of one of Tasmania’s most iconic wilderness destinations.

Located at the gateway to the World Heritage-listed Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, the Lodge is a destination in its own right – a place where guests come to escape, explore and experience the very best of Tasmania.

Food is central to that experience.

From refined, produce-led dining at Highland Restaurant, to fireside meals at Tavern Bar & Bistro, breakfast, weddings, conferences, private functions and seasonal experiences, this is a diverse culinary operation with enormous opportunity for the right chef to make their mark.

Proudly managed by 1834 Hotels and operating under the Peppers by Accor brand, we’re looking for a culinary leader who wants more than their next job.

We’re looking for someone who wants to create something special – and who still loves being in the kitchen doing what they do best.

The Opportunity

As Executive Chef, you will have the prospect to shape the culinary identity of Peppers Cradle Mountain Lodge and lead a talented kitchen brigade across a genuinely diverse resort operation.

This is a hands-on leadership role.

We’re looking for an Executive Chef who leads from the front – someone who is visible in the kitchen, works alongside their brigade and is actively involved during service.

You’ll set the standards, develop the menus and manage the commercial performance of the kitchen, but you’ll also be there when it matters: on the pass, supporting your team through busy services, maintaining quality and consistency and demonstrating the standards you expect from those around you.

The Lodge’s food and beverage offering includes:

- Highland Restaurant – our signature dining experience, celebrating premium Tasmanian ingredients, provenance and seasonality.

- Tavern Bar & Bistro – relaxed, fireside dining in a warm and distinctly Cradle Mountain setting.

- Breakfast service, welcoming both Lodge guests and visitors to the region.

- Weddings and celebrations in one of Tasmania’s most spectacular destinations.

- Conferences, meetings and corporate retreats, with tailored menus and dining experiences.

- Private dinners, functions and special events.

- Seasonal promotions and destination-led culinary experiences.

This is a role with genuine scope.

You’ll have the freedom to bring ideas to the table, build relationships with outstanding Tasmanian producers, develop your team and continue evolving the Lodge’s food offering.

Just as importantly, you’ll be part of the senior leadership team of a unique destination property where food and beverage plays a major role in the overall guest experience.

What You’ll Bring to the Lodge

You’ll take ownership of the entire culinary operation, balancing creativity,



people leadership and commercial performance with a genuine willingness to roll up your sleeves and get involved.

You will:

- Set the culinary vision and direction across all food operations.

- Lead from the front during service, working alongside your brigade and setting the standard in the kitchen.

- Maintain a strong presence across the kitchen, particularly during key and high-volume service periods.

- Create seasonal, produce-driven menus that showcase the best of Tasmania.

- Lead, inspire and develop a high-performing kitchen brigade.

- Build a strong kitchen culture based on pride, consistency, teamwork and genuine hospitality.

- Deliver exceptional food across restaurant, bistro, breakfast, event and function operations.

- Develop relationships with local growers, farmers, fishermen, makers and suppliers.

- Take ownership of food cost, purchasing, stock management, wastage and profitability.

- Manage labour effectively through smart rostering, workforce planning and productivity management.

- Work closely with Food & Beverage and the wider hotel leadership team to create memorable guest experiences.

- Lead culinary planning and execution for weddings, conferences, private dinners and special events.

- Maintain outstanding food safety, hygiene, WHS and HACCP standards.

- Recruit, mentor and develop culinary talent, creating opportunities for people to build their careers.

- Drive continuous improvement across kitchen systems, equipment, processes and standards.

- Bring new ideas to the Lodge – from menus and events to signature experiences that guests will remember long after they leave Cradle Mountain.

About You

You may already be an accomplished Executive Chef, or an experienced Executive Sous Chef ready to take ownership of a significant multi-outlet operation.

More importantly, you’ll be someone who genuinely loves the craft of hospitality and gets excited about the opportunity to lead a kitchen in a destination like Cradle Mountain.

You’re a leader, but you’re also a chef.

You enjoy being on the floor of your kitchen, working with your team and being part of service. You lead by example rather than from an office, and you understand that the best kitchen cultures are built when the Executive Chef is visible, engaged and willing to jump in when the team needs them.

You’ll bring:

- Strong experience within quality hotels, resorts, restaurants or multi-outlet hospitality operations.

- A genuine passion for great produce and ingredient-led cooking.

- A hands-on leadership style and a willingness to lead from the front during service.

- Proven ability to lead, mentor and retain kitchen teams.

- Strong commercial understanding across food cost, labour, purchasing, menu engineering and kitchen profitability.

- Experience managing different styles of service, from premium dining through to high-volume breakfast, casual dining and events.

- Creativity and the confidence to develop your own ideas.

- Strong organisational skills and the ability to perform in a busy,



seasonal environment.

- A collaborative leadership style and the ability to work closely with the broader hotel team.

- High standards of food safety, workplace safety and kitchen compliance.

Most importantly, you’ll bring energy, leadership and ambition – and a desire to make the food experience at Cradle Mountain something genuinely memorable.

Live and Work at Cradle Mountain

This isn’t a city hotel job.

And that’s exactly the point.

You’ll be living and working at the doorstep of one of the world’s most spectacular wilderness areas, with walking trails, mountains, lakes and Tasmania’s incredible natural environment quite literally outside your door.

To make the move easier, the package includes:

- Live-on-site accommodation.

- Meals provided.

- A competitive Executive Chef salary package + super.

- Sponsorship considered for the right candidate.

- The opportunity to lead the culinary program at one of Tasmania’s most recognised destination lodges.

- Genuine creative input into menus, concepts and culinary experiences.

- Access to some of Australia’s finest produce and an incredible network of Tasmanian suppliers.

- Career development and progression opportunities across the 1834 Hotels portfolio.

- Access to benefits through the Accor network.

- A supportive senior leadership team that wants the Executive Chef to have a real voice in the direction of the property.

For the right chef, this is an opportunity to step away from the ordinary hotel kitchen environment and take on a role that combines career, lifestyle, creativity and destination hospitality.

Accor Benefits

As part of the Peppers by Accor network, you’ll also have access to a range of Accor benefits, including:

ALL Heartist Membership – Enjoy team member discounts on accommodation and food & beverage across the Accor network.

Family & Friends Discounts – Access accommodation and other offers for family and friends.

Learning & Development – Build your career with access to Accor’s extensive learning and development resources.

Global Network – Connect with hospitality professionals and career opportunities throughout Accor’s international network.

Worldwide Opportunities – Take your career further through one of the world’s leading hotel groups.

About 1834 Hotels

1834 Hotels is one of Australasia’s leading independent hotel management companies, managing a growing and diverse portfolio of hotels, resorts and apartment properties across Australia and New Zealand.

We believe great hotels are built by great people.

We’re focused on creating environments where talented hospitality professionals are trusted to lead, encouraged to bring ideas forward and given genuine opportunities to grow their careers.

Ready for Something Different?

If you’re an accomplished chef who still loves the energy of service, enjoys leading from the front and wants the opportunity to put your stamp on the culinary experience of one of Tasmania’s most iconic wilderness destinations, we’d love to hear from you.

Whether you’re currently in Tasmania, elsewhere in Australia or overseas and looking for your next opportunity, we encourage you to get in touch.

Applications and confidential enquiries:

Jake Archer, Director of Operations, 1834 Hotels - ••••@1834hotels.com.au

📌 Executive Chef (Cradle Mountain)
🏢 Cradle Mountain Lodge
📍 Cradle Mountain