Moreton Hospitality - The Straddie Hotel – Stradbroke VIC

Are you an experienced kitchen leader ready for your next challenge?

The Straddie Hotel is seeking a motivated, hands-on Head Chef to lead our kitchen team on beautiful North Stradbroke Island.

This is an exciting chance for an experienced hospitality professional who thrives in a high-volume pub and bistro environment, demonstrates strong leadership and organisational skills, and is passionate about developing a capable, motivated kitchen team.

Working alongside the Executive Chef, you will take responsibility for the day-to-day kitchen operations, maintaining high standards of food quality, consistency, service delivery and cost control.

If you are a confident leader who can manage a busy kitchen, inspire your team and deliver exceptional guest experiences, we'd love to hear from you.

About Us

Owned by Moreton Hospitality, The Straddie Hotel is an iconic Queensland landmark overlooking the crystal-clear waters of Cylinder Beach on North Stradbroke Island. Following a complete redevelopment, the hotel has relaunched across all areas, featuring a high-volume bistro, multiple bars, upper and lower decks, function spaces, accommodation rooms, gaming and multiple bottle shops.

The Role

Working alongside the Executive Chef and reporting to the General Manager, you will take full responsibility for the day-to-day management and performance of the Straddie Hotel kitchen.

This is a hands‑on leadership position requiring strong operational skills, sound financial management and the ability to confidently lead a high-volume kitchen.





You will be responsible for daily service delivery, kitchen staffing and rostering, purchasing, food cost and labour management, maintaining consistent food quality and ensuring compliance with food safety standards.

You will work collaboratively with the Executive Chef on menu development, seasonal changes, team training and the ongoing improvement of kitchen systems and operational standards.

Our busy bistro is the heart of the food operation, delivering quality pub favourites, fresh seafood and contemporary dishes to a high volume of guests. Weddings, private functions and special events are also an important part of the business and require confident planning and execution alongside regular service.

You will lead a diverse team of chefs, cooks and kitchen hands, with varying levels of experience and backgrounds. Recruitment, training and developing a capable, reliable team will be key responsibilities.

We are looking for a confident, organised and proactive leader who communicates clearly, develops their people and takes ownership of the daily operation while maintaining the standards expected of the Straddie Hotel.

Day to day, you can expect to:

- Lead and manage high-volume lunch and dinner services, ensuring consistent food quality,



presentation, efficiency and service times.
- Work collaboratively with the Executive Chef on menu development, seasonal changes, recipe specifications, costings and implementation, ensuring the team is trained to deliver consistently.
- Manage daily purchasing, supplier relationships, stock control, stocktakes, stock rotation, portion control and waste management.
- Take accountability for kitchen COGS and labour costs, monitoring performance against agreed budgets and implementing corrective action where required.
- Develop and manage kitchen rosters, ensuring appropriate staffing levels, section coverage and labour efficiency in response to bookings, seasonal demand and operational requirements.
- Oversee daily kitchen preparation, ensuring adequate stock levels, clear prep schedules and effective coordination between kitchen sections.
- Recruit, onboard, train and develop kitchen staff with support from the General Manager and HR, building a capable, accountable and motivated team.
- Plan, coordinate and deliver weddings, private functions and special events while maintaining the standards and efficiency of regular bistro service.
- Maintain high standards of food safety, allergen management, hygiene, workplace health and safety, and ensure all required documentation is completed.
- Work closely with front-of-house, management and the events team to ensure coordinated service, effective communication and a positive guest experience.

What we're looking for

- Proven experience successfully managing

📌 Head Chef (Wellington Shire)
🏢 Moreton Hospitality - The Straddie Hotel
📍 Wellington Shire