Cook Full Time NEW

Position: Cook

Position Type: Full-Time

Salary: $79,000 to $81,000 plus superannuation per annum

Location: St Arnaud VIC 3478

Our client Dancing Kelpie Splendid Bistro is a licensed bistro operated by Atop Property Services Pty Ltd, located in the heart of St Arnaud, a regional township in the Northern Grampians Shire of Victoria. The bistro serves the local community and visitors with a full à la carte menu across lunch and dinner services, offering modern Australian cuisine alongside classic bistro fare, and caters for functions and group bookings.

As a hospitality venue in regional Victoria, the business relies on skilled kitchen personnel to maintain consistent food quality, menu variety, and compliance with food safety standards. The Cook position is a core operational role within the kitchen brigade and is essential to the day-to-day running of the business.

The Cook is responsible for preparing, seasoning and cooking food across all sections of the menu, ensuring dishes are produced to a consistent standard of quality and presentation, and in accordance with food safety and hygiene regulations. The position requires the exercise of trade-level skill and judgement in food preparation, portion control, stock management and kitchen operations, consistent with the ANZSCO 351411 occupation of Cook.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Examining foodstuffs to ensure quality and freshness prior to preparation and cooking;
• Regulating temperatures of ovens, grills, fryers and other cooking equipment to achieve correct cooking outcomes;
• Preparing and cooking food across all menu sections, including entrées, mains, grills, fried items, sauces and desserts;
• Seasoning food during cooking and adjusting recipes to maintain flavour consistency;
• Portioning food, placing it on plates, and adding gravies, sauces and garnishes to presentation standard;
• Storing food in temperature-controlled facilities and monitoring stock rotation using FIFO principles;
• Preparing food to meet special dietary requirements, including allergen-aware, vegetarian and gluten-free requests;
• Planning menus and estimating food requirements in consultation with the business owner, and assisting with ordering of food supplies;
• Monitoring food and kitchen consumable stock levels and minimising wastage;
• Maintaining a clean and hygienic kitchen in accordance with the Food Standards Code and the business’s food safety program, including cleaning schedules and temperature records;
• Training and coordinating kitchen hands and junior kitchen staff in food preparation and hygiene practices; and
• Assisting with function and group catering preparation as required.

Requirements:

• Certificate III or Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery (or equivalent qualification), or in accordance with ANZSCO Skill Level 3, at least three years of relevant employment experience in lieu of a formal qualification;
• At least 12 months of relevant prior experience
• Demonstrated experience as a Cook in a commercial kitchen, preferably in an à la carte or bistro environment;
• Sound knowledge of food safety and hygiene requirements, including safe food handling, storage and allergen management;
• Ability to work efficiently across all kitchen sections during high-volume service periods;
• Ability to follow standard recipes while exercising judgement on seasoning, presentation and portioning;
• Good communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to direct kitchen hands during service; and
• Availability to work a rotating roster including evenings, weekends and public holidays, consistent with hospitality industry operations.

Working Conditions

The position is based on site at the Dancing Kelpie Splendid Bistro premises at 95–101 Napier Street, St Arnaud VIC 3478. The role involves work in a commercial kitchen environment, including standing for extended periods, working in hot conditions, and manual handling of stock and equipment. Hours are worked on a rotating roster across the bistro’s trading days, with penalty rates and entitlements applying in accordance with the Restaurant Industry Award 2020 and the National Employment Standards.