Executive Chef

Crystalbrook Riley is a resort with a sophisticated yet playful spirit. Nestled at the northern end of the iconic Cairns Esplanade, Crystalbrook Riley offers vibrant, social spaces and a commitment to innovation—around the clock. Home to three distinctive restaurants and bars, including Rocco, Cairns’ highest rooftop bar, Riley is a destination where energy and creativity converge.

Dining at with us is a celebration of global flavors, showcasing the finest local produce from our stunning region. Indulge in the Middle Eastern-inspired share-style dishes at Rocco, explore the dynamic flavors of Asia at Paper Crane, or unwind at the lively Calypso Club, a rum and seafood bar perfect for sipping a pina colada by the coast.

The Role:

As the culinary leader at Crystalbrook Riley, you will report to the Hotel Manager and take charge of the day-to-day operations and strategic direction of the Kitchen and related areas. You will naturally ensure that our food is not just a meal but an unforgettable experience, becoming a key attraction for our guests. Leading, inspiring and developing a talented Kitchen Brigade will be central to your role, driving engagement, performance and delivering strong financial results.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Elevating guest satisfaction across restaurants, bars and event spaces by serving up exceptional food to delights and surprise
• Creating a culture of innovation and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the kitchen
• Designing seasonal menus, unique promotional dishes and special event packages that get guests talking
• Providing hands-on leadership across all service areas and shifts, ensuring smooth operations and flawless delivery
• Collaborating closely with the F&B Service team to create seamless guest experiences
• Driving a high standard of departmental training to keep your team sharp and our food quality top-notch
• Communicating and coordinating effectively with all hotel departments to keep things running like clockwork
• Supervising and nurturing your Kitchen Brigade, from rookies to seasoned pros
• Championing health and safety standards to keep your team and kitchen in tip-top shape
• Managing budgets with precision, using your analytical skills to forecast and control costs
• Overseeing the entire food journey: procurement, preparation, presentation – all while maintaining the highest standards
• Building a vibrant, engaged team and a reputation for excellence that attracts the very best culinary talent.

About you:

Your superpowers include:

• A sharp financial mind, with the ability to manage cost controls, analysis, and reporting with ease
• Proven experience leading high-volume, high-quality restaurant operations across multiple outlets
• A genuine passion for nurturing and developing your Kitchen team's skills and knowledge
• A track record of inspiring, mentoring, and developing teams to their full potential
• Trade qualification and technical cooking skills that would make even the toughest MasterChef judge take notice
• A cool head under pressure, able to navigate any challenge with ease and grace
• Experience in a Regional location preferred

More about our venues:

Perched 42 metres above sea level, Rocco offers share style food inspired by the Mediterranean with a stellar cocktail and Champagne menu. Earthy tones and Middle Eastern prints set the scene for warm ambience and renowned Moroccan-inspired cuisine, as you get lost in the oasis of greenery and sweeping views. 

The tastes of Asia with a playful spin, Paper Crane offers a modern Southeast Asian fusion experience like no other. Making the most of tropical North Queensland’s fresh produce, our menu highlights Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Thai, and Vietnamese inspired dishes that feature signature proteins and abundant fresh options from the region. Our sweet, spicy and sometimes unexpected zing transports you to the bustling streets of Asia like no other. 

Inspired by bygone holidays lazing by the coast and sipping piña coladas, Calypso Club is a vibrant rum bar and seafood kitchen with a spirit that is equal parts playful and bright as it is elegant and charming. Our sustainability-focused food menu, inspired by European seaside tavernas and American crab shacks, showcases fresh local seafood delights. 

If you’re ready to take on this exciting leadership role and make a real impact, we’d love to hear from you!

The Benefits include:

You will work with exceptional people in a supportive, diverse and passionate environment and this is a vital position within our leadership team at Crystalbrook Collection. You will enjoy a flexible range of benefits that include: 

• A market leading 50% F&B discount across all Venues 
• $99 Room rates and a generous friends and family discount 
• Lifestyle benefits including extra leave and earth advocacy days
• Green future - we are committed to enhanced sustainability practices 
• Dedicated Internal Mobility Programme and reward scheme
• Online learning, career enhancement and development plans 
• Personalised employee support network
• Regular service recognition and team events  

Crystalbrook Collection is an award-winning hotel development and management company, proudly showcasing Australia's newest portfolio of distinctive upscale hotels, restaurants and bars where differences are applauded. In just six years, we own and manage luxury hotel assets worth over AU$1 billion across NSW and QLD. Our growth trajectory continues with exciting plans for new hotels in Adelaide and Canberra, along with ambitions for further expansion both in Australia and Internationally. 

Our environment is dynamic and entrepreneurial, we are focused on crafting exceptional customer experiences that reflect the individuality of people within each of our locations.    We are passionate advocates for equality and diversity and welcome individuals to apply through the link provided - we look forward to hearing from you!