Sous Chef

Our company

Travellers is a proud Australian, family-owned company, driven by a mission to create best-in-class ‘home away from home’ accommodation for our guests.

H2O Restaurant & Bar sits within Burnett Riverside Hotel, 7 Quay Street, Bundaberg, QLD — a landmark riverside hotel on the banks of the Burnett River.

About the role

Are you passionate about real food, genuine cooking and developing the next generation of chefs?

We are looking for a skilled and passionate Sous Chef to work closely with our Head Chef and Food and Beverage Services Manager, Chef Matthew Wrench.

At H2O Restaurant & Bar, we believe in cooking from scratch with love, care and respect for the ingredients. This is not a kitchen built around opening packets or reheating pre-made products. Our menus feature house-made elements and concept-driven recipes that require a genuine understanding of food, flavour, technique and presentation.

This position would suit an experienced chef who takes pride in their craft and wants to play an important role in the continued development of our kitchen, menus and team.

Key responsibilities

As Sous Chef, you will work directly under the Head Chef and assist with:

• Maintaining consistent food quality, presentation and portion control
• Preparing and delivering food made genuinely from scratch
• Understanding and executing concept-driven recipes
• Supporting the development of new dishes and menu ideas
• Supervising kitchen operations and maintaining an organised service
• Upholding high standards of cleanliness, food safety and workplace safety
• Supporting stock control, ordering, preparation and waste management
• Leading by example during preparation and service
• Training, guiding and encouraging less-experienced kitchen staff
• Helping create a calm, respectful and productive kitchen environment

What we are looking for

The successful applicant must:

• Hold a nationally recognised commercial cookery qualification
• Hold a current Food Safety Supervisor certificate
• Have strong practical knowledge of food, flavour and cooking techniques
• Share our passion for preparing genuine food from scratch
• Be able to understand the purpose and technique behind a recipe, not simply follow instructions
• Remain calm, patient and professional under pressure
• Communicate respectfully and work closely with the Head Chef and wider team
• Have the patience and ability to teach, mentor and shape less-experienced staff
• Be reliable, organised and consistent
• Take genuine pride in the food leaving the kitchen

What we offer

• The opportunity to work closely with an experienced Head Chef
• A kitchen focused on real cooking, creativity and quality ingredients
• The chance to contribute to menu development and concept-driven dishes
• A leadership position with genuine input into kitchen standards and team development
• The opportunity to mentor young and developing chefs
• A supportive environment where knowledge, patience and passion are valued
• A beautiful riverside workplace overlooking the Burnett River

We are not simply looking for someone who can run a service. We are looking for a chef who loves the craft, understands food and wants to help build a skilled, confident and passionate kitchen team.

If you believe great food begins with care, knowledge and genuine preparation, we would love to hear from you.

Our team lives the Travellers Group Core Values — Guest Obsessed, Empowering Our People, Innovation, Pride, Data-Driven Decisions, Hungry and Humble, Authenticity and Integrity.

To apply, send your résumé and a brief cover letter outlining your experience, cooking philosophy and why you would be a strong fit for our team to restaurant@burnettriverside.com.au.

Chef Matthew Wrench — Head Chef & Food and Beverage Services Manager, H2O Restaurant & Bar | Burnett Riverside Hotel