Head of Culinary

Add expected salary to your profile for insights Foodfolk Australia is a leading provider of catering services to the Perth Airport precinct, we’re all about generous servings of fresh, natural produce, prepared by folks who love to cook — not by machines. We believe that food is more than fuel; it’s packed with emotion, culture, discovery, and desire. The Head of Culinary provides strategic leadership across Foodfolk’s culinary function, shaping menu direction, driving operational excellence, and delivering innovative, profitable, and high‑quality culinary solutions across inflight and contract manufacturing operations. Responsibilities - Shape the culinary vision, set priorities, and lead menu development across inflight and contract operations. - Translate industry trends into innovative, profitable, and operationally efficient menu offerings. - Build, mentor, and inspire a high‑performing culinary leadership team. - Oversee workforce planning, capability development, and succession planning to ensure a strong culinary team. - Optimise culinary processes to reduce waste, improve yield, and maintain quality. - Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, and Finance to balance cost, margin, and commercial outcomes while maintaining client satisfaction. - Sponsor and manage major culinary projects and initiatives, ensuring alignment with organisational strategy, budgets, and timelines. - Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to enable smooth implementation and operational readiness. - Maintain the highest standards of food quality, safety, and regulatory compliance. Embed sustainable practices and continuous improvement initiatives across the culinary function. Key Selection Criteria - Bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts, Hospitality, or related field - Demonstrated senior leadership experience in culinary operations, ideally within inflight, high‑volume, or contract catering - Strong knowledge of food and beverage industry trends and best practices - Strong commercial acumen with proven experience balancing menu quality, operational efficiency, and profitability - Excellent verbal and written communication skills, ability to lead and motivate teams, and build relationships with guests, clients, and colleagues - Experience with budget management, and financial analysis, as well as knowledge of local regulations and laws on food safety, hygiene and sanitation - Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends and holidays Why work for Foodfolk Australia At Foodfolk, we are committed to creating a supportive work environment that encourages camaraderie and teamwork, allowing you to cultivate positive relationships across all levels and reach your full potential. Values We Live By - 🤝 Camaraderie: We’re all in this together Join a close‑knit and inclusive team that looks out for each other. - 😄 Optimism: We bring a positive frame of mind to every challenge and always aim to do one better. - 🔄 Responsive: In a fast‑moving industry, we bring flexibility and problem‑solving to the table to deliver at pace. - 🌐 Ethical: We’re committed to safety and quality in everything we do, from food to people, community, and the environment. Benefits - Close‑knit family working environment - Free onsite parking - Development opportunities and ongoing training opportunities – we invest in our people - Employee Assistance Program We’re dedicated to ensuring the highest level of Food Safety and Quality Assurance across all of our operations. Fully HACCP accredited and certified, our culture of constant improvement ensures that food safety is at the forefront of everything we do. Our sophisticated Food Safety Management Plan is ingrained in our shop floor processes and procedures. Our quality team, headed by our dedicated food technologist with over 30 years industry experience, oversees our system which is constantly evolving to meet new process innovation and customer demands. We undertake a rigorous microbiological product and environmental testing regime and regularly report back to our customers on our testing results. So, come join the Foodfolk Family We strongly encourage those from First Nations, Torres Strait islands, and all cultures and identities to apply and join our family. Application Questionnaire - Which of the following statements best describes your right to work in Australia? - What are your Salary Expectations? - Do you have a notice period? - Are you able to pass a Pre‑employment medical? #J-18808-Ljbffr