Cook

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Cook to join our team at Ollie in the Alley, a quality-focused Melbourne CBD café offering coffee and food for breakfast and lunch.

Our café is located in a quiet alley of Melbourne, known for its cozy atmosphere, friendly staffs and quality coffee, breakfast and lunch service.  

The successful candidate will work in our kitchen team to support day-to-day food preparation and service, maintain food quality and consistency, and help ensure smooth and efficient kitchen operations.

This is a full-time, permanent role suited to someone who is passionate about preparing high-quality café-style food and is committed to maintaining strong food safety and hygiene standards.

Desired Skills:

• Strong cooking and food preparation skills
• Good knowledge of food safety, hygiene, and stock rotation
• Good time management and organisational skills
• Ability to work well in a team
• Ability to maintain consistent food quality and presentation
• Attention to detail in portioning, plating, and storage
• Good communication skills
• Positive attitude and willingness to support kitchen operations

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Check food ingredients for freshness, quality, and suitability
• Prepare, season, and cook main, lunch and seasonal food menu in line with recipes and business standards
• Regulate ovens, grills, and other cooking equipment to ensure proper preparation
• Carry out daily mise en place and prepare ingredients before service
• Portion, plate, and garnish food as required
• Store food correctly in temperature-controlled facilities
• Prepare food to meet special dietary requirements where required
• Monitor food quality, presentation, portion consistency, and service timing
• Assist with stock control, stock rotation, and ordering requirements
• Minimise food waste through proper portioning and storage
• Maintain cleanliness of the kitchen, equipment, and work areas
• Follow food safety, hygiene, and workplace health and safety procedures
• Assist with seasonal specials and menu updates where required
• Assist in training junior kitchen staff where needed

What you’ll require:

• Minimum of 1 year of relevant work experience in a similar Cook position in a busy café, restaurant, or hospitality venue
• AQF Certificate III in Commercial Cookery or related field together with at least two years on-the-job training, OR 

  AQF Certificate IV in a Commercial Cookery, Kitchen Management or a related field, OR 

  at least 3 years of relevant full-time work experience in lieu of formal qualifications

• Sound knowledge of food preparation, cooking techniques, and kitchen operations
• Understanding of food safety, sanitation, and hygiene requirements
• Ability to work across weekdays, weekends, and public holidays as required
• Reliable, punctual, and able to work collaboratively within a team
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality control

What we provide:

• Excellent pay for the right candidate
• Supportive team environment
• Ongoing exposure to quality-focused kitchen operations and service standards

We would love to hear from you if you take pride in your work, enjoy being challenged, and are passionate about delivering quality food in a busy Cafe environment.

Contract Type: Full-time, permanent

Salary: $75,000 to $80,000 per annum + superannuation