Executive Chef- Crowne Plaza Geelong

Executive Chef- Crowne Plaza Geelong (Pre-Opening)

Hotel Brand: Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts

Location: Australia, Victoria, Geelong

Hotel: Geelong (GEXCR), 68-94 Western Beach Road, 3220

Job number: 149063

Be part of a landmark hotel opening in one of Victoria's most exciting waterfront destinations

In partnership with Plenary Group, IHG Hotels & Resorts (IHG) is bringing its world-class Crowne Plaza brand to the Victorian regional city of Geelong. Scheduled to open in early 2026, Crowne Plaza Geelong will redefine premium accommodation, offering a sophisticated stay for both leisure and corporate travellers. It will form part of the highly anticipated Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre precinct, a transformative development featuring a 1,000-seat convention centre, exhibition spaces, and a vibrant retail and hospitality hub. Located in the heart of the emerging precinct, this 200-room hotel will feature spacious suites, an extensive restaurant and bar offering, pool, gym, and meeting facilities.

The moment a guest steps into one of our hotels, they walk into a genuinely memorable experience. To create this, we're looking for an Executive Chef to join our pre-opening team. As Executive Chef you'll establish and direct all kitchen activities in the lead up to hotel opening (and beyond), ensuring the department operates smoothly and helping create memorable experiences for guests - whenever and wherever they dine. The Hotel will consist of three Food & Beverage outlets including: 120-seat all day dining restaurant & 50-seat hotel bar, 24-seat lobby café and a 90-seat rooftop bar.

A little taste of your day-to-day

Every day is different, but as part of the pre-opening team, you will play a key role in:

• Developing menus that align with the hotel's concept, target audience, and culinary vision, creating diverse menus for various outlets such as restaurants, bars, room service, and banquet facilities.
• Overseeing the setup and organisation of the kitchen facilities, including designing the layout, selecting equipment, sourcing ingredients, and ensuring that all necessary permits and certifications are in place.
• Hiring and training of kitchen team including sous chefs, line cooks and stewards.
• Conduct menu testing and tasting sessions to fine-tune recipes, adjust portion sizes, and ensure consistency in flavor and presentation.
• Identifying and establishing relationships with suppliers, negotiating contracts, and ensuring that deliveries are in line with quality standards and budgetary constraints.
• Procuring all necessary equipment, ensuring equipment is properly installed and in working order before opening.
• Maintain rigorous quality control standards to ensure that all dishes meet the hotel's culinary standards and guest expectations, conducting regular inspections, monitoring food safety protocols, and addressing any issues that may arise.
• Work with the management team to establish pricing strategies for food and beverage items that are competitive yet profitable.
• Collaborate closely with other departments, such as food & beverage, events, and front office, to ensure seamless operations, communicating Kitchen needs and requirements effectively to other teams.
• Manage day-to-day staffing needs, plan and assign work and establish performance and development goals for team members. Provide mentoring, coaching and regular feedback.
• Help prepare annual departmental operating budget and financial plans.
• Foster positive stakeholder relationships if applicable and assist in providing ongoing information and status reports.

What we need from you

• Relevant degree or diploma in culinary arts.
• 5 years' experience as a chef with at least one year in a Head or Executive Chef capacity.
• A demonstrated capability of collaborating with multiple stakeholders and managing competing priorities across multiple and diverse outlets.
• Strong communication skills and passionate about developing your team.
• Strategic thinking, the ability to explore new ways of working and have an open mind around how we can drive the Hotel forward.
• Must be fluent in English and other languages preferred.
• Full working rights in Australia without restrictions.

What you can expect from us

We give our people everything they need to succeed. From a competitive salary that rewards all your hard work to a wide range of benefits designed to help you live your best work life – including a impressive room discounts and some of the best training in the business.

Our mission is to welcome everyone and create inclusive teams where we celebrate difference and encourage colleagues to bring their whole selves to work. IHG Hotels & Resorts provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability. We promote a culture of trust, support, and acceptance. Always welcoming different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.