Lead Culinary Excellence at Sunshine Coast Airport! 

At LagardèreAWPL, we’re not just the largest Travel Retail operator in the Pacific – we’re the most passionate! With 150+ stores across Australia, & New Zealand, we bring big brands to life in airports and travel hubs. Our dynamic team of 1,500+ professionals work across 40 unique retail concepts – and now, we want YOU to join our team!

The Role:

Following our successful tender win at Sunshine Coast Airport we are embarking on the delivery of six large scale Food & Beverage venues that will be progressively developed over the next 12 months. As a result, we are building a brand-new Food & Beverage team to support what will become our largest F&B footprint to date.

Over the next 12 months we will be bringing to life a diverse portfolio of food and beverage concepts, including:

• An all-day Bar & Dining destination showcasing an extensive range of locally sourced produce.
• An Asian QSR concept featuring in house made dumplings and fresh sushi.
• An Elevated Burger QSR complemented by an innovative self-serve pay by weight dessert bar.
• A Premium Salad & Health Bar focused on fresh ingredients and 100% product traceability.
• Multiple Coffee and Café concepts offering quality coffee alongside a curated range of grab and go items

As Head Chef, you will lead all kitchen operations, ensuring exceptional food quality, consistency, and team performance across multiple outlets

What You’ll Do:
✅ Oversee cafés, restaurants, and production kitchens delivering retail food concepts. 
✅ Drive food quality and presentation standards aligned with our airport dining vision. 
✅ Manage ordering, purchasing, stock control, and supplier relationships. 
✅ Design and cost menus in collaboration with the Executive Chef, optimising margins and sales performance. 
✅ Lead, recruit, train, and develop a culinary team of approximately 10–15 team members.
✅ Implement shrink and waste control strategies to protect profitability. 
✅ Ensure compliance with Food Safety, WHS, RSA, and airport security requirements. 
✅ Partner closely with the Food & Beverage Manager and broader operational teams to meet financial and service targets. 

What We’re Looking For:
✅ Proven experience as a Head Chef or senior culinary leader in a high-volume environment. 
✅ Strong leadership capability with a passion for developing and mentoring teams. 
✅ Commercially astute, with experience in menu costing, labour planning, and financial performance management. 
✅ Highly organised with exceptional attention to detail in fast-paced environments. 
✅ Experience in multi-outlet or airport operations is highly desirable. 
✅ Valid ASIC (or ability to obtain), along with Food Safety and relevant certifications. 

Perks & Benefits:

🚗 Parking – Based on location we offer free/subsidised airport parking for our employees
✈️ Dynamic Airport Environment – Work where no two days are the same
🛍️ Staff Discounts – Get exclusive discounts on products in our stores + extra savings on water & hot beverages
🚀 Career Development – We offer opportunities to upskill, take on new challenges and grow your career within our vibrant network
👨‍👩‍👧 Paid Parental Leave – We proudly support growing families with up to 18 weeks of employer-funded top-up paid parental leave scheme + additional personal leave entitlements
🎁 Employee Referral Program – Refer your awesome network for a chance to receive a reward + go into the running to win an end-of-year bonus
💆‍♀️ Wellbeing Leave – From day one our permanent employees receive a paid Wellbeing Leave day
🤝 Employee Assistance Program - Everyone has FREE access to TELUS Health – a 24/7 service offering compassionate, confidential support whenever you need it

We Value Diversity & Inclusion

At LagardèreAWPL, we value diversity, inclusivity, and a collaborative work environment, where you will have the opportunity to work alongside a talented team of people who share your passion for creativity and excellence. 

Join us at LagardèreAWPL and be part of a global company that celebrates creativity, innovation, and a commitment to sustainable practices.

📢 APPLY NOW and let’s make travel retail magic together!