Cafe Cook

About The Bridge

The Bridge Incorporated is a community-based not-for-profit supporting people with disability and other disadvantaged backgrounds across Melbourne’s south-east and northern suburbs. Through supported employment, we create inclusive workplaces where people can develop skills, build confidence and participate meaningfully in employment.

About the Role

This is a unique opportunity to combine your hospitality expertise with meaningful people leadership.

Based in our café operation, you’ll take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the kitchen, including food preparation, quality, safety and service delivery. At the same time, you’ll provide on-the-job training, guidance and support to employees with disability working within the café.

Working closely with the Team Leader, you’ll delegate kitchen tasks, build employee capability and support individuals to achieve their workplace goals while contributing to a positive and productive café environment.

This is a hands-on role where you’ll spend your time in the kitchen leading by example, working alongside employees and ensuring quality outcomes for both customers and staff.

Duties

• Coordinate daily kitchen operations and food preparation
• Prepare and deliver quality meals and café products
• Maintain food safety, hygiene and compliance standards
• Delegate tasks and support workflow across the kitchen team
• Provide practical, on-the-job training and coaching
• Support employees with disability to develop workplace skills and confidence
• Contribute to employee goal setting, progress reviews and skill development
• Participate in Supported Wage System assessments and employment planning processes
• Monitor quality, productivity and workplace safety
• Work collaboratively with the Team Leader to achieve operational outcomes

Skills & Experience

• Commercial cooking experience in a café, hospitality or food service environment
• Relevant Cookery qualification or equivalent industry experience
• Experience leading, training or mentoring others in a workplace setting
• Strong understanding of food safety and kitchen compliance requirements
• Excellent communication skills and a patient, supportive approach
• Experience in disability, supported employment or community services is highly regarded but not essential
• Ability to balance operational demands with employee development and support

Culture

People enjoy working at The Bridge because the work is practical, inclusive and purpose led. Every day you’ll see the impact of helping people develop skills, confidence and independence through real employment opportunities.

Benefits

• Up to $18,500 not-for-profit salary packaging
• Extra day of leave during your birthday month
• Sonder EAP, including counselling, nutrition, medical and financial support
• Comprehensive induction and training
• Ongoing professional development opportunities
• Supportive leadership and collaborative team culture
• Opportunity to make a genuine difference through meaningful employment