About Us

At Collegians, we take pride in our 60-year history as a pillar of the greater Wollongong community. Across our four venues – Collegians Wollongong, Figtree, Balgownie, and Illawarra Leagues – we remain committed to delivering memorable dining experiences and exceptional service to every guest, every day. 

As we continue to grow our food & beverage operations, we are seeking an accomplished culinary leader to join our team and drive excellence across all catering and kitchen functions

The Opportunity

As Executive Chef / Catering Director you will be responsible for the strategic direction, operational management and financial performance of all kitchen and catering activities at Collegians RLFC. Key accountabilities include:

• Leading the full culinary function: menu creation, food quality, presentation, service standards

• Managing food cost, labour cost, kitchen budget, and profitability

• Developing and mentoring a high-performance kitchen & catering team

• Ensuring compliance with food safety, hygiene, workplace health & safety, and licensing requirements

• Collaborating with leadership (club management, event sales, marketing) to maximise revenue opportunities and cross-sell catering services

• Sourcing premium local produce, building supplier partnerships, and maintaining inventory systems

• Innovating menu concepts that reflect our club’s brand, guest expectations, and seasonal trends

Key Requirements

• Demonstrated experience as an Executive Chef or senior culinary/catering director in high-volume hospitality, events, or club environment (Sydney/Wollongong region preferred)

• Exceptional leadership and team-building skills — able to manage, train and motivate kitchen staff, catering teams and service partners

• Strong financial acumen — experience managing food cost %, labour, budgeting and achieving profit targets

• Proven skills in menu development, banquet/events catering, and large-scale service operations

• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills

• Up-to-date knowledge of food safety, hygiene, health & safety legislation, and best-practice kitchen operations

What We Offer

• A highly visible leadership role

• Scope to shape and grow the club’s catering business, events portfolio, and member experience

• Competitive salary and benefits package

• Supportive, community-focused workplace culture with opportunities for innovation and personal growth

How to Apply

Please submit your resume plus a cover letter outlining your relevant experience, leadership style, and vision for elevating the catering and hospitality offering at Collegians RLFC.

Collegians RLFC is an equal-opportunity employer and values diversity within the team.