Introduction
We are seeking an experienced and passionate Catering Manager to lead our catering operations and deliver exceptional dining experiences across our Residential Aged Care and Retirement Village community.
This is an exciting opportunity for a hands-on hospitality leader who is equally comfortable leading a team, managing operations, driving continuous improvement, and ensuring residents receive nutritious, high-quality meals every day.
Why BallyCara?
When you join BallyCara, you’re joining more than a workplace—you’re becoming part of a values-led community built on relationships, respect, and purpose. We support you to do meaningful work while growing in a way that suits you.
BallyCara is an established charitable organisation that offers a wellness-focused lifestyle for our Residents to facilitate independent living, health, and happiness.
At BallyCara, you will belong to a welcoming and inclusive community where your individual strengths and interests are embraced and are the key driver to everything that we create together.
We inspire healthy and happy living through our SONA® (Happiness) values and enhance our employee's wellness through the following employee benefits:
- Emotional Wellness: Enhance your happiness. Enjoy a wellness day off each year to take on your birthday, for your family, or just for you because you are worth it.
- Physical Wellness: Improve your health and wellbeing with a fitness allowance for remedial massage, outdoor wellness gear, yoga, pilates, swimming, or gym plus access to an online fitness portal LIFT Fitness!
- Professional Wellness: Enhance your career with two days of paid study leave combined with yearly study assistance!
- Financial Wellness: Access not-for-profit salary packaging up to $18,550, receive 17.5% annual leave loading, and up to $1,892 per annum in financial discounts from our TELUS Health EAP and wellbeing portal!
Description
About the Role
Reporting to the Residential Services Manager, you will oversee all aspects of catering operations across our Residential and Village communities.
As a member of the Senior Staff team, you will be responsible for:
- Leading, mentoring and developing the catering team
- Rostering for the catering team
- Planning and developing nutritious and meaningful meals and menu by working alongside Residents and Dietician
- Managing kitchen operations and food service delivery
- Ensuring compliance with food safety, nutrition and quality standards
- Managing budgets, procurement and supplier relationships
- Driving resident satisfaction and service excellence
- Coordinating catering services for special events and functions
- Identifying and implementing continuous improvement opportunities
This position is primarily Monday to Friday during business hours. Flexibility is required to support occasional evening village functions (typically once per month).
Skills And Experiences
About You
You are an experienced hospitality professional who understands the important role food plays in health, wellbeing, and community.
To be successful in this role, you will bring:
- Relevant qualifications in Hospitality, Commercial Cookery, or a related discipline
- Demonstrated leadership experience, including coaching and developing teams
- Experience managing catering, hospitality, or food service operations
- Previous experience within aged care, retirement living, healthcare, or a similar environment
- Strong understanding of aged care nutrition requirements and dietary needs
- Experience managing budgets, stock control, procurement and supplier relationships
- Sound knowledge of food safety, hygiene, and compliance requirements
- Passion and enthusiasm in providing an exceptional catering service to older Australians
- Energy and excitement to motivate and drive the team
- Excellent organisational and time management skills
- A resident-focused approach with a commitment to exceptional service
- Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt in a dynamic environment
What Success Looks Like
You will create a catering service that residents genuinely enjoy, while building an engaged and high-performing team. You will ensure every meal is nutritious, appetising, compliant, and delivered with care.
Most importantly, you will contribute to BallyCara's purpose of inspiring healthy and happy living through meaningful dining experiences and exceptional hospitality.
Ready to Apply?
If you are a passionate hospitality leader looking for an opportunity to make a meaningful difference while leading a dedicated team, we would love to hear from you.
Apply now and join an organisation where relationships matter, people come first, and every day presents an opportunity to positively impact the lives of older Australians.
BallyCara is an Equal Opportunity Employer and welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.
Please note:
Applications must be submitted via our recruitment portal. Applications received through external agencies or alternative channels will not be accepted.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We sincerely thank you for your interest in working with BallyCara and for taking the time to apply.