About us
Zig Zag Railway (ZZR) is a much-loved heritage tourist railway located near the town of Lithgow in NSW, around 90 minutes from western Sydney. After a number of years in hibernation, we successfully reopened to the public in 2023. We couldn't be happier to be welcoming visitors back on board and we now have plans in place for significant growth over the next couple of years.
ZZR is a not-for-profit co‑operative governed by a Board of Directors and supported by a small team of managers and team leaders. Many of our workforce are dedicated volunteers who donate their time and skills to maintain and operate the railway. It's a genuinely friendly, community‑minded environment with a strong focus on safety and a great visitor experience.
About the opportunity
We're looking for an experienced Café Team Leader to oversee the day‑to‑day operation of our on‑site café and help us deliver a memorable experience for our visitors.
Initially, this role will be part-time, working 4 days per week (Thursday to Sunday) every second week, with the intention that it will transition to a full-time position from around April 2026 as services and visitor numbers continue to grow. Specific hours and roster details will be discussed with shortlisted candidates.
We're hoping the successful candidate will be available to commence in January 2026.
Once on board, you'll take responsibility for:
* Leading and supervising a small café team
* Providing hands‑on customer service, including barista duties and food preparation
* Managing stock and inventory, including ordering and cost control
* Ensuring the café is clean, safe and compliant with food safety and hygiene requirements
* Handling customer enquiries and feedback in a friendly, professional manner
* Helping to coordinate café‑related promotions and supporting ZZR events as required
This is a very "hands-on" role – you'll be on the floor, serving customers and leading by example.
About you
We're keen to hear from you if you can bring:
* Previous experience in a supervisory or team leader role within hospitality/café environments
* Strong barista skills and confidence operating café machinery
* A genuine commitment to great customer service and creating a welcoming atmosphere
* Good organisational and time management skills, with the ability to juggle competing priorities
* Solid understanding of food safety and hygiene practices
* The ability to work on your feet, undertake light lifting and meet the physical requirements of a busy café
* Flexibility to initially work Thursdays through Sundays on a roster, including weekends, public holidays and event days as required (days of work will be negotiable once the role moves to full-time).
You will also ideally hold, or be willing and able to obtain:
* NSW Food Safety Supervisor certificate
* NSW RSA competency card (if required for the role)
* Working With Children Check and/or Police Check, as required
An interest in heritage rail, tourism or not‑for‑profit/community organisations would be a real bonus – you don't need to be a rail enthusiast already, but you do need to enjoy being part of a unique visitor attraction and working with a wide range of people (visitors, volunteers, suppliers and colleagues).
What we offer
* Competitive remuneration, including applicable weekend penalty rates
* A supportive, down‑to‑earth team environment
* The chance to work in one of NSW's most unique and enjoyable tourist attractions
* Ongoing training and development, with the opportunity to help shape and grow the café operation over time
How to apply
If this sounds like the right next step for you, we'd love to hear from you.
Click the APPLY button to apply now, or email for more information or to request a detailed Position Description.
This recruitment is being managed by HR Success on behalf of Zig Zag Railway. No agencies, please.