Head Chef

Northern Golf Club; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Northen Golf Club is seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead the kitchen operations, overseeing a small team and ensuring high-quality food across Member dining, golf events, and functions.

You will balance creativity with cost control, adapt menus for diverse events, and maintain strict food safety and presentation standards to drive guest satisfaction and commercial performance.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience as a Head Chef in a hospitality setting.
• Strong leadership and ability to manage a small team.
• Hands-on approach with ability to work independently when required.
• Strong knowledge of food costing, stock control and margin management.
• Experience planning menus for varied events and functions.
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop and motivate a small kitchen team.
• Plan and develop menus for Member dining, golf events and functions.
• Maintain high standards of food quality and presentation.
• Manage kitchen rosters and labour costs.
• Monitor and control Cost of Goods (COGS).
• Oversee food purchasing, supplier management and stock control.
• Ensure dietary requirements are accommodated and allergen management is followed.
• Maintain food safety, cleanliness and compliance standards.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, quality and profitability.

Skills

Head Chef leadership

Menu planning

COGS knowledge

Labour cost management

Food safety

Team motivation

Job description

Attractive Salary | Rare Late Nights | Leadership Role | Glenroy

About Northern Golf Club

Northern Golf Club is a well-established private golf club with a proud history dating back to 1912.

We pride ourselves on providing an outstanding experience for our Members and guests, with food and beverage playing an important role in that experience. Our hospitality offering ranges from everyday Member dining through to golf events, corporate functions, celebrations of life and other special occasions.

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Head Chef to lead our kitchen operation and continue to develop the food offering at Northern Golf Club.

About the Role

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Head Chef to take ownership of a diverse and manageable kitchen operation.

You will lead a small kitchen team and be responsible for delivering consistently high-quality food across a variety of settings, including:

Member dining and Club events

Golf days and golf-related functions

Corporate lunches and sit-down functions

Celebrations of life

Special events and Member functions

We are looking for someone who enjoys variety and can adapt menus and service styles to suit different events, while maintaining a strong focus on quality, consistency and commercial performance.

Importantly, unlike many traditional hospitality environments, late-night finishes are rare. While weekend and public holiday availability is required, the nature of a golf club provides an attractive balance of daytime and early evening work compared with many restaurant and hospitality roles.

An attractive salary package will be offered.

Key Responsibilities

As Head Chef, you will have responsibility for the day-to-day management and performance of the kitchen, including:

• Leading, developing and motivating a small kitchen team
• Menu planning and development across Member dining, golf events and functions
• Maintaining consistently high standards of food quality and presentation
• Managing kitchen rosters and controlling labour costs
• Monitoring and managing Cost of Goods (COGS)
• Food purchasing, supplier management and stock control
• Managing portion control, wastage and food margins
• Function and event planning in conjunction with the Club's management team
• Catering for dietary requirements and providing quality alternatives
• Maintaining food safety, cleanliness and compliance standards
• Continually identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, quality and profitability

About You

We are looking for someone who combines strong culinary skills with the ability to effectively manage the commercial performance of a kitchen.

The successful candidate will ideally have:

• Demonstrated experience as a Head Chef
• Strong leadership skills and the ability to manage a small team
• A hands-on approach and willingness to work independently when required
• Strong knowledge of food costing, COGS, stock control and margin management
• Proven experience preparing and managing staff rosters and labour costs
• Strong menu planning and function catering experience
• A sound understanding of dietary requirements and allergen management
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills
• The ability to manage multiple priorities and perform under pressure
• Strong communication skills and a professional approach

Flexibility to work weekends and public holidays as required

Hours will naturally vary between the Club's busier summer golf season and the quieter winter period.

Australian Working Rights

Applicants must have unrestricted working rights in Australia. Northern Golf Club is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.

Please only apply if you currently hold the appropriate Australian working rights to undertake this role on an ongoing basis.

Why Join Northern Golf Club?

This role offers something different from the traditional Head Chef position.

You will have the opportunity to put your stamp on the Club's food offering, lead your own team and work closely with management to continually improve the hospitality experience for our Members and guests.

With a varied mix of Member dining, golf events and functions, no two weeks are exactly the same. At the same time, the nature of our operation means late nights are the exception rather than the norm, offering an attractive lifestyle benefit for an experienced hospitality professional.

We offer an attractive salary package, a supportive Club environment and the opportunity to take genuine ownership of the kitchen operation within an established private golf club.

Northern Golf Club | Established 1912
The premier private golf club in Melbourne’s north.