Head Chef / Sous Chef

Pier Port Melbourne; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The Pier Port Melbourne is seeking a hands-on Head Chef or Sous Chef to lead an Asian fusion kitchen serving both restaurant dining and private events. You will manage menu development, food costs and day-to-day kitchen operations with a focus on quality and presentation.

We welcome applicants with senior kitchen leadership experience who can drive menus, mentor staff and deliver memorable experiences for guests across diverse service styles.

Qualifications

• Experience in Asian-inspired, fusion or contemporary cuisine.
• Experience across à la carte dining and functions.
• Hands-on approach with a passion for cooking.
• Strong leadership, organisational and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple services and work under pressure.
• Creativity in developing seasonal menu items.
• Understanding of food costing, stock control, and kitchen efficiency.
• Commitment to food safety and high professional standards.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends and public holidays.
• Full Australian working rights.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee kitchen operations for restaurant and private events.
• Develop menus and ensure high-quality presentation.
• Manage food costs, stock, ordering and portion control.
• Train and develop kitchen team; maintain standards.
• Ensure food safety and hygiene compliance.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Asian fusion cuisine

Menu planning

Food costing

Kitchen operations

Staff development

Education

Trade qualifications or equivalent experience

Job description

Head Chef or Sous Chef – Asian Fusion Restaurant & Events

The Pier Port Melbourne | Waterfront Restaurant & Events Venue

The Role

We are seeking a passionate, experienced and hands-on Head Chef or Sous Chef to join our kitchen team at The Pier Port Melbourne.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a talented chef who enjoys variety, thrives in a fast-paced environment and takes pride in delivering exceptional food across both restaurant dining and private events.

Our kitchen offers a diverse and exciting mix of Asian-fusion à la carte dining, large cocktail-style functions, seated weddings, corporate events and private dining experiences.

We are looking for a versatile chef with strong culinary skills, creativity and the ability to adapt between different styles of service while maintaining consistently high standards.

The successful applicant will play a key role in the smooth and efficient running of the kitchen, working closely with the team to deliver quality food, excellent presentation and memorable dining experiences.

We welcome applications from both experienced Head Chefs and capable Sous Chefs looking to take the next step in their careers. The position and level of responsibility will be based on the successful applicant's experience and capabilities.

What We're Looking For

Interested applicants should be able to demonstrate:

• Strong culinary skills with experience in Asian-inspired, fusion or contemporary cuisine.
• Experience across à la carte dining and function catering, including cocktail-style and seated events.
• A hands-on approach, with a genuine passion for cooking and consistently producing high-quality food.
• Strong leadership, organisational and communication skills, with the ability to motivate and develop a kitchen team.
• The ability to manage multiple services, work efficiently under pressure and adapt to a busy, varied kitchen environment.
• Creativity and initiative in developing seasonal, innovative and commercially viable menu items.
• A sound understanding of food costing, stock control, ordering, portion control and kitchen efficiency.
• Experience managing food quality, consistency, preparation and presentation across different styles of service.
• A commitment to food safety, hygiene and maintaining high professional standards.
• A positive attitude, strong work ethic and a reliable, team-focused approach.
• Relevant commercial kitchen experience in a senior chef position.
• Trade qualifications or equivalent experience.
• Flexibility to work across a roster including evenings, weekends and public holidays.
• Full Australian working rights.

For Head Chef applicants, proven experience in kitchen leadership, team management, food costing and overall kitchen operations is essential.

For Sous Chef applicants, we are looking for strong cooking ability, leadership potential and the confidence to support and lead the kitchen when required.

About Us

The Pier Port Melbourne is an iconic waterfront restaurant, bar and private events venue, offering stunning views across Port Phillip Bay.

Our restaurant features an evolving Asian-fusion menu, with strong Japanese and broader Asian influences alongside modern Australian and international dishes.

Beyond our restaurant, we are a busy functions venue catering for everything from intimate private dining experiences to large cocktail parties, weddings and corporate events.

With such a diverse range of dining experiences, no two services are quite the same. We pride ourselves on delivering excellent food, professional service and memorable experiences for our guests.

Our restaurant operates Wednesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner, with private events hosted throughout the week.

Location: 1 Bay Street, Port Melbourne

Why Join Us?

If you're passionate about food, enjoy the challenge of a diverse kitchen and want to be part of an established waterfront venue, we'd love to hear from you.

We offer the opportunity to work across a varied range of restaurant and event services, contribute to menu development and be part of a dedicated hospitality team.