Head Chef - The Curry House

Portarlington Golf Club; Portarlington; On-site; AUD 95,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Significant menu influence

Build and lead your own team

Support from established organisation

Long-term career opportunities

Coastal Bellarine location

Job summary

Portarlington Golf Club invites an experienced Head Chef to spearhead the opening of The Curry House in Portarlington. You will shape menus, build a high-performing kitchen, and drive authentic Indian dining across the Bellarine region.

You will recruit and mentor staff, manage costs, and ensure top quality and presentation while upholding food safety in a heritage setting within The Ol' Duke complex.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading a kitchen as Head/Senior Chef.
• Strong expertise in authentic Indian cuisine and regional styles.
• Experience building and mentoring kitchen teams.
• Ability to design and develop diverse menus with signature dishes.
• Strong understanding of food cost and labour management.
• Passion for hospitality and creating memorable dining experiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead all kitchen operations for the new Indian dining venue.
• Design and develop authentic Indian menus and signature dishes.
• Develop curry, tandoor, bread and banquet offerings.
• Establish recipes, prep standards and kitchen systems.
• Recruit, train and mentor kitchen staff.
• Manage food costs, labour costs and inventory control.
• Build supplier relationships and source quality ingredients.
• Deliver exceptional food quality, consistency and presentation.
• Maintain compliance with food safety and workplace requirements.

Skills

Head Chef experience

Indian cuisine

Team leadership

Menu development

Food cost management

Hospitality mindset

Job description

The Ol' Duke & Curry House, Portarlington

Create an Authentic Indian Dining Experience on Victoria's Bellarine Peninsula

The Ol' Duke & Curry House is seeking an experienced and passionate Head Chef to lead the culinary direction of our new venue opening in Portarlington.

We are looking for a chef with a genuine passion for Indian cuisine and the leadership skills to establish a high-performing kitchen from the ground up.

This role offers the opportunity to shape menus, build a team, introduce signature dishes and create a dining experience that becomes known throughout the Bellarine region and beyond.

About The Curry House

The Curry House will celebrate the diversity and richness of Indian cuisine, offering authentic flavours, traditional cooking techniques and a menu designed to showcase the very best of Indian food.

While located within The Ol' Duke, a restored heritage building dating back to 1856, the Curry House will develop its own identity and reputation as a destination for exceptional Indian dining.

Backed by an Established Hospitality Organisation

The Ol' Duke & Curry House is backed by Portarlington Golf Club, a well-established hospitality and community organisation on the Bellarine Peninsula.

This support provides financial strength, operational resources and long-term stability, creating a rare opportunity to build a new venue with the backing of an experienced and successful hospitality business. It offers the excitement and influence of a start-up venture while enjoying the support and security of an established organisation.

About the role

You will lead the culinary direction of a new Indian restaurant venue opening in Portarlington. This role offers the opportunity to shape menus, build a team, introduce signature dishes and create a dining experience that becomes known throughout the Bellarine region and beyond.

Key responsibilities

• Lead all kitchen operations

• Design and develop menus centred on authentic Indian cuisine

• Develop curry, tandoor, bread and banquet offerings

• Establish recipes, preparation standards and kitchen systems

• Recruit, train and mentor kitchen staff

• Manage food costs, labour costs and inventory control

• Build supplier relationships and source quality ingredients

• Deliver exceptional food quality, consistency and presentation

• Maintain compliance with all food safety and workplace requirements

About you

• Proven experience as a Head Chef, Senior Sous Chef or Executive Chef

• Strong expertise in Indian cuisine

• Knowledge of regional Indian cooking styles and traditional preparation methods

• Experience managing kitchen teams and developing staff

• Strong commercial understanding of food costing and labour management

• A passion for hospitality and creating memorable dining experiences

• The drive to build something special from the ground up

What we Offer

• Significant input into menu creation and kitchen direction

• The opportunity to build and lead your own team

• Support from an experienced hospitality organisation

• Long-term career opportunities

• A beautiful coastal location on the Bellarine Peninsula

Applications close Monday 12 October 2026.

For a confidential discussion regarding the role, please contact:

Michael Phillips
Chief Executive Officer
Portarlington Golf Club

***@port.golf