Head Chef – Full Time | Omari Bendigo

Location: Bendigo, VIC

Salary: $80,000–$90,000 + Super + Bonus

Start Date: Negotiable

About Us

Omari Bendigo is a vibrant café-restaurant in the Bendigo Botanical Gardens, known for creative breakfast and brunch. We welcome 600–1,000 guests a week and also run Bendigo Gourmet Catering Co., delivering weddings and corporate events.

As we prepare to relaunch our function centre, we’re looking for a hands-on Head Chef to lead our kitchen across café, catering, and events.

The Role

This is a leadership role for a chef who loves running a busy kitchen with creative flair. Most shifts are daytime and early mornings, making it a great opportunity to move from nights to days for better work-life balance. You’ll also have the freedom and autonomy to shape menus and the culinary direction, working closely with passionate owner-operators who love what they do. Evening work is limited to events and functions.

You’ll:

Lead, train, and grow your kitchen team

Manage rosters, budgets, and kitchen performance

Oversee café service (breakfast/brunch/lunch) and event catering

Create seasonal and bespoke menus, showing your creative flair

Ensure top-notch quality, presentation, and food safety

Manage suppliers, stock, and reduce waste

About You

2+ years as a Head Chef

Experience leading a busy, high-volume kitchen

Breakfast/brunch expertise preferred

Skilled in catering, events, and functions

Strong financial management and KPI awareness

Hands-on, motivated, and team-focused

Diploma in Commercial Cookery (or equivalent)

Comfortable with mostly daytime shifts, some evenings for events

Why You’ll Love It

Move from nights to days for better work-life balance

$80–90K + Super + Bonus

Lead and shape a kitchen in a beautiful location

Creative freedom and autonomy to develop menus and kitchen systems

Work alongside passionate, hands-on owner-operators

Play a key role in relaunching our function centre

Supportive team with long-term growth opportunities

Apply Now

Send your CV to Aaron (Managing Director & Owner-Operator) with:

Your Head Chef experience (min. 2 years)

Team leadership and financial management examples

High-volume breakfast or catering experience

Why you’d be a great fit at Omari Bendigo

Applications reviewed as received. Start date negotiable.