Head Chef – TYGA

THE ROLE

TYGA — a bold, modern Southeast Asian restaurant concept — is preparing for its highly anticipated Melbourne launch. We're on the hunt for an exceptional Head Chef with a passion for Southeast Asian flavours, fire cooking, and food storytelling to help bring our vision to life.

This is your chance to put your signature on the Melbourne food scene.

As Head Chef, you'll collaborate with a leading food curator to co-create and shape an inspired, contemporary Southeast Asian menu. You'll also have full ownership of your brigade — from building your dream team to leading day-to-day operations. TYGA is all about flavour, flair, and fire — and you'll be at the heart of it all.

ABOUT YOU

You're not just a chef — you're a culinary leader with a clear vision and a deep love for Southeast Asian cuisine. You balance creativity with discipline, energy with calm, and ambition with empathy. You lead from the front, nurture your team, and thrive in a high-performance kitchen where both excellence and innovation are celebrated.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Conceptualise and contribute in the creation of a fresh, inspired Southeast Asian menu

Build and manage your own kitchen brigade — hire, train, mentor

Oversee all kitchen operations, ensuring consistency and excellence

Take ownership of food and labour costs, stock control, and supplier relations

Drive a culture of respect, learning, and teamwork

Champion food safety and OH&S compliance at the highest level

Collaborate closely with FOH leadership for seamless service

Lead service with confidence, ensuring execution under pressure

Innovate with seasonal specials and evolve the menu regularly

WHAT YOU BRING

4+ years' experience as a Head Chef or Senior Sous in a high-volume, high-quality Southeast Asian or modern Asian kitchen

Proven ability to lead, inspire, and develop teams

A strong creative voice and eye for detail

Deep knowledge of Southeast Asian cuisines, ingredients, and techniques

Strong systems thinking: prep flows, food cost, portion control, and inventory management

Calm, clear communicator — in and out of service

Understanding of food safety, compliance, and modern kitchen best practices

A drive to build something meaningful, with a long-term vision

WHY JOIN TYGA?

Award-based salary + bonus structure aligned to KPIs

Full creative freedom to develop the menu and shape TYGA's identity

Supportive ownership team with strong industry experience

Sponsorship available for the right candidate

Real opportunity to make your mark and gain industry recognition

Be part of a bold, exciting opening — with room to grow long-term

READY TO LEAD SOMETHING SPECIAL?

We're not just launching a restaurant — we're creating an experience. If you're a culinary leader with the ambition to make your mark and the talent to back it up, we'd love to meet you.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $70,000.00 – $120,000.00 per year

Experience:

• Restaurant management: 2 years (Preferred)
• Customer service: 1 year (Preferred)
• People management: 2 years (Preferred)

Work Authorisation:

• Australia (Preferred)

Work Location: In person