Centre Cook (Upper Hutt)

Evolve Education Group; Upper Hutt; On-site; NZD 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounted childcare benefits

Modern, well-equipped kitchen

Job summary

Active Explorers Upper Hutt is seeking a Centre Cook to nourish up to 98 tamariki daily with nutritious meals and snacks. Join a warm, community-focused centre with a modern kitchen and supportive team, where you’ll contribute to children’s growth and wellbeing through great food.

The role involves cooking in bulk, ensuring food safety, and engaging with tamariki as part of a vibrant centre community.

Qualifications

• Experience preparing nutritious meals in bulk for children.
• Understanding of food safety, dietary requirements, and kitchen documentation.
• Ability to manage menu planning, ordering, and stock control.

Responsibilities

• Prepare nutritious, child-friendly meals for up to 98 tamariki each day.
• Assist with planning menus, ordering supplies, and stock control.
• Contribute to a modern, well-equipped kitchen and engage with children and staff.

Skills

Bulk cooking

Food safety

Menu planning

Job description

• Large, vibrant community-focused centre
• Modern kitchen and great facilities
• Create nutritious, delicious kai for up to 98 tamariki
• Enjoy discounted childcare benefits

Do you love preparing wholesome, flavour-packed meals that children genuinely enjoy? Are you experienced in cooking in bulk and looking for a role where you can make a real difference every day?

At Active Explorers Upper Hutt, we're proud of our warm, community-focused centre where relationships, inclusivity, and a sense of belonging are at the heart of everything we do. Our passionate team creates engaging learning experiences that encourage creativity, independence, and exploration, while celebrating the diverse cultures and backgrounds of our tamariki and whānau.

We're looking for a fun, energetic, and passionate Centre Cook to join our team. In this role, you'll nourish up to 98 tamariki each day with healthy, delicious meals and snacks that support their growth, wellbeing, and learning.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone who loves cooking in bulk, takes pride in creating nutritious food from scratch, and enjoys being an active part of a centre community. Our kitchen opens directly into our two preschool rooms, so you'll quickly become a familiar face to our curious tamariki. If you're happy answering questions like "What's for lunch?", "Can I help stir that?" and "Why are carrots orange?" several times a day, you'll fit right in!

We're looking for someone who:

• Has experience preparing nutritious meals in bulk.
• Creates healthy, child-friendly meals that are full of flavour.
• Understands food safety, dietary requirements, and kitchen documentation.
• Can confidently manage menu planning, ordering, and stock control.
• Is organised, proactive, and able to thrive in a busy environment.
• Brings a positive attitude, a great sense of humour, and enjoys engaging with children.
• Has a genuine passion for supporting tamariki through good food.

In return, you'll enjoy:

• A modern, well-equipped kitchen.
• The opportunity to put your own stamp on menus and recipes.
• A supportive and welcoming team environment.
• Plenty of interaction with our preschool tamariki.
• Discounted childcare benefits.
• The satisfaction of knowing your mahi has a direct impact on children's health and wellbeing every day.