Chef De Partie

Hapuku Lodge; Kaikōura; On-site; NZD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff perks

Discounted food & beverage

Job summary

Hāpuku Lodge and Treehouses in Kaikōura, Canterbury, New Zealand, seeks a skilled Chef de Partie to join the kitchen team on a full-time basis (minimum 30 hours per week). You will manage a station, uphold high culinary standards, and support the Head Chef in delivering exceptional dining experiences for guests.

You will contribute to menu development, maintain hygiene, train junior staff, and help control food costs while working in a close-knit team that values work-life balance and access to

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of professional CDP experience, ideally in fine dining or upmarket hospitality.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, hygiene and kitchen health & safety regulations.
• Excellent knife skills and proficiency in prep techniques and cooking methods.
• Ability to work efficiently under pressure while maintaining high standards during busy services.
• Strong communication skills and ability to motivate and develop junior staff.
• Passion for quality seasonal ingredients, creativity and continuous improvement.
• Attention to detail and precision in plating and presentation.
• Flexibility to work a range of shifts, including weekends and public holidays.

Responsibilities

• Take responsibility for daily prep and punctual service of your section; ensure mise en place is ready for service.
• Maintain hygiene and safety standards across kitchen operations.
• Train and support junior kitchen staff within your section.
• Follow recipes and procedures to ensure consistency in portion size, quality and presentation.
• Control food costs by monitoring portion sizes, reducing waste and managing inventory for your station.
• Ensure efficient workflow during service and perform well under pressure.
• Collaborate with Head Chef and team to develop menus, seasonal dishes and specials.
• Assist with stock management, ordering and receiving of ingredients as required.
• Communicate clearly within the kitchen and with other departments to support the Lodge.
• Uphold a clean, organized and efficient workstation at all times.

Skills

CDP experience

Knife skills

Food safety & hygiene

Pressure service

Team leadership

Plating precision

Shift flexibility

Education

NZQ Level 3 in Cookery

Job description

About the role

Hāpuku Lodge and Treehouses is seeking a talentedChef de Partieto join our kitchen team in Kaikōura, Canterbury. This is afull-time position(minimum 30 hours /week) based at our unique hospitality venue, where you will take charge of a specific section of our kitchen operations. As our Chef de Partie, you will be responsible for maintaining exceptional culinary standards, managing your station, and supporting the Head Chef in delivering outstanding dining experiences for our guests. This role is pivotal in ensuring the smooth operation of our kitchen and the consistent quality of our cuisine.

Your duties will include:

• To take responsibility for the daily prep and punctual service of your section, ensuring mise en place is to standard, labelled, stored correctly and ready for service
• To maintain impeccable hygiene and safety standards across the kitchen operations
• Train and support junior kitchen staff within your section
• To follow recipes and procedures to ensure excellence & consistency across portion size, quality and presentation of all dishes
• Control food costs by monitoring portion sizes, minimising waste and managing inventory for your station
• Ensure efficient workflow during service, working under pressure to maintain timing and quality
• Collaborate with the Head Chef and other kitchen team members to develop new menus, seasonal dishes and special offerings
• Assist with stock management, ordering and receiving of ingredients as required
• Communicate clearly and effectively within the kitchen team and across other departments, building positive, collaborative relationships with our wider Lodge team
• Uphold a clean, organised, and efficient workstation at all times

What we’re looking for

• A minimum of 3 years' professional kitchen experience working as a CDP for ideally 2+ years', in a fine dining or upmarket hospitality setting
• Strong knowledge of food safety standards, hygiene practices and kitchen health and safety regulations
• Excellent knife skills, with proficiency in food preparation techniques and cooking methods
• Ability to work efficiently under pressure whilst maintaining high standards during busy service periods
• Strong communication skills with the ability to motivate and develop junior team members
• Passion for quality seasonal ingredients, culinary creativity and continuous improvement
• Attention to detail with a commitment to precision in plating and presentation
• Recognised culinary qualification (NZQ Level 3 in Cookery, or equivalent)
• Flexibility to work a range of shifts, including weekends and public holidays

You'll enjoy:

• Being a key part of a creative and close knit kitchen team
• Contributing to the smooth flow of our kitchen operations
• Working with the freshest farm produce and quality local products
• Working in a team that values work-life balance; enjoying all the adventures Kaikoura and the region has to offer
• Good pay rates and a supportive work environment
• Staff perks, including discounted food and beverage

About us

Hāpuku Lodge and Treehouses is a luxurious hospitality destination located in the breathtaking Kaikōura region of Canterbury, New Zealand. We pride ourselves on delivering exceptional guest experiences through world-class dining, stunning accommodation, and authentic Kiwi hospitality. Our philosophy centres on celebrating local ingredients, supporting our local community, and creating unforgettable moments for our guests. We are committed to sustainable practices, environmental stewardship, and building a workplace culture where our team members feel valued, supported, and inspired to deliver excellence every day.