Chef Manager

Summerset - Care; Hamilton; On-site; NZD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Training & development

Great work‑life balance

Job summary

Summerset - Care is seeking a Chef Manager for Rototuna Village. You will oversee kitchen operations from residents’ meals to café offerings and events, leading a passionate culinary team to deliver high‑quality experiences while ensuring compliance and commercial performance.

You will manage menus, stock, and events, maintaining strong food safety standards and mentoring your team in a busy, customer‑facing environment.

Qualifications

• Qualified professional cookery qualification.
• Proven leadership experience in a high‑output kitchen.
• Experience across set meal service, café offerings, and catering for events or functions.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, compliance, and the Food Act.
• Confidence managing stock, ordering, and day‑to‑day kitchen administration.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and cook high‑quality meals for residents and café services.
• Create appealing menus and cabinet foods for residents and visitors.
• Cater for special events, celebrations and fine dining experiences.
• Lead, coach and support the kitchen team, including rostering.
• Manage stock, ordering, food storage and kitchen equipment.
• Ensure full compliance with Food Control Plan and regulations.
• Monitor costs, minimise waste and support budget performance.

Skills

Leadership

Commercial awareness

Mentoring others

Communication skills

Food safety knowledge

Education

Professional cookery qualification

Job description

Company Description

You can help bring our villages to life!

At Summerset, from the moment we start developing a village, to when our residents call it home, it’s the passion and dedication of our people that brings our villages to life. We are one team united by being part of something bigger – to bring the best of life to our residents.

Job Description

Chef Manager Opportunity on the Menu at our Rototuna Village.

Our Chef Managers are responsible for the smooth running of kitchen operations, from resident meal service to vibrant café offerings and special events, while leading a passionate culinary team. This is a varied, hands‑on leadership role where you’ll help create great food experiences for residents and visitors, while ensuring quality, compliance, and commercial performance.

Your day‑to‑day will include:

• Preparing and cooking high-quality meals for residents, including those unable to visit the café
• Creating appealing menus and cabinet food that drive interest and enjoyment
• Catering for special events, celebrations, and fine dining experiences
• Leading, coaching, and supporting your kitchen team, including rostering and day‑to‑day guidance
• Managing stock, ordering, food storage, and kitchen equipment to keep operations running smoothly
• Ensuring full compliance with our Food Control Plan
• Monitoring costs, minimising waste, and supporting budget performance

This is a permanent full‑time role and working Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.30pm.

Qualifications

You’ll be a qualified and experienced Chef with a passion for food, people, and leading a high‑performing team. You’ll thrive in a busy environment, bring strong commercial awareness, and take pride in delivering consistently high standards.

You’ll also bring:

• A recognised professional cookery qualification
• Proven leadership experience in a high‑output kitchen or similar environment
• Experience across set meal service, café offerings, and catering for events or functions
• Strong knowledge of food safety, compliance, and the Food Act
• Confidence managing stock, ordering, and day‑to‑day kitchen administration
• Strong communication skills and a genuine passion for mentoring others

Additional Information

Why Summerset?

Summerset's known for its excellent benefits and strong sense of values around care, teamwork and drive for excellence. With some of the best benefits in the sector, some of these include:

• Great work‑life balance with set weekly hours Monday to Friday,(occasional weekend and nights will be required for events).
• Southern Cross Health Essentials Insurance
• Ongoing training & development, including opportunities to gain further culinary qualifications
• A role where your food genuinely makes a difference every single day

Next Steps

Applications for this role will close on Thursday 12th November.