Chef – Operations Support, Waikato

Cater Plus; New Zealand; On-site; NZD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Great remuneration package

Fuel allowance

Job summary

Cater Plus in Hamilton, New Zealand, is seeking an experienced chef to work across aged care, private hospital, and cafe settings with flexibility and variety. This permanent role requires 40 hours per week, rostered across 7 days, and will support the team with cooking, baking, and meal preparation.

You will need to travel within the Central Region, including Auckland and Taranaki, and may overnight. A car and full driver's license are required.

Qualifications

• Experience across aged care, private hospital, and cafe settings preferred
• Ability to work solo with supervision when needed and lead a kitchen team
• Strong cooking, menu adaptation, and portion control skills
• Knowledge of dietary requirements and costings to manage within budget

Responsibilities

• Prepare, cook, and serve a variety of cuisine across different settings
• Monitor quality at all stages of preparation and presentation
• Create and adapt menus for varied dietary requirements
• Estimate food and labour costs and manage within budget
• Lead kitchen team when required and ensure safety and cleanliness
• Adhere to Food Control Plan and safety regulations

Skills

Leadership

Initiative

Problem solving

Time management

Communication skills

Cooking

Food safety

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Passion for Food / Excellence in Service

Great remuneration package plus fuel allowance

40 hours per week as and rostered across 7 days (Monday to Sunday)

Looking for a new opportunity? Like a position with variety and challenge? Our team in the Waikato is growing, and we need an experienced chef, who can work across a variety of aged care, private hospital, and cafe settings which range in cooking styles, service times and quantities. Experience in Senior Living preferable but not essential.

This is a permanent position to cover team members when on leave and training days and no two days are the same. Whether it’s bulk cooking of good wholesome meals for rest-homes or filling the cabinets at cafés and staff canteens, this role will keep you on your toes. There will be many occasions where you get to wow the residents and customers with your baking skills and show your overall passion for food.

You will need to be able to work solo without supervision and take responsibility for leading a kitchen team when needed. Initiative, flexibility, problem solving, and an understanding of food quantities, costings, and dietary requirements are key skills required to be successful.

This role is based in Hamilton, however, the successful applicant must be flexible and prepared to travel outside the Central Region, to sites including Auckland and Taranaki region and overnight if required. You will need a car and a full drivers’ license. A competitive remuneration and fuel allowance is provided.

You will need to be able to:

Prepare, cook, and serve a variety of cuisine, and have experience catering for functions

Monitor quality of food at all stages of preparation and presentation

Create and adapt menus to cater for varied dietary requirements

Estimate food and labour costs and manage within budget

Discuss food preparation issues with managers and kitchen staff

Adherence to our Food Control Plan and Safety regulations

Maintain a clean, tidy, safe and hazard free environment

The ideal candidate will:

Aged care experience preferred but not essential.

Have excellent communication skills and a flexible, can do committed attitude

Be friendly and engaging, with a desire to be a productive and positive member of the team

Be passionate about good food, and great service

Have excellent time management skills, and computer literacy

Who we are:
Cater Plus is one of New Zealand’s leading catering companies with over 780 team members nationwide. We’re known for great food, great service, and creating workplaces where people feel supported, valued, and proud of what they do. Find out more about working with us: www.caterplus.co.nz/employment