Culinary Tutor

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

Benefits offered by this job

Weekends off

Professional development

Rewarding student support

Energetic team

Campus growth

Fun environment

Job summary

Upeducation's Hamilton Campus is seeking a Culinary Tutor to deliver the Level 4 Cookery programme and guide students toward industry readiness. You will draw on your 5+ years of cookery experience to share techniques, mentor learners, and collaborate with industry partners to create real-world exposure and internship opportunities.

You will mentor students, develop their practical skills, and contribute to a supportive learning environment that fosters teamwork, professionalism and confidence

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years recent cookery/culinary industry experience.
• Tertiary qualification Level 5 or above.
• Strong practical cooking skills and broad culinary industry knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Deliver Level 4 Cookery programme and develop students’ practical skills.
• Share industry insights and mentor students.
• Work with industry partners to provide real-world exposure.
• Support internships and future employment opportunities.

Skills

5+ years cookery/culinary experience

Communication skills

Mentoring ability

Education

Relevant tertiary qualification Level 5+

Job description

Culinary Tutor

Location: Hamilton

Full-time | Permanent | NZMA Hamilton Campus

About the role:

As a Culinary Tutor , you'll play an important role in developing the next generation of culinary professionals, delivering our Level 4 Cookery programme and supporting students as they build the skills and knowledge needed for a successful career in the industry.

Drawing on your own culinary experience, you'll share your skills, knowledge and industry insights to create an engaging and supportive environment where students can grow their technical ability, confidence and professionalism. You'll work with students from a range of backgrounds, helping them develop the practical skills they need to successfully complete their studies and prepare for their next step into the culinary industry.

As part of the role, you'll support students to build their knowledge and practical skills across areas including:

• Preparing and presenting a range of complex dishes using different cookery techniques.
• Food safety, hygiene and best practice within a commercial kitchen environment.
• Safe and effective knife handling and other essential kitchen skills.
• Working confidently with a range of ingredients, including meat and fresh seafood.
• Developing communication, teamwork and professionalism in the kitchen.
• Understanding current culinary practices and expectations within the industry.
• Building confidence and preparing for internships and future employment opportunities.

Beyond the kitchen, you'll be an inspiring mentor who helps students connect their learning with the wider industry. You'll work alongside industry partners to create opportunities for real-world exposure and help students understand what it takes to build a successful career in the culinary industry.

About you:

You’ll bring strong industry experience and a genuine passion for sharing your knowledge with the next generation of culinary professionals. With recent experience in the cookery industry, you’ll be confident bringing real-world knowledge, techniques and industry insights into the learning environment.

You’ll be a positive and engaging communicator who can connect with students from a range of backgrounds, build strong relationships and create a supportive environment where learners feel encouraged to develop their skills and achieve their goals.

To be successful in this role, you’ll bring:

• At least 5 years' recent experience within the cookery or culinary industry
• A relevant tertiary qualification at Level 5 or above
• Strong practical cooking skills and broad culinary industry knowledge
• Experience and knowledge across food, beverage and hospitality environments
• The ability to engage, encourage and support students from diverse backgrounds
• A positive, enthusiastic and adaptable approach to learning and development
• A genuine passion for sharing your industry knowledge and helping aspiring chefs succeed

Formal teaching experience isn't essential. If you're an experienced culinary professional who enjoys sharing your knowledge and helping others develop, we'd love to hear from you.

Why work with us?

• Enjoy Work-life balance with weekends off!
• Our organisation is strong on developing our people and having fun while we do it. We ensure our team feels valued and informed about the direction we are heading in.
• Rewarding opportunity to support students in their education journey
• Energetic environment where value is placed on delivering outcomes rather than micro-managing tasks
• Work with the Campus Manager to see the NZMA Campus grow and be highly successful.
• A fun environment and an opportunity to stand out is all on offer with this role

Questions about your identity help us appreciate the diversity of individuals looking to work with us, ensuring we're attracting applications from people with identities and perspectives that are as diverse as our students.

We are an equal opportunity employer. As part of our commitment to equity, we work to ensure a fair and consistent interview process. We celebrate diversity and we are committed to an inclusive work environment.