Demi Chef & Kitchen Hand

Sergeant Group; Auckland; On-site; NZD 30,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Lawn Café in Auckland's Viaduct is seeking a dependable kitchen hand to support our Head Chef in a busy daytime café. You will begin with the foundations—dishes, cleaning, food preparation and kitchen support—while learning baking and broader kitchen skills.

For the right person, there is a genuine opportunity to take on more responsibility and progress within the kitchen over time. The role offers hands-on training and a pathway from kitchen hand into broader kitchen responsibilities within a

Qualifications

• Strong work ethic and reliability.
• Positive, team-first attitude.
• Able to work in a fast-paced kitchen and stay organised.
• Willingness to learn and build new skills.
• Clear communication and proactive in asking questions.

Responsibilities

• Operating the dishwasher and keeping dishes, utensils and kitchen equipment moving through service.
• Maintaining a clean, hygienic and organised wash-up and kitchen area.
• Supporting the Head Chef with basic food preparation, portioning and ingredient preparation.
• Assisting with baking and cabinet-food production as your skills develop.
• Receiving and putting away deliveries, rotating stock and keeping storage areas tidy.
• Following food-control, cleaning and health-and-safety procedures.
• Helping wherever needed so the kitchen runs smoothly during busy service periods.

Skills

strong work ethic

reliability

positive attitude

team player

fast-paced environment

willingness to learn

clear communication

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.

Lawn Café is looking for a dependable kitchen hand to support our Head Chef and help keep our busy café kitchen clean, organised and moving. This is more than a dishwashing role. You will begin with the foundations—dishes, cleaning, food preparation and kitchen support—while learning baking and broader kitchen skills. For the right person, there is a genuine opportunity to take on more responsibility and progress within the kitchen over time.

Key responsibilities

Operating the dishwasher and keeping dishes, utensils and kitchen equipment moving through service

Maintaining a clean, hygienic and organised wash-up and kitchen area

Supporting the Head Chef with basic food preparation, portioning and ingredient preparation

Assisting with baking and cabinet-food production as your skills develop

Receiving and putting away deliveries, rotating stock and keeping storage areas tidy

Following food-control, cleaning and health-and-safety procedures

Helping wherever needed so the kitchen runs smoothly during busy service periods

About you

A strong work ethic, reliability and a positive, team-first attitude

The energy and physical fitness to work on your feet in a fast-paced kitchen

Good organisation, urgency and attention to cleanliness

A willingness to learn, take direction and steadily build new skills

Clear communication and the confidence to ask questions when needed

Previous kitchen, dishwashing, baking or food-preparation experience is useful, but attitude matters most

About us

Lawn Café is a daytime café environment located in Auckland's Viaduct. We offer hands-on training from an experienced Head Chef, a real pathway from kitchen hand into food preparation, baking and wider kitchen responsibilities, and a supportive team with opportunities across the wider group.