ECE Centre Cook | Busy Bees Putaruru

Busy Bees Aotearoa; Putaruru; On-site; NZD 30,000 - 39,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounted childcare fees

First aid training funded

Food safety certification

Annual flu vaccination

Wellbeing support network

Regular daytime hours (Mon-Fri)

Job summary

Busy Bees Putaruru is seeking a part-time Centre Cook to prepare nutritious meals for our tamariki, following menu guidelines and maintaining high kitchen hygiene standards. You will be a friendly, familiar presence in the centre and support routines around meals.

You’ll work 28 hours per week with regular daytime hours from Monday to Friday, plus benefits like childcare fee discounts, funded first aid training, food safety certification, and wellbeing support from Busy Bees Aotearoa.

Qualifications

• Have a genuine passion for creating wholesome kai.
• Be warm and approachable.
• Have excellent organisational skills to manage a busy kitchen.
• Confident in menu planning.
• Have a proactive mindset ensuring food safety and hygiene are always top priority.
• Have previous experience cooking in an ECE centre or for large groups.

Responsibilities

• Preparing nutritious meals and snacks.
• Involving the older children in kai preparation to support learning and independence.
• Managing weekly grocery shopping and tracking kitchen expenses.
• Ensuring all nutrition and safety regulations are consistently met.
• Maintaining hygiene standards through daily food records and cleaning schedules.
• Supporting the wider centre team as needed.

Skills

Cooking

Food safety

Menu planning

Organisational skills

ECE cooking experience

Job description

Join Busy Bees Putaruru as our Centre Cook and prepare nutritious Nourish meals each day, helping our tamariki learn, grow, and thrive through wholesome, delicious kai.

You’ll enjoy supportive leadership, clear processes and a team that recognises the important role you play in our centre community.

This is a part-time role - 28 hours per week.

Why Join Our Team? | He aha koe i hono ai ki to matou tima?

• Regular daytime hours working Monday to Friday with no late nights

• Discounted childcare fees for your own tamariki

• Fully funded first aid training, food safety certification, and annual flu vaccination

• Ongoing guidance and wellbeing support from the wider Busy Bees Aotearoa network

• The rewarding feeling of knowing the wholesome kai you prepare makes a genuine impact every day

The Opportunity | Te Aheinga

You’ll prepare daily kai for our tamariki, following menu guidelines while maintaining high kitchen hygiene standards and supporting food-related routines within the centre. You’ll be a friendly, familiar presence for children and an active part of the team. Your role will include:

• Preparing nutritious meals and snacks

• Involving the older children in kai preparation to support learning and independence

• Managing weekly grocery shopping and tracking kitchen expenses

• Ensuring all nutrition and safety regulations are consistently met

• Maintaining hygiene standards through daily food records and cleaning schedules

• Supporting the wider centre team as needed

About You | Mou

• Have a genuine passion for creating wholesome kai

• Be warm and approachable

• Have excellent organisational skills to manage a busy kitchen

• Confident in menu planning

• Have a proactive mindset ensuring food safety and hygiene are always top priority

• Have previous experience cooking in an ECE centre or for large groups

Applicants must have NZ residency or a valid work visa.

Why Work for Busy Bees?
If you’re passionate about early learning, Busy Bees is the place to be. Although we are part of a global organisation, our company was founded by three families looking for better, more enriching childcare. Three decades later, we still keep the same values at heart.

We know that we couldn’t do what we do without the important people in our teams. We invest in our people and work with them to build career pathways that inspire.