ECE Centre Cook | Busy Bees Whau Valley

PEG1 Limited; Whangarei; On-site; NZD 30,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Regular daytime hours

Discounted childcare fees for your own

First aid training

Food safety certification

Annual flu vaccination

Wellbeing support

Job summary

Busy Bees Whau Valley is seeking a dedicated Centre Cook to prepare Nourish meals for tamariki, following menu guidelines and upholding high kitchen hygiene. You’ll be a friendly, familiar presence in the centre and part of a supportive team.

Enjoy regular daytime hours Mon-Fri with no late nights, discounted childcare for your own tamariki, funded first aid, food safety certification, and annual flu vaccination. You’ll help grow children’s learning through nutritious meals and everyday mahi.

Qualifications

• Applicant must have the rights to work in New Zealand.
• Experience cooking in an ECE setting or for large groups is a bonus.
• Ability to follow menu guidelines and maintain high kitchen hygiene.

Responsibilities

• Prepare nutritious meals and snacks.
• Involve older children in kai preparation to support learning and independence.
• Manage weekly grocery shopping and track kitchen expenses.
• Ensure all nutrition and safety regulations are met.
• Maintain hygiene standards through daily food records and cleaning schedules.
• Support the wider centre team as needed.

Skills

Wholesome kai

Warm and approachable

Organisational skills

Menu planning

Food safety

ECE/large groups experience

Job description

At Busy Bees Whau Valley, you'll be part of a supportive team where every role makes a difference. As our Centre Cook, you'll prepare nutritious Nourish meals that help tamariki learn, grow, and thrive each day. You’ll Join a caring centre community where whanaungatanga is at the heart of our mahi, your skills are genuinely valued, and you'll enjoy the support and stability of the Busy Bees Aotearoa whānau.

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 also be a friendly, familiar presence for children and an active part of the team.

• Prepare nutritious meals and snacks
• Involve older children in kai preparation to support learning and independence
• Manage weekly grocery shopping and track kitchen expenses
• Ensure all nutrition and safety regulations are consistently met
• Maintain hygiene standards through daily food records and cleaning schedules
• Support the wider centre team as needed

About You | Mou

• Have a genuine passion for creating wholesome kai
• Warm and approachable
• Excellent organisational skills to stay completely on top of a busy kitchen
• Confident menu planning
• A proactive mindset ensuring food safety and hygiene are always top priority
• Previous experience cooking in an ECE or for large groups is a bonus

Applicants must have the rights to work in New Zealand

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.

Join our whānau If you’re looking for a new centre to call home, Busy Bees Aotearoa may be the perfect fit for you!

Early Childhood Education attracts a special type of person. You might be known for being creative, nurturing or task focused… but ultimately, you were attracted to Early Childhood Education because you care deeply for the education of the littlest members of our communities. We understand this because this is what attracted us too. We want to gather people who care deeply about quality and empower people to bring their unique gifts and talents together for the benefit of our tamariki. We value each member of our team, and know that by supporting you in your journey, you’ll be the positive and supportive influence in theirs. Across the variety of our centres and Support Office we’re looking for passionate, dedicated, and committed people who love what they do.

Have a look at our latest opportunities, we’d love to hear from you!