Head Chef and Chef required for Michelin Bib Gourmand Restaurant 2026

Dropping Inn; Queenstown; On-site; NZD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonus

Staff discounts across venues

Career progression opportunities

Job summary

Dropping Inn in Wanaka is seeking a Head Chef to lead a Michelin Bib Gourmand kitchen at Treehouse, in a vibrant hospitality setting. The candidate will drive menu design, kitchen leadership, and high-quality dish preparation while upholding top hygiene and safety standards.

The role offers a great salary, opportunities for growth, and a supportive multi-site team with visa transfer options for NZ residents.

Qualifications

• Four to five years relevant industry experience in high quality restaurants and/or relevant qualifications
• A passion for excellence and continuous improvement
• Understanding of food saftey and impeccable hygine standards
• Excellent verbal and communication skills
• Ability to build and maintain strong and respectful work relationships
• Be organized, punctual and reliable
• Be Friendly, energetic, and a positve can-do attitude
• Be career-driven and have the desire to learn from the very best

Responsibilities

• You will support the Group Executive Chef in the smooth running of all kitchen operations whilst maintaining very high standards.
• You will be responsible for menu design, menu costings, rostering, preparation and cooking of very high quality dishes.
• The role requires the ability to work in a team environment with a strong emphasis on impeccable food safety standards.
• You will be leading the kitchen team in all aspects, with the additional support from our Group Executive Chef.
• You will need to be flexible and adaptable in all situations - including guests dietary requirements.

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.

Head Chef and Chef required for Michelin Bib Gourmand Restaurant 2026

Head Chef required for Michelin Bib Gourmand Restaurant 2026

Join our award wining team in a positve work environment

Commitment to excellence at a Michelin level

We have an exciting opportunity for a Head Chef who is passionate about high qaulity cooking. Previous experience in a Head Chef or Snr Chef Sous role at a Michelin level would be advantageous. If you love working in and leading a Michelin award winning kitchen, then please read on.

About Treehouse

Treehouse is an intimate neighbourhood restaurant and bar located in the heart of Wānaka.

Hidden away and proudly doing things our own way, we have built a restaurant centred around thoughtful produce-driven food, a carefully curated wine and drinks programme, and relaxed yet highly attentive hospitality.

Our kitchen celebrates exceptional seasonal ingredients with creativity and precision, while our wine cellar showcases producers with character — from exceptional local vineyards to exciting discoveries from around the world.

Recently recognised with a Michelin Bib Gourmand 2026, Treehouse is passionate about delivering quality without pretension. We believe that exceptional hospitality is about creating an atmosphere where guests feel welcome, inspired and eager to return.

Key responsibilities:

You will support the Group Executive Chef in the smooth running of all kitchen operations whilst maintaining very high standards. You will be respsonsible for menu design, menu costings, rostering, prepartaion and cooking of very high quality dishes. The role requires the abitlity to work in a team environment with a strong emphasis on impeclpl food saftey standards. You will be leading the kitchen team in all aspects, with the additional support from our Group Executive Chef. You will need to be flexiable and adaptable in all situtations - including guests dietary requirements.

Skills, experience and attributes:

Four to five years relevant industry experience in high quality restaurants and/or relevant qualifications

A passion for excellence and continuous improvement

Understanding of food saftey and impeccable hygine standards

Excellent verbal and communication skills

Ability to build and maintain strong and respectful work relationships

Be organized, punctual and reliable

Be Friendly, energetic, and a positve can-do attitude

Be career-driven and have the desire to learn from the very best

About Us:

Dropping Inn are a multi-site hospitality cohort in beautiful Wanaka. Hospitality is a team sport. We create fun and rewarding working environments that offer pathways for personal and professional growth.

We believe in building strong connections with our staff and community through creating opportunities for people to come together showcasing New Zealands best ingredients.

Our Values:

People & Team Development

Cultivate Our Community

Make Every Visit Memorable

Improvement is a Daily Habit

Profit Matters

What we can offer:

Great salary/wage + opportunity for performance based bonus'(dependent on experience and shared goals).

Minimum 30 hours per week guaranteed.

Best perks in the business including discounts across all the venues.

Mulit site operation with genuine opportunity for career progression and professional development.

Support from our Group Executive Chef

We are an accredited employer, we can support applicants wanting to stay in NZ longer, and to transfer from a Working Holiday Visa to a Sponsored Visa.

Applicants must be located in New Zealand.

We can transfer visas but we are not looking to sponsor anyone from outside of New Zealand.