Kitchen Assistant

University of Otago; Dunedin; On-site; NZD 36,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stable, permanent employment

Supportive team environment

Opportunity to develop skills in food/

Semester-time working arrangements

Job summary

The University of Otago in Dunedin is seeking a Kitchen Assistant to join the Central Production Kitchen team. This permanent, full-time, semester-time-only role helps deliver high-quality meals to thousands of students each day.

Hours are 40 per week on a rostered basis, starting September 2026. The appointment range is $26.43 to $27.48 per hour, with work located in Dunedin on campus.

Qualifications

• No formal qualifications stated in the ad.

Responsibilities

• Wash dishes, trays, utensils, and kitchen equipment.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and organised kitchen environment.
• Assist with basic food preparation as required.
• Support chefs and kitchen staff with daily tasks.
• Follow food safety and health and safety procedures.
• Receive and store deliveries.
• Assist with end-of-day cleaning and shutdown procedures.

Skills

Food handling

Teamwork

Attention to detail

Tools

Dishwashing equipment

Job description

College Catering is one of New Zealand's largest institutional food service operations, producing more than 8,500 meals each day across eleven University Colleges. Our team takes pride in providing quality food and service that supports the student experience and contributes to Otago's vibrant collegiate community.

University of Otago – North Dunedin, South Island

The role/Te mahi

We are seeking a reliable and motivated Kitchen Assistant to join our busy Central Production Kitchen team. Working in a fast-paced and supportive environment, you'll play an important role in helping deliver high-quality meals to thousands of students each day.

Key responsibilities

• Washing dishes, trays, utensils, and kitchen equipment.
• Maintaining a clean, safe, and organised kitchen environment.
• Assisting with basic food preparation as required.
• Supporting chefs and kitchen staff with daily tasks.
• Following food safety and health and safety procedures.
• Receiving and storing deliveries.
• Assisting with end-of-day cleaning and shutdown procedures.

What we offer

• Stable, permanent employment within a well-established organisation.
• A supportive and inclusive team environment.
• Opportunities to develop food service and hospitality skills.
• Semester-time working arrangements.

This is a permanent, full-time, semester-time-only position based in Dunedin, working during the academic year (February to November).

Hours of work are 40 hours per week, worked on a rostered basis.

The successful candidate will commence in September 2026.

The appointment range is $26.43 to $27.48 per hour.

While this position will initially be based in the Central Production Kitchen, it may be relocated to another University College on the Dunedin campus to meet operational requirements.

You must have the right to live and work in New Zealand to apply for this position.

For further information, or to discuss the role in confidence, please contact Executive Chef Charlie Mancey via the contact details below.