SEAFOOD COOKING & HOT SMOKING SPECIALIST

Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers; Upper Harbour; On-site; NZD 45,000 - 65,000; Part time

Job summary

Oceans Best – New Zealand Live Fish Market Ltd in Whenuapai is seeking a Seafood Cooking & Hot Smoking Specialist to develop ready-to-eat seafood products, from product trials through to commercial production. You will bring a background in seafood cooking, processing or product development, with hot smoking experience and a firm grasp of food safety systems to deliver high‑quality, safe finished products.

This hands-on role involves training production staff and collaborating with management to

Qualifications

• Commercial experience in ready-to-eat seafood products.
• Background in seafood cooking, processing, smoking or product development.
• Experience with hot smoking is desirable.
• Understanding of food safety requirements for ready-to-eat products.
• Experience with vacuum-packed or chilled ready-to-eat seafood would be an advantage.
• Strong attention to product quality, consistency and food safety.
• Experience working within an MPI-registered RMP, HACCP or equivalent food safety system would be an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Develop and trial cooked and hot-smoked seafood products, including mussels, fish and other seafood.
• Cooking, shucking, brining and hot-smoking processes.
• Establish consistent cooking and smoking parameters, including time and temperature.
• Conduct product trials and assess texture, flavour, colour, yield and overall quality.
• Assist with establishing and documenting validated cooking and hot-smoking processes.
• Train production staff in cooking, smoking and product handling procedures.
• Work with the management and food safety team to ensure processes are appropriately documented within the RMP.

Skills

Commercial seafood experience

Seafood cooking

Food safety knowledge

Hot smoking experience

Product development

Vacuum-packed/ chilled seafood

Strong quality focus

Job description

SEAFOOD COOKING & HOT SMOKING SPECIALIST

Oceans Best – New Zealand Live Fish Market Ltd
Location: Whenuapai
Type: Casual
Start: ASAP

About the Role

Oceans Best is developing a range of ready-to-eat cooked and hot-smoked seafood products, including mussels, fish and other seafood.

We are looking for an experienced Seafood Cooking & Hot Smoking Specialist with a strong background in ready-to-eat seafood processing, cooking or product development.

This is a hands‑on role for someone who understands commercial seafood processing and can help us develop safe, consistent and high-quality cooked and hot-smoked products from product trials through to commercial production.

Key Responsibilities

Develop and trial cooked and hot-smoked seafood products, including mussels, fish and other seafood.

Cooking, shucking, brining and hot-smoking processes.

Establish consistent cooking and smoking parameters, including time and temperature.

Conduct product trials and assess texture, flavour, colour, yield and overall quality.

Assist with establishing and documenting validated cooking and hot-smoking processes.

Train production staff in cooking, smoking and product handling procedures.

Work with the management and food safety team to ensure processes are appropriately documented within the RMP.

About You

We are looking for someone with:

Commercial experience in ready-to-eat seafood products.

A background in seafood cooking, processing, smoking or product development.

Experience with hot smoking is highly desirable.

Understanding of food safety requirements for ready-to-eat products.

Experience with vacuum-packed or chilled ready-to-eat seafood would be an advantage.

Strong attention to product quality, consistency and food safety.

Experience working within an MPI-registered RMP, HACCP or equivalent food safety system would be an advantage.