Senior Sous Chef

Dishery; Arrowtown; On-site; NZD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Strong remuneration

Free health insurance

Staff discounts across the group

Job summary

Dishery in Arrowtown is seeking a Senior Sous Chef to lead daily kitchen operations, support the Executive Chef, and help drive seasonal menus in a high-energy brunch-focused setting.

You will mentor the kitchen team, oversee prep, service flow, and ordering, while maintaining food safety, costs, and quality. This role suits a proactive leader who thrives in a fast-paced, riverside venue.

Qualifications

• 2+ years’ experience in a senior kitchen role (Sous Chef or above).
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to stay calm, organised, and decisive during busy services.
• High-level technical cooking skills with a sharp eye for consistency and detail.
• Experience with stock control, ordering systems, and food costing.
• Solid knowledge of food safety, compliance, and kitchen best practice.
• A positive, team-first attitude with a genuine passion for mentoring and building great kitchen culture.

Responsibilities

• Leading daily kitchen operations across prep, service, and close-down, ensuring smooth, efficient services.
• Supporting menu development, seasonal changes, and maintaining Dishery’s food quality and presentation standards.
• Managing ordering, stock rotation, food costs, and waste in collaboration with the Executive Chef.
• Training, mentoring, and supporting Sous Chefs, CDPs, and the wider kitchen team.
• Owning kitchen systems including Chomp food safety, hygiene standards, and health & safety compliance.
• Overseeing prep lists, section organisation, and rostering to ensure service readiness.
• Acting as kitchen lead in the Executive Chef’s absence.

Skills

Leadership

Kitchen management

Stock control

Food costing

Food safety

Mentoring

Seasonal menu development

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.

Dishery isn’t your average Arrowtown spot. Tucked riverside in the heart of town, we’re the place where the coffee’s strong, the playlists hit every time, and brunch has a habit of rolling into something a little later. Think elevated classics, boozy brunch energy (yes, spritzes flow from the taps), and service that’s effortless and on point.

Good people. Good tunes. Spritzes on clock-off. If you’re keen on a job that feels like the best part of your day, Dishery’s got your name on it. Strong remuneration, free health insurance (where eligible), and staff discounts across the group (The Boat Shed Cafe, The Boat Shed Bakery, and Canyon Brewing).

Do we sound like your type on paper? Read on.

Enough about us, here’s a bit about your new role.

As Senior Sous Chef, you’re a key leader in the kitchen, supporting the Executive Chef to keep services sharp, standards high, and the team firing on all cylinders. You’ll take ownership of prep, service flow, and people, stepping confidently into the lead when required and helping drive the development of our seasonal menus.

Your day will involve:

• Leading daily kitchen operations across prep, service, and close-down, ensuring smooth, efficient services
• Supporting menu development, seasonal changes, and maintaining Dishery’s food quality and presentation standards
• Managing ordering, stock rotation, food costs, and waste in collaboration with the Executive Chef
• Training, mentoring, and supporting Sous Chefs, CDPs, and the wider kitchen team
• Owning kitchen systems including Chomp food safety, hygiene standards, and health & safety compliance
• Overseeing prep lists, section organisation, and rostering to ensure service readiness
• Acting as kitchen lead in the Executive Chefs absence

You will bring:

• 2+ years’ experience in a senior kitchen role (Sous Chef or above)
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to keep calm, organised, and decisive during busy services
• High-level technical cooking skills and a sharp eye for consistency and detail
• Experience with stock control, ordering systems, and food costing
• Solid knowledge of food safety, compliance, and kitchen best practice
• A positive, team-first attitude with a genuine passion for mentoring and building great kitchen culture

If you’re ready to step into a senior leadership role in a kitchen that balances high standards with good energy, we’d love to hear from you.