Sous Chef

Wai Hospitality Group; Queenstown; On-site; NZD 50,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff meals and drinks

40% staff discount across Wai venues

Accommodation assistance

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Wai Hospitality Group in Queenstown is seeking an experienced Sous Chef to join Public Italian Kitchen, Finz Seafood & Grill, or Bella Cucina. You will help lead a professional kitchen, prepare and present dishes, and contribute to menu development in a high-standards environment.

You should have at least 3 years in a commercial kitchen, a cookery qualification, and a positive, reliable work ethic. We offer competitive hourly pay, rostered shifts, staff meals, discounts, and development

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years in a professional commercial kitchen.
• Cookery qualification with at least 1 year of commercial kitchen experience.
• Passion for food and hospitality.
• Positive attitude, reliability and strong work ethic.
• Ability to work well under pressure in a fast-paced kitchen.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, cook and present dishes per restaurant standards.
• Assist head chef with menu development and costing.
• Use Loaded and Chomp programs to achieve cost and efficiency.
• Contribute to writing rosters and kitchen wage KPIs.
• Monitor portions and control waste to protect margins.
• Train kitchen staff to maintain quality.
• Communicate effectively with kitchen and front-of-house teams.
• Ensure customers receive the best possible dining experience.
• Handle prep lists, ordering, stock takes and COG KPI tracking.

Skills

Professional kitchen experience

Cookery qualification

Passion for food

Positive attitude

Work under pressure

Communication & teamwork

Education

Cookery qualification

Tools

Loaded

Chomp

Job description

Public Italian Kitchen | Finz Seafood & Grill | Bella Cucina

Sous Chef | Queenstown | Full-time | Permanent

Passionate about great food? So are we.

Wai Hospitality Group operates three of Queenstown's most established restaurants – Public Italian Kitchen, Finz Seafood & Grill, and Bella Cucina. Each venue has its own style and identity, but we all share the same philosophy - exceptional food, genuine hospitality, and a positive team culture.

We're looking for experienced Sous Chefs who take pride in their craft, enjoy working with quality produce, and want to be part of a professional kitchen where standards matter.

If you're an ambitious chef looking for a long-term opportunity in one of New Zealand's leading hospitality destinations, we'd love to hear from you.

What you'll be doing

• Preparing, cooking and presenting dishes as per the restaurant's standard\s


• Helping the head chef to develop and cost new dishes.


• Use programs; Loaded and Chomp to achieve costs and efficiencies.


• Helping to writing rosters and contributing to kitchen wage KPI's


• Monitoring portion and waste control, correct storage of goods to help maintain profit margins.


• Training kitchen staff


• Communication with other kitchen staff and the restaurant team.


• Ensure the customers experience the best the restaurant has to offer


• Prep lists,ordering, stock takes, cost of goods KPI's
  

What we're looking for

• At least 3 years' experience in a professional commercial kitchen, or


• A cookery qualification with at least 1 year of commercial kitchen experience.


• A genuine passion for food and hospitality.


• A positive attitude, reliability and strong work ethic.


• The ability to work well under pressure in a fast-paced kitchen.


• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.

What we offer

• Competitive pay of $36.00–$42.00 per hour, depending on experience.


• Full-time permanent employment.


• Rostered shifts across Monday to Sunday.


• Staff meal and drink every shift.


• 40% staff discount across all Wai Hospitality Group venues.


• Ongoing professional development and career progression opportunities.


• A supportive, stable and experienced management team.


• Accommodation assistance may be available for the right candidate.

Right to work

We welcome applications from New Zealand citizens, permanent residents, and holders of valid New Zealand work visas. Wai Hospitality Group is an Accredited Employer, and for exceptional overseas candidates who meet our requirements, Accredited Employer Work Visa support may be available.

If you're looking for more than just another kitchen job and want to build your career with a respected hospitality group, we'd love to hear from you.

Learn more about us:

www.publickitchen.co.nz | www.finzseafoodandgrill.co.nz | www.bellacucina.co.nz