Company Description:
Chef Manager – Be Part of Something Special in Our Brand-Village Cafe!
Summerset Waikanae is preparing to open the doors to its brand new cafe – a stunning addition to our already vibrant village community. With its beautiful location this new space will be the jewel in our crown – and we’re looking for a passionate Chef Manager to help bring it to life.
You can help bring our villages to life!
At Summerset, from the moment we start developing a village, to when our residents call it home, it’s the passion and dedication of our people that brings our villages to life. We are one team united by being part of something bigger – to bring the best of life to our residents.
Job Description:
As our Chef Manager, you’ll oversee all kitchen operations – from resident meals to vibrant café offerings, events such as cultural or fine dining evenings – all while leading a passionate culinary team.
Your day-to-day will include:
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Preparing and cooking delicious set meals for residents who can’t make it to the café
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Creating enticing café menus and cabinet food that appeals to a wide audience
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Managing food preparation for special events and celebrations
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Ensuring full compliance with our Food Control Plan
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Supporting a culture of warmth, care, and excellence in everything we do
This role will commence beginning in early January 2026. Hours will be Monday to Friday however for the month of March you will be required to work Tuesday to Saturday to support the café during its initial launch phase.
Please click here to view the full job description.
Qualifications:
You’ll be a qualified, experienced Chef with a passion for food and people. You thrive in a busy kitchen, lead by example, and love bringing people together through great food.
You’ll also bring:
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A recognised professional cookery qualification
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Proven experience as a Chef in a high-output kitchen, across set meal plans for care as well as café experience
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A solid understanding of food safety and compliance requirements
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Strong leadership and communication skills
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A love for mentoring and supporting others in the kitchen
At Summerset, we believe diversity strengthens our team and enriches the care we provide. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences, and walks of life—including those with transferable skills from other industries. You may not tick all the requirements, and that’s okay; we value what you bring to the table and look at the whole individual. We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported to thrive.
Equal opportunity is at the heart of how we recruit, and we encourage you to bring your unique perspective and passion to our team.
Additional Information:
We are proud to show our appreciation for the passion and commitment our people show every day, by offering a selection of employee benefits:
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Great work-life balance with weekly hours Monday to Friday. Occasional weekend and nights will be required for events.
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Southern Cross Health Essentials Insurance
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Ongoing training & development, including opportunities to gain further culinary qualifications
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A role where your food genuinely makes a difference every single day
This is your chance to take the lead in a fresh, exciting environment where your creativity, leadership, and love of food will be truly valued.
Bring your passion. Build your team. Shape something special with Summerset.
Next Steps: Applications for this role will close on Thursday 6th November.