Chef Manager – Bluebird Café, Auckland

Monday to Friday, 6:00am – 2:30pm (40 hours per week)

Looking for a rewarding hospitality leadership role in South Auckland? An exciting opportunity has become available for a passionate, hands-on Chef Manager to lead the team at the vibrant Bluebird Café.

At Cater Plus, we're passionate about delivering great food and exceptional service, and we're looking for someone who shares that passion. Enjoy a rare hospitality opportunity working Monday to Friday, 6:00am – 2:30pm (40 hours per week), with weekends and public holidays free.

About the Role
Reporting directly to senior management, you will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the café while remaining actively involved in food preparation, cooking, service, and customer engagement.

This is a key leadership position where you'll lead, motivate, and support your team to consistently deliver high-quality food, outstanding customer service, and excellent operational standards. Building strong relationships with both the client and café customers will be a critical part of your success.

Key Responsibilities
• Preparing, cooking, and presenting fresh, high-quality café food
• Leading and supporting the café team to achieve excellent service and performance
• Managing the daily operations of the café
• Creating menus and adapting offerings to meet a variety of customer preferences and dietary requirements
• Planning and coordinating catering and functions
• Managing food and labour costs in line with budget expectations
• Ordering food and supplies and maintaining appropriate stock levels
• Completing daily and monthly administration tasks.
• Maintaining New Zealand Food Control Plan and Food Safety compliance
• Ensuring a clean, safe, tidy, and hazard-free environment
• Promoting Health & Safety standards and reporting requirements
• Building strong relationships with clients, customers, suppliers, and the wider Cater Plus team
• Delivering creative food initiatives, promotions, and themed events to enhance the customer experience

About You
You will be an experienced chef and leader who enjoys being hands-on while driving operational excellence. You will also have:
• At least 3 years' relevant hospitality or café management experience
• Proven experience leading and developing a team
• Strong food cost and labour cost management skills
• Excellent organisational and time-management abilities
• A sound understanding of New Zealand Food Safety and Food Control Plan requirements
• Good computer literacy, including email and reporting systems
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• Initiative, creativity, and a positive can-do attitude
• A passion for delivering exceptional food and customer service

Who we are:
Cater Plus is one of New Zealand’s leading catering companies with over 750 team members nationwide. We’re known for great food, great service, and creating workplaces where people feel supported, valued, and proud of what they do.

How to apply:
You must be legally entitled to work in New Zealand (NZ citizen, resident, or valid work visa). Please include your current visa status and expiry date (if applicable) with your application.

Applications are reviewed as they come in, so don’t miss out. Apply now with your CV and a brief cover letter telling us why you’d be great for the role.