Chef / Site Manager – Chatswood Retirement Village, Christchurch

Monday – Friday (8:30am-5:30pm), 40 hours per week, Permanent.

Cater Plus is seeking an experienced and motivated Chef / Site Manager to lead the kitchen operation at Chatswood Retirement Village in Christchurch. This is a hands on leadership role, ideal for someone who enjoys cooking, managing people, and running a well organised kitchen in an aged care environment. This position has become available due to a resignation.

As Chef / Site Manager, you will take ownership of the day to day kitchen operation, ensuring residents receive nutritious, high quality meals while meeting food safety, cost, and service standards.

You’ll lead the onsite kitchen team while remaining actively involved in food preparation and service.
Key responsibilities
• Preparing, cooking, and presenting wholesome, quality meals for residents
• Adapting menus to meet individual dietary requirements
• Maintaining food quality and presentation across all meals
• Leading, supporting, and developing kitchen staff
• Managing kitchen rosters, timesheets, and daily staffing needs
• Ordering food and supplies in line with cycle menus and budgets
• Managing food and labour costs effectively
• Ensuring compliance with New Zealand Food Control Plans and food safety standards
• Maintaining a clean, safe, and hazard free kitchen environment
• Completing kitchen administration tasks, including:
o Daily reporting and meal records
o Site and kitchen communications
o Health and safety reporting
• Communicating operational matters with the Hiring Manager and Cater Plus Operations team
• Building positive relationships with residents, site staff, and stakeholders

About you
To be successful in this role, you will bring:
• Proven experience as a Chef, Chef Manager, or Site Manager in an aged care, hospitality, or institutional setting
• Strong cooking skills, including bulk cooking and menu delivery
• A practical understanding of New Zealand food safety regulations
• Confident people leadership and communication skills
• Strong time management and organisational ability
• A calm, flexible, and can do attitude
• Genuine care and professionalism when working with elderly residents

Who we are:
Cater Plus is one of New Zealand’s leading catering companies with over 740 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.