Head Chef

We're looking for a passionate and experienced Head Chef to join our Wakatipu catering operations team. In this role, you'll work closely with the Executive Chef to lead, develop, and oversee kitchen operations across our unique lake and land based venues, including Walter Peak and Whakatipu vessels.

This is a hands on leadership position where you'll balance operational excellence, team development, food quality, and commercial performance-while delivering exceptional dining experiences in one of New Zealand's most iconic locations.

• Lead day to day kitchen operations across the Homestead and vessels, ensuring everything runs smoothly
• Inspire, mentor, and develop your team to deliver consistently great results
• Manage stock, ordering, and costs while keeping waste to a minimum
• Maintain high standards of food quality, presentation, and service
• Support menu development, including seasonal updates and special events
• Ensure all food safety, hygiene, and compliance standards are met
• Keep kitchens, equipment, and workspaces clean, organised, and well maintained
• Work closely with suppliers, contractors, and internal teams to keep operations running efficiently
• Take ownership of admin tasks like timesheets and step up as needed to support the wider team

• Relevant culinary qualification and proven experience in a commercial kitchen
• Proven experience in menu development and food costing
• Strong background in café and pastry production
• Solid knowledge and management of Food Control Plans
• Experience across a variety of cuisines
• Experience at Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef level (1-2 years preferred)
• Strong leadership, coaching, and mentoring skills
• Excellent communication and team building ability
• Commercial awareness and ability to deliver results

You're a resilient and self aware leader who thrives in a dynamic environment. You bring a collaborative mindset, inspire high performance in your team, and are driven to continuously improve both people and processes. You balance creativity with commercial thinking and take pride in delivering memorable guest experiences.

• This is a full time permanent position with guaranteed fortnightly hours
• Enjoy staff perks such as free or discounted adventures, including white water rafting, the Te Anau Glowworm Caves, cruising Milford and Doubtful Sound and discovering Rakiura
• Medical insurance cover
• Free Cardrona x Treble Cone ski / bike pass

At RealNZ, we're committed to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Guided by our values of Pono (Keep it real) and He waka eke noa (We're all in this together), we embrace and celebrate the unique perspectives and experiences that make our team stronger. Everyone is welcome here.