KITCHEN MANAGER

Are you an experienced cook with strong leadership skills, excellent communication, and a passion for food?

The New Plymouth Sportfishing & Underwater Club is seeking a motivated, experienced, and hands-on Kitchen Manager to lead our kitchen operations.

We're a well-established, community-focused club with a welcoming atmosphere, loyal membership base and a busy calendar of fishing competitions, functions, and events.

We're looking for an organised, proactive all-rounder who can bring fresh ideas, lead a team, and take ownership of the kitchen's day-to-day operations and performance.

About the Role:

• This is a varied, hands-on position combining cooking, team leadership, kitchen administration, and operational management.
• A key focus of this role will be helping establish effective food costing, inventory management, and stock control systems to improve kitchen efficiency and financial performance.
• We're seeking someone with the practical knowledge and experience to lead these improvements in collaboration with Club Management.

Key responsibilities include:

• Preparing and delivering quality meals for regular service, functions and events.
• Leading, supporting and coordinating the kitchen team, including rostering and staffing requirements.
• Developing and implementing food costing, inventory control and wastage management systems.
• Managing supplier orders, stock levels, portion control and purchasing.
• Developing and updating menus, weekly specials and catering options.
• Planning and coordinating catering for private functions, fishing competitions and events.
• Maintaining food safety standards, cleaning schedules and compliance.
• Managing kitchen administration, including supplier communications, record keeping and computer and POS systems.
• Working collaboratively with Club Management and the bar team to ensure smooth operations.
• Identifying and implementing opportunities to improve kitchen efficiency, customer satisfaction and profitability.

About You:

• We're looking for a confident, capable all-rounder who can manage the kitchen independently while helping develop and improve its operations.

You'll bring:

• Proven experience in commercial cooking and kitchen operations, ideally with previous management or supervisory experience.
• Practical experience in food costing, stock control and inventory management, with the ability to develop and implement effective systems.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills, including the confidence to manage staff, delegate responsibilities and address issues professionally.
• Strong organisational, administrative and computer skills, including email, spreadsheets, Microsoft Office or similar programmes.
• The ability to remain calm, organised and solutions-focused during busy services.
• Initiative, creativity and a proactive approach to menu development and operational improvements.
• Sound knowledge of food safety requirements and kitchen compliance.
• A flexible, reliable and team-focused attitude.

Formal culinary qualifications would be an advantage, but practical experience, management capability and the right attitude are equally important.

Hours of Work & Flexibility:

• A minimum of 20 guaranteed hours per week, with hours typically increasing during busier periods, functions and events. Weekly hours may vary depending on seasonal demand, with opportunities to work 30–35 hours during busy periods.
• Our kitchen currently operates Thursday to Sunday, 5pm–8pm, with additional catering requirements at various times throughout the week, including weekdays, evenings and weekends. Reasonable advance notice of scheduled functions and roster changes will be provided.

We're looking for someone who is enthusiastic about growing our kitchen operations, with opportunities to increase trading hours, develop new menus and expand our food offering as the club continues to grow.

Flexibility, initiative and excellent communication are essential to successfully managing the varied demands of this role.

What We Offer:

• A welcoming, community-focused working environment.
• An established kitchen team and supportive Club Management.
• The opportunity to take ownership of kitchen improvements and help shape the future of our food offering.
• A varied role across club dining, functions and events.
• Remuneration based on experience and suitability.

Interested?

If you're an experienced kitchen professional looking for a new opportunity where you can make a real difference, we'd love to hear from you!

Please send your CV and a brief introduction outlining your relevant experience to: npsuc@xtra.co.nz

Please ask if you would like a copy of the job description.

Applications will be reviewed as received.

New Plymouth Sportfishing & Underwater Club – Fishing, Friendship, Community.