Head Chef – Café Chain – Napier

Head Chef – Café Chain – Napier

Location: Napier, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand
Experience Required: Minimum 6 years in professional kitchens with at least 2–3 years in a leadership or head chef role, preferably in cafés, bistros, or casual dining setups.
Cuisine Focus: Globally inspired café menu including breakfast, brunch, light mains, baked goods, and seasonal specialties.

Job Description:

We are hiring a dynamic and creative Head Chef to lead the kitchen operations for a well-established café chain located in the vibrant coastal city of Napier. The ideal candidate will be responsible not only for kitchen leadership and culinary execution but also for ensuring operational efficiency, staff mentorship, and strategic menu development aligned with current trends and customer expectations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee and manage day-to-day kitchen operations across multiple café units if required.
• Design, develop, and implement seasonal menus and weekly specials focusing on fresh, locally sourced produce.
• Monitor and control food costs, budgeting, supplier negotiations, and inventory systems.
• Ensure quality, taste, and presentation consistency across all offerings.
• Train, supervise, and motivate kitchen staff including Sous Chefs, CDPs, and Commis.
• Enforce health, hygiene, and food safety standards (FCP compliance in New Zealand).
• Collaborate with the front-of-house team for seamless customer service experience.
• Maintain kitchen equipment and coordinate preventive maintenance schedules.
• Lead recruitment and onboarding of new kitchen team members when needed.

Salary Range:

NZD 75,000 – NZD 85,000 per annum
Work Hours: Full-time (40–45 hours/week), flexible shifts including weekends and holidays

IELTS Requirements for Immigration & Work Visa (Chef Category):

For candidates applying under the New Zealand Accredited Employer Work Visa or Skilled Migrant pathways:

• IELTS General Training Minimum Requirement:
  • Overall Band: 6.0 – 6.5
  • Individual Bands: No less than 5.5 in each of the four modules (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking)

OR

• Equivalent test scores accepted by Immigration New Zealand:
  • TOEFL iBT: 60–93
  • PTE Academic: 50–58
  • Cambridge English (FCE or B2 First): Score of 169 or higher

Note: IELTS (General Training) is strongly preferred and widely accepted for chef visa processing.

Additional Information:

• Visa sponsorship may be provided to eligible international candidates.
• Accommodation support during relocation and onboarding assistance may be available.
• Performance-based bonuses and annual appraisal included.
• Opportunities for promotion into multi-outlet or executive-level roles within the café group.

To explore more chef job opportunities in New Zealand and worldwide, visit:
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