Cumberland Early Education Centre - Cook

We are seeking an energetic and enthusiastic Cook to join our team. The ideal candidate will be passionate about providing children with healthy, nutritious meals that encourage lifelong healthy eating habits.

Cumberland Early Education Centre is a modern purpose-built centre located in Borman Road, Hamilton North. Our centre provides nutritious, balanced meals to 120 children each day, and we take pride in making healthy food a key part of our learning environment.

About the Role:

As the heart of our kitchen, you'll work closely with our teaching team to promote healthy eating habits and support the well-being of our tamariki. Your experience in kitchen operations and large-group catering will make you an essential part of our daily operations. This is an active, hands-on role that requires lots of energy, as you will be on your feet throughout the day.

The hours of work for this position are Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 4:00pm, 7.5 hours per day, 37.5 hours per week.

In this role, you will:

• Prepare and provide healthy, nutritious meals and snacks for children
• Work alongside our centre cooks to plan and rotate seasonal menus
• Order supplies and manage kitchen budgets
• Liaise with staff and families regarding children’s dietary requirements and restrictions
• Implement work practices to ensure kitchen equipment is maintained safely and hygienically
• Ensure compliance with food safety compliance and accurate documentation

What’ll you’ll bring

To succeed in this role, you will:

• Have experience in a commercial or childcare centre kitchen
• Be confident managing allergies, intolerances and dietary requirements
• Maintain high standards of food safety and kitchen compliance
• Be organised and comfortable with checklists, audits and planning
• Build positive, respectful relationships with children and colleagues
• Be a strong communicator with a collaborative mindset
• Share a genuine passion for children’s nutrition and wellbeing

We’re looking for someone who:

• Holds a current Food Handling Certificate
• A clean police check: we will undertake this as part of your application
• Has NZ residency or a valid work visa

Why join us?

• Childcare fee discounts
• Competitive pay rate
• A supportive and friendly team environment

Understanding the Food Safety Act and compliance requirements, along with cooking for large groups, will be advantageous. If you're enthusiastic, dedicated, we'd love to hear from you!