Cook

- Are you passionate about creating nutritious meals that delight children and support their development?

- Do you have a certificate in food handling or willingness to undertake one?

- Have you been looking for a permanent, part-time role?
Kōrero mō te tūranga - About the role
Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is currently recruiting for a permanent, part-time Cook to join the Ngā Ratonga Kohungahunga - University Kids Wellington team at Clermont Terrace, Kelburn.
Key responsibilities:

- Support Children’s Well-being:
- Prepare and serve delicious, nutritious meals tailored to individual needs, allergies, and cultural preferences.

- Create a safe, welcoming kitchen environment and involve children in food preparation to foster positive relationships with food.

- Assist with supervision and respond flexibly to children’s nutritional needs, including bottle prep and snacks.

- Build Strong Relationships with Families:
- Provide exceptional customer service and communicate openly with parents about menus, nutrition, and food safety.

- Share recipes, invite input into menu planning, and ensure parents feel confident and respected.

- Collaborate with Colleagues and the University:
- Maintain high standards of professionalism, time management, and teamwork.

- Engage in ongoing learning and contribute positively to the centre’s culture and compliance with regulations.

- Maintain Excellence in Kitchen Operations:
- Ensure food is prepared and presented to the highest standards.

- Uphold health and safety protocols, manage inventory responsibly, and maintain a clean, organized kitchen.

- Ensure food is served on time and ready for children to eat.

- Work without supervision and demonstrate excellent time management skills.

- Ensure the kitchen area is kept in a tidy state so that it creates a positive impression to parents and visitors of the centre. Direct others to remove items, clear mess if necessary.

Ō pūmanawa - About you
You will:

- Be a warm, patient, and proactive individual who loves working with children.

- Have a strong knowledge of nutrition, food safety, and early childhood dietary needs.

- Excellent time management and the ability to work independently and a commitment to continuous improvement and respectful collaboration.

Key requirements:

- Ability to work within a budget.

- Certificate in food handling - or willingness to undertake.

- Current first aid certificate - or willingness to undertake.

- A satisfactory Police vet record.

- Good basic computing skills.

- This role requires repeated lifting and physical fitness.

Role Description : Click here to see further information.
If this link is not available, click 'apply' to view this on the University career's page.
Close date for vacancy: 20 November 2026.
Contact details for vacancy:  If you have any questions regarding this role please get in touch with Maria-Louisa Maresca, Head of Complex, Clermont Terrace ( maria-louisa.maresca@vuw.ac.nz ).
How to apply: Please ensure you are applying for this role directly on our careers page and not via email. Candidates must submit supporting documents along with their resume, such as a cover letter. Applicants who do not have residency or citizenship and require a visa to work at the University must clearly indicate their visa status in their application and understand that if they do not have a current, relevant visa, they will need to secure this independently.