Chef

You can help bring our villages to life!  

At Summerset, from the moment we start developing a village, to when our residents call it home, it’s the passion and dedication of our people that brings our villages to life. We are one team united by being part of something bigger – to bring the best of life to our residents.  

We’re looking for a dedicated Chef to join our team at Summerset Palms in Te Awa. This is more than just a kitchen job — it’s a chance to be part of something meaningful, where every meal you prepare brings joy, comfort, and nourishment to the lives of our residents.

As our Chef you are not only responsible for resident production meals but delivering the vibrant café menu and varied cabinet assortment to entice guests and visitors and catering to a range of diets.

Your day-to-day responsibilities will include:

• Preparing and cooking set meals that are delivered to residents that can’t come to the café
• Cooking short orders for your cafe customers
• Assisting with creating a beautiful café specials menu 
• Complying with the approved Food Control Plan
• Providing support and guidance to the kitchen team regarding food preperation techniques

Alongside your day to day you can demonstrate your creative culinary flair catering our village fine dining and themed events.

This is a full time role offering 40 hours per week on a rotating roster.

You will be an experienced and passionate Chef who loves to put people at the heart of their food. You will be used to a fast-paced kitchen where you will be preparing set meals as well as café orders. This role is ideal for someone who takes pride in their work, loves bringing people together over food, and enjoys going the extra mile for their customers.

To be successful you will bring:

• A professional cookery qualification
• Experience working as a Cook or a Chef
• Sound understanding of Food Safety Plans
• A team player who loves passing on their culinary knowledge to their colleagues

At Summerset, we believe diversity strengthens our team and enriches the care we provide. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences, and walks of life—including those with transferable skills from other industries. You may not tick all the requirements, and that’s okay; we value what you bring to the table and look at the whole individual. We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported to thrive.

Equal opportunity is at the heart of how we recruit, and we encourage you to bring your unique perspective and passion to our team.

We are proud to show our appreciation for the passion and commitment our people show every day, by offering a selection of employee benefits:

Our benefits include:

• Weekend additional penal hourly rates apply 
• The ability to grow your career across a variety of roles in Summerset
• Opportunities to gain further recognised culinary qualifications
• Southern Cross Health Essentials Insurance

Next Steps: Applications for this role will close on Friday 12th December. This role may close early due to an increased number of applications - apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment!