Centre Cook (BestStart Wooing Tree)
A New Year, New Opportunity in the Heart of Central Otago
BestStart Wooing Tree is seeking a passionate and dedicated Cook to join our warm, energetic, and tight-knit team. Our centre is committed to providing high-quality care and education to tamariki in our local community, and great food is a big part of that!
Love cooking? Enjoy being around children? Thriving in the Central Otago lifestyle?
We’re looking for a reliable and organised cook to prepare healthy, child-friendly meals, maintain an MPI-compliant kitchen, and support our Healthy Heart programme. You’ll be an important part of our daily rhythms, helping create a safe, welcoming food environment where tamariki can flourish.
Why BestStart Wooing Tree?
Nestled beside the iconic Wooing Tree vineyard in the heart of Cromwell, our purpose-built centre is designed to feel like a home away from home - connected, welcoming, and rooted in our local whenua. Our learning spaces and beautiful outdoor areas celebrate the Central Otago landscape, inspiring exploration and a sense of belonging.
Our Vision: Rooted in whenua, growing through aroha, reaching out with whanaungatanga.
About the Role
We are looking for a dedicated centre cook to plan and prepare nutritious meals and snacks, manage kitchen supplies, and uphold the highest standards of food hygiene and safety.
This is a permanent role, 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday.
Whether you’re new to the food industry or bring years of experience, if you have a passion for feeding young children well, we’d love to hear from you.
You will:
- Prepare fresh, nutritious morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea
- Create culturally diverse menus
- Uphold MPI-compliant food safety standards
- Manage weekly orders and kitchen budgets
- Maintain a clean, organised, and welcoming kitchen
- Engage positively with children and the team
Our Ideal Candidate
You will bring:
- Strong knowledge of food safety, hygiene, and health standards
- Passion for cooking and baking
- Understanding of allergies, intolerances, and dietary needs
- Basic computer skills for menu planning and ordering
- Reliability, organisation, and the confidence to work independently
- A commitment to promoting healthy eating for tamariki
What We Offer
- Paid Food Handling Certificate
- Access to Whare Ako – our online learning platform
- Career development and training support
- $2000* refer-a-qualified-teacher bonus
- Discounted childcare
- Subsidised health insurance*
- Free annual flu vaccinations
- Confidential EAP counselling
- Wellbeing programme
- Sick leave from day one
- One week of additional leave after 10 years of service
How to Apply! Click Apply Now to join a team that values collaboration, growth, and the wellbeing of our tamariki. We can’t wait to welcome you to BestStart Wooing Tree – A Place to Grow, Belong, and Flourish.
Applications for this role will take you to the advertisers site.
