Head Chef (2IC) - Ascot Park Hotel
Join a well-established, community-focused organisation and take the next step in your culinary career. We’re looking for a talented, motivated, and hands-on Head Chef to help drive excellence across all areas of our kitchen operations.
About the Role
Working closely with our Group Hotel Executive Chef, you’ll play a key leadership role in the day-to-day kitchen operations of the Ascot Park Hotel. Your focus will be on maintaining food quality, staff performance, and ensuring consistently high service standards.
You’ll oversee kitchen operations across:
- Emberz Restaurant & Bar
- Conference and function catering
- Offsite catering
- Hotel guest services and more
This is a busy, high-volume kitchen that serves a wide variety of guests and events — from casual diners and hotel guests to large-scale functions, weddings, and community events. This is a full-time, permanent role offering an exciting opportunity for a passionate culinary leader seeking long-term growth in a respected and professional hospitality environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee daily kitchen operations across multiple outlets, ensuring efficiency and consistency.
- Lead culinary delivery for conferences, functions, and high-profile events.
- Drive team performance by mentoring, training, and managing kitchen staff, including apprentices.
- Support the Executive Chef in upholding exceptional standards and fostering culinary innovation.
- Manage stock control, ordering, and supplier relationships to maintain cost efficiency and quality.
- Enforce strict compliance with food safety, hygiene, and allergen protocols, including digital systems (e.g., Chomp).
- Assume full operational leadership in the Executive Chef’s absence.
- Collaborate effectively with front-of-house, events, and hotel management to ensure seamless service execution.
About You
You’re a passionate, team-focused chef who leads by example. You can handle the pressures of a busy kitchen while maintaining high standards, and you’re keen to contribute to a positive, collaborative team environment.
To be successful in this role, you’ll need:
- 3–5 years’ experience as a Head Chef or senior Sous Chef in a high-volume kitchen
- Relevant culinary qualifications (Level 4 or above preferred)
- Experience with large-scale catering and event delivery
- Strong kitchen financial knowledge – budgeting, food cost, labour management
- Proven leadership and team development skills
- Great time management and organisational ability
- Solid understanding of food safety regulations and allergen requirements
- Experience with digital food safety systems (Chomp experience a plus)
- A positive attitude with flexibility, resilience, and a good sense of humour
Why Join ILT?
As a long-standing part of the Southland community, ILT offers stability, support, and a commitment to excellence. You’ll be part of a team that takes pride in delivering great experiences — and giving back to the community while doing it.
Sound like the opportunity you’ve been waiting for?
Apply now and take the next step in your culinary leadership journey. Applications will be considered as they arrive. To be successful in this role you must reside in NZ & be legally entitled to work.
Applications for this role will take you to the advertisers site.
