- Are you passionate about creating nutritious meals that delight children and support their development?
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, including salary details.
If this link is not available, click 'apply' to view this on the University career's page.
Close date for vacancy: 22 October 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.
About Us
Mō Te Herenga Waka - About Our University
Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is renowned for its high-quality research and exceptional teaching. We attract people from around the world. Our university campus spans Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington - the creative, scientific and political centre of Aotearoa New Zealand - and our students thrive on the connections we have made here.
Explore the many benefits of working at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington. Find out where you fit in our strategic direction and learn more about our research expertise.
Posted: 2026-10-08