Kitchen Assistant

Job Description: Kitchen Assistant

Position Purpose: The Kitchen Assistant at Wharerata Café plays a key role in delivering high-
quality food and exceptional service to the Massey University community.
This position is responsible for the preparation, presentation, and delivery
of a wide range of food offerings, both for daily café service and campus-
wide catering. Working under the guidance of the Café Manager, the
Kitchen Assistant ensures all food is prepared in accordance with health
and safety standards, supports efficient kitchen operations, and
contributes to a positive, team-oriented workplace. The role is vital in
maintaining the café’s reputation for freshness, consistency, and customer
satisfaction.

Department: Estates Services – Commercial Services

Location: Palmerston North

Reports to: Café Operating Manager

Responsible for: Nil

Delegations: Nil

Job Title: Assistant - Kitchen

Key relationships: Internal External
Kitchen team Customers
Café 2IC Suppliers
Front of House Team
Associate Director Commercial
Services
Events Manager
Event Coordinator
Other University Staff

Massey University: We are a world-leading university in many academic disciplines and fields
of research. Our point of difference is research that is connected to
community and industry. Our researchers are developing expertise and
skills to advance human knowledge and understanding. Working together
across disciplines and locations, we solve national and global problems
through fundamental, applied and interdisciplinary research, while
culturally and artistically enriching our world.

We are deeply committed to being a Te Tiriti-led university, demonstrating
authentic leadership in contemporary Aotearoa New Zealand as we uphold
Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the founding document of our nation, and its principles
through our practice. We embrace this not just as an obligation but as a
real opportunity for the nation and its people.

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Our educators are preparing a new generation of global leaders. Our
students are diverse and are attracted to Massey because they want to
achieve their personal goals or make their mark in the world. They
experience world-class learning that recognises their intellectual and
cultural strengths, expands their horizons and prepares them to contribute
to a rapidly transforming world with skills, critical and creative thinking and
leadership.

We will be renowned for our passion and caring attitude. All Massey
campuses will be innovation ecosystems, acting as magnets for smart
enterprises. Wherever we are, we will operate in partnerships founded on
respect, trust and mutual benefit. Massey is not only defined by what we
do, but by how we do it.

About this area The Estates Management team is focused on maintaining and operating
the amenities, buildings and grounds of Massey's three campuses. It also
runs the Capital Projects (building related) for these campuses. The team
is made up of about 120 members who all play vital roles in ensuring a
positive student and staff experience. This role supports teaching and
research outcomes by ensuring that the Campus facilities and services
meet the needs of the University community. As part of Estates
Management, Commercial Services (also known as Massey Venues) is
tasked with the development and operational implementation of
Hospitality and Retail strategies across all three Massey University
Campuses. The catering team is responsible for the inhouse Cafés and the
catering of all internal and external events, conferences, and special
occasion celebrations.

Massey core capabilities

At Massey we are Tiriti-led, upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles through our practice, we:

• Demonstrate awareness of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its contribution to Aotearoa New Zealand

society.

• Understand the relevance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in relation to the work of the University and

the people we serve.

• Embracing Te Reo in relevant and practical ways in our workplace interactions and engagement

with external stakeholders, giving expression to Tikanga Māori and protocols that
demonstrates that we respect and value Māori conventions in appropriate settings.

At Massey we work together with mutual respect and caring. we:

• Act with integrity and trustworthiness and give credit to others for the work they do.
• Work cooperatively and inter-dependently to foster and promote the One University approach.
• Share knowledge and communicate professionally with courtesy and mutual respect.
• Are ethical in all transactions, working within the parameters of our policies and procedures.
• Are direct, truthful and maintain confidentiality.
• Seek to understand and appreciate our differences.
• Keep ourselves and others safe; work together to embrace with the University's health, safety,

wellbeing, emergency management and risk management policies, procedures and

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programmes; display commitment by actively supporting all wellbeing and safety initiatives,
and by actively engaging in health and safety improvement opportunities.

At Massey we are future-focused, results- oriented and strive for excellence. we:

• Take ownership and responsibility for delivering results to support achievement of University

objectives.

• Provide the best quality services to our customers (internal and external) ensuring our

students/ stakeholders are at the heart of everything we do.

• Deliver or support world-class research, teaching and learning and citizenship.
• Take personal responsibility for our performance, take pride in doing our job well, and commit

to ongoing personal and professional development.

• Are motivated and create a positive working environment where our values are reinforced.
• Anticipate and respond with agility and resilience to the changing needs of the University and

the communities we serve.

• Seek ways to improve our services to deliver in an efficient and effective way.
• Embrace technology and apply this innovatively to better meet the needs of those we serve.
• Challenge ourselves to reach our potential and help bring out the best in others.
• Understand how what we do contributes to the objectives of the University.

Accountabilities
Food Preparation & • Prepare a range of cabinet food including scones, muffins, cakes, slices,
Presentation sandwiches, and pies.

• Cook hot food items such as hot chips, wedges, soups, and items on our

seasonal hot menu.

• Ensure all food is presented attractively and consistently, maintaining a

high standard of quality.

• Maintain stock rotation and ensure items are fresh and well-labelled.
  

Catering & Delivery • Coordinate, prepare, and package catering orders in line with requests
and dietary requirements.

• Deliver catering across the Massey campus as needed, maintaining

professionalism and punctuality.

Kitchen Maintenance • Maintain a clean and organized kitchen space, adhering to food safety
& Hygiene and hygiene standards at all times.

• Complete daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning schedules.

• Ensure compliance with food handling procedures and health and

safety regulations.

Team Collaboration • Work closely with the Café Manager and 2IC to support the overall
success of the café.

• Assist Front of House (FOH) operations when required, including café

setup, basic service, and restocking.

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• Communicate effectively with other team members to ensure smooth

daily operations.

Customer Service & • From time to time, assist in customer-facing roles to support the café
Support during busy periods or staff shortages.

• Be a positive and approachable member of the team, contributing to a

welcoming and inclusive café environment.

Qualifications and Experience

Qualifications: • Food Safety Certificate (NZQA 167 and 168 preferred) or similar
relevant training or a willingness to complete these qualifications.

• A full driver’s licence is essential.

Experience: • Experience in catering or high-volume food preparation.

• Proven experience in a kitchen or café setting.
• Understanding of food safety and hygiene practices.
• Barista or front of house experience is desirable.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks under

pressure.

• Flexible and adaptable attitude, with a willingness to help across all

areas of the café.

Capabilities - Behaviour
Team Work • Conducts discussions in a respectful manner, that are sincere and fully
Essential expressed.

• Establishes and maintains productive working relationships within a

multicultural environment with diverse groups of people.

• Establishes and maintains credibility and appropriate confidentiality

with team members.

• Proactively identifies and addresses potential issues with and between

team members, including equity, diversity and inclusion.

• Works autonomously within flexible hours and demonstrates

availability and a willingness to work evenings and weekends, if
needed for particular functions/events.

Communication • Communicates effectively with team members, customers, and other

Essential stakeholders, both verbally and in writing.

• Listens actively to feedback, concerns, and suggestions from others

and responds with empathy and professionalism.

• Communicate company policies, procedures, and expectations clearly

and consistently to ensure alignment and understanding among all
stakeholders.

Problem-Solving • Identifies and analyses problems or challenges that arise in cart
Essential operations and, in consultation with the Operating Café Manager,

develops creative solutions to address them effectively.

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• Anticipate potential issues and proactively implement preventive

measures to minimise disruptions to service.

• Remains calm and composed under pressure, making decisions quickly

and decisively to resolve issues and maintain operational continuity.

• Develops a clear, complete understanding of needs and problems

through careful listening, probing, reflecting, and summarising.

• Helps to identify risks and benefits of alternative approaches and

obtain decision on resolution.

• Identifies and documents specific problems and resolution

alternatives.

Continuous • Adjusts current working processes or adopts new approaches in
Transformation response to changes in the work environment.
Essential • Explains lessons or experiences learned from mistakes and failures as

well as successes.

• Seeks opportunities or assignments to grow and develop.
• Implements new systems, procedures and tools efficiently when

changes occur.

• Organises own time and priorities well to ensure all tasks are

completed efficiently and in a timely way.

• Develops and uses appropriate systems, structures and processes to

meet departmental requirements.

• Takes responsibility for escalating issues that impact on planned work

and outcomes.

• Tracks and completes agreed work in planned timeframes.
• Maintains focus on critical work standards and expectations.

Service Excellence • Responds to unexpected stakeholder requests with a sense of urgency
Essential and positive action.

• Responds to common stakeholder queries and problems and escalates

if required.

• Provides a quality of service that stakeholders describe as excellent.
• Provides a level of customer centric service excellence that contributes

to the department’s objectives.

• Provides direct service to internal or external stakeholders.

Capabilities - Technical
Food Safety and • Maintain a thorough understanding of food safety regulations,
Sanitation including Health and Safety principles, and ensure compliance with all
Essential applicable standards and MPI Food Control Plans.

• Develop and implement comprehensive sanitation protocols to uphold

cleanliness and hygiene standards throughout the cafe.

Risk Management • Proactively identifies and manages risk.
Essential • Makes use of organisational resources for risk avoidance and

management.
Security • Performs basic security tasks according to security policies and
Management procedures and reports violations.

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Essential • Follows facility access, security control procedures to operate
equipment.

• Assesses potential security risks and notifies appropriate personnel.

Customer Service • Identifies key characteristics of effective customer service.
Management • Understands the need for and importance of meeting customers’
Essential needs with a service focus.

• Understands the issues escalation process for unresolved issues and

uses this for quick resolution.

• Facilitates the resolution of customer queries, issues, or concerns.
• Updates appropriate database with information required to provide

best ongoing service.

Pre-employment checks

Essential • Requirement to pass a Criminal and Traffic Convictions (Security)
Check performed by the Ministry of Justice.

• Requirement to pass a Credit History and No Asset Procedure (NAP)

Credit History Check performed by Equifax.

• Requirement to pass a Qualifications Validation Check.

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