Sous Chef - Strata lounge, Auckland Airport

Lead culinary excellence. Create premium dining experiences. Elevate your career in a world-class airport lounge.

• Premium hospitality environment – showcase your culinary talent in one of Auckland Airport’s exclusive lounge experiences.
• Leadership opportunity – step into a key role supporting and developing a high-performing kitchen team.
• Varied and dynamic work – from à la carte service to buffets, events, and menu development, no two days are the same.

He angitūtanga | The opportunity

As a Sous Chef at Strata Lounge, you will support the delivery of exceptional food experiences for lounge guests while maintaining the highest standards of food quality, presentation, safety, and service. Working closely with the Head Chef, you'll help lead kitchen operations, supervise the team, and ensure an outstanding customer experience. This is a Permanent Full Time position.

Ko o kawenga | Your responsibilities

• Support and lead kitchen operations, including supervising the kitchen in the Head Chef's absence.
• Prepare, cook, and present high-quality dishes while maintaining food consistency and quality standards.
• Assist with menu planning, buffet preparation, and catering for special dietary and cultural requirements.
• Manage stock control, ordering, storage, and waste minimisation processes.
• Coach and develop team members while ensuring compliance with food safety, hygiene, and health & safety standards.

He kōrero mōu | About you

• NZQA Level 4 Certificate in Cookery (or equivalent) with proven experience in a commercial kitchen environment.
• Previous supervisory or leadership experience with the ability to coach and develop others.
• Strong understanding of food safety, kitchen operations, stock control, and quality standards.
• Excellent communication skills with a positive, professional, and customer-focused approach.
• Able to work under pressure, remain organised, and thrive in a fast-paced hospitality environment.

Ngā painga | Benefits & Perks

• Enjoy competitive pay plus bonuses and comprehensive benefits.
• A key leadership role within a dynamic, growth-focused sector.
• The opportunity to lead and shape a high-performing team.
• Career development and growth within the global Compass Group framework.
• A supportive and collaborative work environment.
• The chance to be part of a leading organisation in the industry.
• Exclusive discounts on medical insurance, banking services, hotels, and more.
• Experience our supportive culture with flexible working options and Employee Assistance Programmes.

Please visit our Benefits page for a comprehensive list of our benefits.

Mō mātou | About us

• We are New Zealand's leading and largest food and support services provider across multiple industries.
• Our sub-brands, Eurest, Chartwells, Restaurant Associates, Medirest, ESS and Rapport manage these industry sectors.
• We specialise in turning ordinary acts of service into extraordinary experiential moments for our clients. With innovative and talented teams across New Zealand, we transform experiences from being GOOD to GREAT.
• Our people are awesome, they breathe life into our brands and make great things happen!
• Our strength comes from the combination of the things we have in common - our shared values, vision, and purpose and to make our commitment unique for you - RESPECT, GROWTH, and TEAMWORK are the founding pillars of these commitments.
• We are committed to reflecting the diversity of our customers, suppliers, and colleagues. We also prioritise sustainability in everything we do, ensuring an inclusive and equitable environment for all.

Successful candidates will be able to pass pre-employment checks satisfactorily.

Applicants for this position should have NZ residency or a valid NZ work visa.

Ready to take your culinary career to new heights at Auckland International Airport? Click 'Apply' now!

For any recruitment queries please contact the Compass Group Recruitment Team at

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