Head Chef/Cafe Manager

He kōrero mō mātou | About Us:

The Wellington City Mission has been supporting people and families in the Wellington region for 120 years. We journey with whānau, offering focused support, including transitional housing, food assistance through our Social Supermarket, financial mentoring, social and community support, advocacy, and creating the circumstances where whānau can achieve the change they aspire to.

At our core, we believe all people are unshakeably good, without exception. This belief shapes our vision: People and communities experiencing empowerment, transformation, and fullness of life.

• Empowerment means giving people the dignity of choice and the freedom to shape their own journey.

• Transformation is about creating hope and growth for everyone—whānau, manuhiri, staff, and volunteers.

• Fullness of life is living with joy and purpose, whatever that looks like for each person.

The Mission is a place of hope and belonging. We treat everyone with dignity and respect, embrace people as they are, and make decisions with courageous wisdom.

He kōrero mō te tūranga | About the Role:

Craig & Gail’s Café is the heart of Whakamaru – Wellington City Mission Community Hub in Mt Cook. It’s a catalyst for intentional relationship between staff, volunteers and manuhiri. This enables empowerment, transformation, and fullness of life. Cost will not be a barrier to nourishing kai, and everyone is welcome. The Café Manager helps bring this to life each day!

This role provides operational leadership across the café, overseeing front-of-house and kitchen functions to ensure smooth, high-quality service. Working closely with the Community Services Leadership Team, kitchen staff and Front of House Team Leader, the Café Manager supports strong teamwork, clear systems, menu design/planning, supplier relationships, stock control and financially sustainable operations.

The role plays an important part in creating a mana-enhancing hospitality experience where manuhiri, staff and volunteers feel respected, included and welcomed.

Alongside practical café management, this position helps ensure food safety, health and safety, and compliance obligations are consistently met. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who can balance operational excellence with Wellington City Mission’s kaupapa of dignity, connection and community.

He kōrero mōu | About You:

As a successful candidate, you will have:

·         Significant chef and hospitality management experience

·         Sound financial, stock and cost-control capability

·         Excellent people leadership and team development skills

·         Strong commitment to mana-enhancing customer service

·         Good understanding of food safety and health & safety requirements

Location: Full time on site, Wellington City Mission – Whakamaru Community Hub
Start Date: Aug/Oct 2026

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 7:00am to 3:30pm

Application Process:

• Applications close Friday 11th of September, or if suitable candidates are found sooner
• Please provide a cover letter explaining why you would like to work for the Mission, what your current situation is and how this role aligns with your professional goals.