Cook - Vessels - Earth Sciences

Job / Position Specific Summary

Looking for an adventure that combines your culinary skills with life at sea? Join the crew of RV Kaharoa II as Ship's Cook and support marine science and research voyages across New Zealand and beyond.

In this unique live-in role, you'll be responsible for all galley operations, including meal planning, food preparation, provisioning, inventory management, and food safety. You'll also help maintain onboard hospitality standards, ensuring crew, scientists, and voyage participants are well-fed, comfortable, and ready to perform at their best.

Reporting to the Master, you'll be an integral part of a close-knit crew, contributing to both wellbeing and voyage success. This role suits an organised, adaptable professional who enjoys working independently and is comfortable spending extended periods at sea.

This position sits within Research Vessels New Zealand (RVNZ), a subsidiary of Earth Sciences New Zealand.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Plan, prepare, and serve nutritious, high-quality meals for crew, scientists, and voyage participants.
• Develop and adapt menus to meet voyage requirements, operational schedules, and dietary needs.
• Ensure full compliance with food safety, hygiene, and quality assurance standards, including maintaining required records.
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness and hygiene across the galley, mess areas, food storage spaces, and associated facilities.
• Manage provisioning activities, including ordering, receiving, stocktaking, inventory control, and stock rotation.
• Monitor victualling expenditure and manage food, catering, and accommodation consumables within budget.
• Deliver onboard hospitality and accommodation services that support the comfort and wellbeing of personnel at sea.
• Participate in vessel safety, environmental, and regulatory compliance activities, including meetings, drills, and toolbox talks.
• Support the Master and vessel operations by contributing positively to the crew environment and undertaking other duties as required.

You’ll Bring The Following

Sea going experience on vessels Well organised, team PlayerMNZ Ships Cook Certificate / Formal culinary qualificationSTCW Basic Training

Desirable

• Experience in the maritime, engineering, or other regulated industries.
• Knowledge of maritime regulatory frameworks and document management systems.

What we offer

• Varied, challenging and important work with talented colleagues in an organisation devoted to earth science.
• A high performing organisation with a focus on employee development and wellbeing
• Generous leave entitlements and employee benefits

About Us

Research Vessels New Zealand (RVNZ) is a subsidiary of Earth Sciences New Zealand. RVNZ owns and operates a fleet of three research vessels from Wellington Port that provide world-class environmental monitoring and research platforms. Our busy onshore team is based at Earth Sciences New Zealand Greta Point site in Wellington and provides full operational support to ensure all vessel, crew and voyage requirements are met.

Earth Sciences New Zealand is a new entity created from the merger of NIWA and GNS. We’re proud of our contribution to science and innovation in Aotearoa and you’ll be part of a collaborative and purpose-driven organisation where your work has impact. To deliver the science needed to achieve meaningful change, we are committed to providing the best for our people, strengthening domestic and international collaborations, partnering with Māori, supporting Pacific resilience, leveraging advanced technologies, and investing wisely in essential assets and infrastructure. We also uphold our environmental responsibilities and maintain a strong focus on financial sustainability, ensuring our work continues to make a lasting difference.

We don't expect perfection in our candidates - if you think you have what it takes, but don't meet every point in the position description, please still get in touch!

Apply now

If this sounds like the next step in your career, we’d love to hear from you