Sous Chef - Rydges Rotorua

Sous Chef — Rydges Rotorua Full time

About EVT

Rydges Rotorua is part of EVT, one of Australasia's market-leading experience creators offering careers that can take you wherever you want to go across entertainment, ventures, and travel. In a world of cookie cutter experiences, here at EVT we believe in changing the game. It's why we all call ourselves Daymakers — because each day is a chance to add the wow factor for our customers and continually grow in our own careers.

Proudly owned and operated in Australia and New Zealand, Rydges offers refreshingly local stays in city, regional and resort-style hotels. We're not just in the neighbourhood, we're part of it. Every hotel is designed for ease, connection and quality. From check-in to check-out, our local heroes bring a can-do attitude and "too easy" service. Whether it's for work or a well-earned break, our place feels like home with the charm of somewhere new. Join us to help make every moment memorable.

EVT has an endless range of roles and career paths to explore across over 140 entertainment experiences like Event Cinemas and Moonlight Cinemas, 150 award winning restaurants and bars, and 80+ hotels, including QT, Rydges, Atura, LyLo, Independent Collection and Australia's most loved year round alpine resort, Thredbo. Our ventures include a ~$2.3B property portfolio and hotel management, just to name a few. Once you're in, there's no limits on where your career could take you.

About the Role

Rydges Rotorua sits on the edge of the Redwood Forest, overlooking the Whakarewarewa Thermal Valley — one of the region's most sought-after hotel locations. The property features 203 rooms, seven flexible conference and event spaces catering for groups from 6 to 600 guests, and Chapman's Restaurant & Bar, home to the hotel's well-known buffet and a la carte dining experience.

As Sous Chef, you'll work closely with the Executive Chef to lead kitchen operations across this busy, multi-faceted food and beverage offering — from daily restaurant service through to large-scale conference and banquet catering.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist the Executive Chef in the effective running of the kitchen across restaurant, bar and conference & events catering.
• Plan and organise the preparation and cooking of food to a consistently high standard, in line with hotel menus and recipes.
• Lead, mentor and train chefs and kitchen staff, supervising them on shift and building consistency across the team.
• Assist in developing and costing new menus, including for banquet and conference catering.
• Monitor food quality, portion control and food storage practices, maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness.
• Manage stock ordering, requisitions and wastage control in line with budget guidelines.
• Step in to run the kitchen effectively in the Executive Chef's absence, resolving issues as they arise.
• Ensure compliance with all food safety, health and safety procedures across the kitchen.

What You'll Bring

• A NZQF Diploma in Cookery or Kitchen Management (or equivalent), or at least three years' relevant experience as a Chef, which may substitute for formal qualifications.
• Proven experience in a Sous Chef, Senior Chef de Partie or similar leadership role within a busy kitchen, ideally in a hotel or high-volume, multi-outlet environment.
• A strong understanding of techniques, recipe execution and dish consistency across a la carte and banquet/buffet-style service.
• Demonstrated leadership skills, with experience mentoring, training and supervising kitchen staff.
• A solid grasp of food safety, portion control and stock management practices.
• The ambition and readiness to take the next step towards an Executive Chef role.

How You Work

• Growth mindset — learns, shares, and levels up others.
• Hands-on and non-hierarchical — leads from the front.
• Owner's mindset — acts on data/feedback; ships improvements.
• Resilient and solutions-focused — stays calm, moves fast.

Perks from Day One

As part of EVT, you unlock Elevate Perks from your first day. Parity for all levels — no ivory towers.

• 50% off dining and stays across EVT hotels – QT, Rydges, Atura, LyLo and more.
• $2 movie tickets + discounts on Gold Class, Moonlight Cinema and Candy Bar.
• Seasonal perks at Thredbo.
• Rapid career growth across our hotel & entertainment network.
• Paid parental leave; community & volunteering opportunities.

Apply Now

Join Rydges Rotorua and become an EVT experience creator, opportunity taker, the ultimate Daymaker.

Join and make a positive impact on our people, communities, and environment every day.

Send your CV and a short cover letter. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and review applications as they come in — don't wait! We can't wait to see the places your career will go with EVT.

When you click apply, you'll be taken to our secure EVT careers portal (powered by Dayforce). This is our official system for managing applications across the EVT Group. You'll simply enter your details and answer a few quick screening questions so we can get to know you better.