Head Chef

Head Chef - Brewed As, Mangawhai

Lead the kitchen. Shape the menus. Live by the beach.

We’re looking for a Head Chef to join Brewed As in Mangawhai - an established, independent restaurant and café on the Northland coast.

Brewed As has built its reputation around thoughtful, award-winning food, specialty coffee and genuine hospitality. In the evenings Wednesday to Saturday, we serve Asian-influenced share plates alongside brunch and lunch seven days a week. Our menus are updated with the summer and winter seasons, drawing on modern flavours and techniques alongside quality local and regional produce. We also host occasional music and events throughout the year, so there’s often a bit more happening here than your usual restaurant service.

We’re a busy venue, but we’re also a close-knit one. Manaakitanga - care, generosity and respect for others - sits at the heart of how we operate, from the way we look after our guests to the way our kitchen and FOH teams work together.

And then there’s Mangawhai.

For someone considering a move out of the city, it offers a pretty compelling change of pace. Beaches and surf are on your doorstep, there’s a thriving local community, and Auckland and Whangārei are still within reach. It’s the opportunity to take on a Head Chef role without giving up the life you want outside of work.

The role

This is a permanent, hands-on Head Chef role with genuine ownership of the kitchen.

Our current Head Chef is stepping away from the role ahead of major surgery, making this a permanent opportunity. Ideally, we’re looking for our new Head Chef to join us in early October, allowing time to work alongside her and have a proper handover before she finishes in early November.

You’ll lead a close-knit brigade of up to six chefs through our busy summer period, taking responsibility for the menus, team, costs and day-to-day kitchen operation.

You’ll work closely with our Sous Chef, Restaurant Manager and owners, while having the autonomy to run your department well. You’ll create the kitchen roster, including your own schedule, giving you flexibility to structure your working week around the needs of the kitchen and your team.

What it looks like day to day

Develop, cost and manage our day and evening menus, updating them for the summer and winter seasons

Lead the kitchen through prep and service, maintaining high standards of flavour, presentation and consistency

Mentor, train and develop your team, ensuring everyone understands their role and has the support to perform it well

Create kitchen rosters and manage labour within agreed wage targets

Manage food costs, ordering, stock control, inventory and waste

Work with local and regional suppliers to source quality seasonal ingredients

Oversee kitchen systems, preparation and service flow, continually looking for ways to improve efficiency and performance

Take ownership of the Food Control Plan and ensure food safety, hygiene and compliance standards are consistently maintained

Continue the positive, respectful and collaborative kitchen culture already established

Work closely with our FOH team and owners to ensure a smooth service and great overall guest experience

About you

You know how to create a positive kitchen culture while maintaining high standards. You’re calm under pressure, commercially minded, and understand how to balance creativity, consistency and the operational realities of running a busy kitchen.

You may already be an established Head Chef, or you may be a strong Senior Sous Chef ready to take ownership of your first kitchen.

We’re looking for someone with strong culinary and leadership skills, who understands the numbers behind a successful kitchen and genuinely enjoys developing the people around them.

You’ll be organised, communicate well and take pride in running a kitchen that is consistent, efficient and enjoyable to work in.

Most importantly, you’ll want to take real ownership of the role - bringing your own ideas and experience while respecting and building on the strong foundations already in place.

To be considered for this role, you'll need:

At least 3 years' relevant professional chef experience, including experience in a senior kitchen leadership position; demonstrated experience in menu development, food costing, stock control and kitchen operations; and experience leading and developing a kitchen team.

$35–$45 per hour | Minimum 40 guaranteed hours per week | Permanent full-time

Why Brewed As?

You’ll be joining an established, owner-operated business with an experienced team, strong systems and a genuine connection to the Mangawhai community.

You’ll have the autonomy to lead your kitchen, backed by experienced owners and FOH leadership who are actively involved in the business.

And when the working day is finished, you’re in Mangawhai.

For someone looking for a great Head Chef role and a life by the coast, this is a pretty special place to do it.

If you’re ready for your next Head Chef role - or ready to step up and make a kitchen your own - we’d love to hear from you.

Apply with your CV and a short note telling us about your experience, what you’re looking for next, and what draws you to Brewed As and Mangawhai.