Navy Chef,
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New Zealand Defence Force

Navy Chef

  • Posted 1mo ago
  • On Site
  • Full Time

Starting at $69.83 k/yr

Job Description

As a Chef, you fuel your team to perform at their best. From daily meals to formal banquets, your work sustains every sailor’s energy and morale. You’ll gain culinary and field catering qualifications, and know your skills directly support the team’s readiness and success.


You could be preparing a cocktail party to be held by the Commanding Officer while in a foreign country or preparing a high carbohydrate meal for a new recruit involved in intense physical training. You will prepare meals at sea and ashore and may even cook 'in the field' on peacekeeping operations overseas.


Your career will start with initial and specialist training before posting to a shore based galley to practice your new skills. Further postings will see you serving at sea and ashore with further training and courses available to help with your career development and progression.


You will work in galleys (kitchens) at sea and in shore establishments. You will work alongside fellow chefs who will be at various stages of their career. Your duties will include the preparation and cooking of regular meals for as few as 10 people to as many as 400. This means that you could be on watch anytime between 5am and 10pm on any day of the week, including weekends, or even be required to work through the night when at sea. As a shift worker your scheduled days off will sometimes occur on a normal working day rather than a weekend.


In addition, whilst serving on ship, you will take part in various functions as part of the ship’s communal effort. This can be as varied as carrying out damage control activities, being part of a boarding team, general seamanship activities, domestic cleanliness duties, storing, and ammunition handling – just to name a few.


Requirements

Must be 18 years old by the time you graduate from recruit course.

Eligible to meet national security clearance criteria, as stipulated by the Government's Protective Security Requirements.

Education

3 years secondary school. Note, qualifications may be used to assess trade suitability.


Fitness & Medical

You must be medically fit for service.

You must meet the minimum entry fitness standards.

Citizenship

There are strict citizenship and security requirements to gain the required CV security clearance for this trade.

Find out if you’re eligible here: https://www.defencecareers.mil.nz/how-do-i-join/am-i-eligible


Period of Service

There may be a return of service period for this trade.


Please contact our 0800 number or talk to your Candidate Experience Facilitator for more information.


Career Progression

Your hard work, experience, and training accomplishments as a Chef are rewarded by promotions in rank and salary. Following your initial training and consolidation, you can reasonably be expected to have attained a basic level of competence within 18 months of joining. This will be supplemented by a sea posting and then further training to prepare you for promotion to a supervisory role.


Advanced training will involve both generic leadership skills and development as a chef. Successful completion of these will qualify you for a promotion to Leading Hand whereby you will be responsible for supervising a team of chefs, either at sea or ashore.


Basic Training

Upon successful enlistment into the Navy you will be posted to Devonport, Auckland. Here you will do 16 weeks of basic military training to find out if you have what it takes to be in the Navy, and learn various subjects including:


  • Teamwork and support
  • Naval history and customs
  • Drill and parades
  • Core mariner skills and weapons training
  • First aid and firefighting
  • Physical fitness
  • Self-discipline


Job Training

Your specialist chef training will be undertaken at the Navy’s Catering School where you will learn and develop skills in modern and relevant catering skills. Following this initial training phase, you will complete on job training (OJT) and consolidate in one of the galleys in Devonport Naval Base. As you gain more experience, you will post to sea for up to 18 months to become part of a small team onboard a ship providing catering support to the Ship’s Company.


Qualifications earned

All Chefs will be trained to NZQA level 4, undergoing an Apprenticeship in Cookery. The apprenticeship includes NZ Certificate in Cookery levels 3 and 4.


Navy Chefs receive comprehensive training throughout their careers at a basic, supervisory and managerial level and receive qualifications in the following areas:


  • Food preparation
  • Food cookery
  • Food presentation
  • Food serving
  • Personal hygiene
  • Food hygiene
  • Kitchen safety
  • Customer Service
  • Causes of food poisoning


In addition to chef training, you will also be trained in Advance Casualty Care. Chefs are part of Ship’s Medical Emergency Team and respond to any medical incidences whether during a training exercise or for real.


Ongoing Training

As your career progresses, you will undertake further training to develop your generic leadership skills and specialist skills. The ability to manage people effectively and efficiently is a key part of your development.


Up to the level of Petty Officer, you will undertake specialist training in accordance with your trade requirements. When you attain the rank of Chief Petty Officer and Warrant Officer you will solidify these skills and be granted the opportunity to conduct more administrative and HR duties.


Benefits & allowances

Earn a competitive salary while training or learning your trade, along with additional allowances for time spent in the field, at sea, overseas, or deployed on operations.


In addition to salary and allowances, other benefits of joining the New Zealand Defence Force include:


  • Access to your Service marae or tūrangawaewae
  • Sponsored tertiary study programmes at all levels
  • Free access to gyms and swimming pools on camp and bases
  • Opportunities to travel
  • Free and subsidised medical and dental care
  • Subsidised food and accommodation on camps and bases
  • Subsidised insurance cover


Benefits & Perks

  • 📈 Professional Development

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