Head Chef

The Runholder is the home of Te Kairanga, Martinborough Vineyard and Lighthouse Gin in Martinborough.

Nestled on the edge of the famed Martinborough Terrace, our restaurant, tasting room and distillery gather together Wairarapa’s best food, fine wines and famous gin under one roof, with spectacular views of Martinborough’s rolling countryside.

Guests feast on contemporary menus of local produce, enjoy the wines of two iconic Martinborough wineries, and see the distiller at work while sipping on Martinborough’s original gin & tonic.

About this Role

Be part of a unique experience - relaxed atmosphere, exceptional service and delicious modern regional New Zealand cuisine that complements our exceptional wines.

We are seeking a passionate, innovative and experienced Head Chef to run the restaurant and elevate our culinary offering. You will manage, mentor and inspire our culinary team while delivering a menu that highlights regional produce with simplicity and excellence.

This is a hands‑on leadership role involving menu development, ingredient preparation, coordination across cooking stations. Reporting to the GM of Marketing & Customer Experience you will work closely day‑to‑day with the Venue Manager, with input from the Foley Hospitality Group Head Chef.

The fulltime role (minimum 40 hours) includes weekends and evenings. In return, we offer a competitive salary, a supportive team culture and strong career pathways within Foley Wines and Foley Hospitality venues.

This is an excellent opportunity for a professional chef ready to step into a role with creative influence and leadership responsibilities.

About You

To thrive in this role, you’ll bring :

• A Culinary Arts Diploma (or equivalent) and strong classical cooking techniques
• Extensive experience across diverse kitchen environments – from contemporary casual and bistro style venues to fine dining and events
• A broad and curious palate, with sound knowledge of international cuisines and flavour trends
• Proven ability to craft innovative, seasonal menus that celebrate flavour, freshness and creativity
• Strong leadership and mentoring skills, with a track record of developing and motivating high performing kitchen teams
• Confidence in managing all aspects of kitchen operations including ordering, rostering, cost control and compliance.
• A deep understanding of Food Safety Standards and commitment to maintaining excellence in kitchen hygiene and procedures
• A balance of creativity and commercial acumen, knowing how to deliver exceptional food while achieving business goals
• Calmness under pressure and unwavering attention to detail, even in the busiest moments
• A demonstrated history of success in menu design, operations and leading consistent, high quality culinary experiences

Key responsibilities :

As Head Chef, you will :

We love Martinborough, and we love creating memorable food, wine and gin experiences. If you share our passion, we would love to hear from you. Please send in a copy of your CV using the link.

This role requires applicants to have the right to work in New Zealand without needing sponsorship, have a current driver’s licence with their own means of transportation.

If you are interested in joining us, please get in touch by using the link provided.

The Runholder is part of Foley Wines, a collection of iconic wineries and brands including Te Kairanga, Martinborough Vineyard, Mt Difficulty, Vavasour, Grove Mill and Lighthouse Gin. Each with a unique story totell, our wineries and destinations are linked by a commonunrelenting purpose; to create memorable wine and dining experiences at home and around the world.

Across The Runholder, the Mt Difficulty Winery Restaurant & Cellar Door, our close relationship with luxury lodge Wharekauhau Country Estate, and with our sister company Foley Hospitality, there is plenty of opportunity to grow your hospitality career with us.

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