Executive Chef

Position Overview: The Executive Chef is the culinary visionary and operational leader responsible for defining, launching, and executing the food program at Denu Hotel & Spa. This role requires deep expertise in high-volume banquet and catering operations, alongside strong restaurant leadership, menu development, and team building for a brand-new independent hotel. Hiring Date May 2026 Key Responsibilities Pre-Opening & Concept Development Lead culinary planning and execution for the hotel opening, including kitchen design input, equipment selection, and menu development Create cohesive culinary concepts across restaurants, bars, banquets, catering, and in-room dining Establish recipes, plating standards, production systems, and quality controls Recruit, train, and develop the full culinary team from the ground up Banquet & Catering Mastery Oversee all banquet and catering culinary operations, from large-scale events to high-end social functions Design banquet menus that balance creativity, efficiency, cost control, and scalability Ensure flawless execution of high-volume events while maintaining food quality and consistency Partner with sales and events teams to support revenue growth and guest satisfaction Daily Operations & Leadership Manage day-to-day kitchen operations across all outlets Maintain rigorous standards for food safety, sanitation, and compliance Control food costs, labor, and inventory to meet financial objectives Mentor and develop sous chefs and culinary leaders to build long-term bench strength Qualifications & Experience Minimum 8–10 years of culinary leadership experience in full-service hotels or luxury hospitality Demonstrated mastery of banquet and large-scale culinary operations within a hotel environment Prior experience participating in or leading new hotel or major restaurant openings Strong knowledge of Southwest or regionally inspired cuisine preferred, with flexibility for global influences Culinary degree or equivalent professional training preferred Culinary & Leadership Style Operationally disciplined with a creative edge Confident leading large teams under pressure Collaborative partner to operations, events, and ownership Passionate about consistency, mentorship, and execution We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.