Seasonal Mountain Chef

About the role

The Seasonal Mountain Chef oversees the daily culinary operations of Lookout Kitchen, Mountain Camp Cafe, the Prep Kitchen, and the Living Room. This position is responsible for food production, preparation, plating, quality, organization, sanitation, ordering, and the daily development of culinary staff across all mountain dining outlets. The Chef will visit each outlet daily to inspect food quality, taste and season products, review preparation and cooking processes, reinforce plating standards, and provide direct coaching and support to the culinary team. This position reports directly to the Executive Sous Chef and Culinary Director.

Responsibilities

• Oversee culinary operations for Lookout Kitchen, Mountain Camp Cafe, the Prep Kitchen, and the Living Room.
• Oversee all food preparation, production, cooking, plating, and execution within assigned mountain dining outlets.
• Maintain Sundance food quality and plating standards and ensure cooks consistently execute menu items according to established recipes and expectations.
• Visit each assigned outlet daily to inspect product, taste food, review seasoning, evaluate preparation methods, and confirm quality and consistency.
• Spend regular working time with cooks in each outlet to provide hands-on instruction, feedback, coaching, and support.
• Ensure culinary employees understand their individual roles, daily responsibilities, station expectations, and performance standards.
• Provide daily feedback and guidance to cooks and culinary team members.
• Maintain a balanced presence between Lookout Kitchen, Mountain Camp Cafe, the Living Room, and the Prep Kitchen based on operational needs.
• Use the Prep Kitchen as the primary base of operation and maintain strong organization, production, and leadership within that space.
• Establish and maintain clear kitchen standards for food preparation, labeling, dating, storage, organization, sanitation, cleaning, and general kitchen systems.
• Manage daily production and prep lists for all assigned outlets.
• Coordinate preparation and ensure completed food and products are properly delivered to each mountain outlet daily.
• Oversee ordering for assigned mountain outlets approximately five to six days per week based on business levels and operational needs.
• Ensure ordered products are properly coded, received, organized, and separated by outlet to support accurate food-cost tracking.
• Monitor inventory levels and communicate product needs, shortages, substitutions, or concerns to culinary leadership.
• Train and lead the Mountain Lead Line Cook to assist with production, organization, deliveries, and daily responsibilities within the Prep Kitchen.
• Provide leadership, training, and development to Line Cooks and other culinary team members.
• Lead staff by creating and communicating production priorities, assigning tasks, checking completed work, and making corrections when standards are not met.
• Inspect stations and production areas to ensure proper preparation levels, organization, cleanliness, food quality, and readiness for service.
• Ensure proper food rotation, labeling, dating, storage, and temperature control throughout all assigned operations.
• Ensure health department requirements and Sundance sanitation standards are followed at all times.
• Monitor kitchen equipment and communicate maintenance or repair needs to culinary leadership.
• Maintain clean, safe,