Steamboat- Ski Town, U.S.A. ® is known as the friendliest mountain destination on the planet, thanks to our western heritage and welcoming staff. We pride ourselves on hiring the best employees and providing the best experience in the industry. Our culture is supportive, challenging, passionate and committed and we believe that diversity makes us stronger. We are looking for unique individuals who exemplify these qualities and care about each other, our mission, our environment, and our communities.
*Click HERE for more information on our employee benefits!
For information on Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation’s Social Responsibility work including our Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion actions, please see our webpage at https://www.steamboat.com/doinggood.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations.
POSITION SUMMARY
For the Chef Who Chose the Mountains — And Wants to Lead Them
You didn’t choose the mountains by accident.
You understand the rhythm of ski season.
You’ve led through holiday rushes, powder days, staffing swings, supply chain delays, and altitude challenges.
Now you’re ready to shape something bigger.
This is a chance to build a legacy — not just manage kitchens.
We’re seeking a Director of Culinary to define what our food is known for across a dynamic, multi-venue ski resort — from on-mountain dining to signature restaurants, fast casual concepts, and high-volume banquets. This is not just an Executive Chef role. This is a strategic leadership position with enterprise-wide impact.
A pdf or word document of your resume is required with online application. Cover letter recommended.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Define the culinary philosophy of the resort
Shape seasonal strategy (winter vs. summer identity)
Build systems that ensure consistency across all venues
Develop the next generation of mountain culinary leaders
Influence the long-term dining master plan
Culinary Identity
Establish what our food stands for
Create signature techniques and anchor dishes
Elevate quality, presentation, and sourcing standards
Balance authenticity with profitability
Menu Strategy & Innovation
Lead menu architecture and category design
Drive menu engineering and margin performance
Develop banquet and group frameworks
Guide innovation cycles and tastings
Champion mountain-relevant sourcing and partnerships
Financial Leadership
Own food cost strategy and profitability improvement
Partner with finance and procurement teams
Influence capital planning and equipment strategy
Build systems that scale across seasons
Talent Development
Hire and mentor Executive Chefs and Sous Chefs
Build a culinary leadership pipeline
Create training systems that survive seasonal turnover
Inspire excellence in year-round and seasonal teams
Mountain Operations
Lead through seasonality, weather, and remote logistics
Oversee seasonal start-up and shutdown transitions
Ski or travel between facilities as required
Operate comfortably in high-altitude, high-volume environments
Team collaboration
You will be working with both back of house teams and front of house teams, as well as many other departments on the mountain
Ensure understanding and compliance with all company policies and procedures as well as any regulatory requirements
Be a consistent role model for company’s Service Excellence standards
Other duties as assigned
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
7+ years progressive culinary leadership in high-volume, multi-concept environments
Ski resort or mountain hospitality experience strongly preferred
Demonstrated success in menu engineering and P&L management
Experience leading through extreme seasonality
Knowledge of Microsoft Office with the ability to work with spreadsheets – menu engineering, costing, menus, etc.
Thorough understanding of and participation in creating financial metrics including budgets, business plans, P&L statements, monthly financial meetings, labor scheduling to business volumes, inventory par levels, inventory management, etc.
Must have current Food Manager and Allergy training certificate, or must attend Food Manager and Aller-train certification courses for Alterra Mountain company within 14 days of employment
Communicate clearly in English, both verbal / non-verbal, and written
Interact and maintain positive relationships with guests, co-workers and management consistent with Steamboat Ski and Resort Company’s Service Excellence standards
EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Culinary degree or equivalent experience
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Must be at least 18 years of age
Ability to operate snowmobile/ATV in varying mountain conditions
Applicants must be able to ski/snowboard at an intermediate level to/from certain restaurant locations. Employment location will be established during the interview process and ski/snowboard level is contingent on passing an on-snow assessment.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to walk, talk, see, hear, and operate a computer and other office productivity machinery.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Indoor/Outdoor: While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to harsh and varying outside weather conditions.
Hazardous Materials/Noise: The noise level in the work place is usually moderate.
IDEAL CANDIDATE
You likely have experience in places like: Aspen, Vail, Park City, Jackson Hole, Big Sky, Telluride, Whistler., etc.
You understand:
Destination guest expectations
Luxury mixed with approachability
The reality of mountain staffing and housing challenges
The need for both creative edge and operational discipline
You are:
A systems builder, not just a menu writer
Financially sharp and margin-aware
Calm under pressure during peak season
A leader of leaders
Passionate about mentoring and building teams
If you’ve mastered execution in the mountains and are ready to architect something bigger — we’d like to talk
COMPENSATION & EXECTUTIVE BENEFITS
We recognize that experienced mountain culinary leaders are in high demand. This role is structured and compensated at a level consistent with senior leadership positions at top-tier ski and destination resorts.
The base salary range below represents the low and high end of the Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation salary range for this position. Actual salaries will vary and may be above or below the range based on a range of factors including but not limited to experience, education, training, location, merit system, quantity or quality of production, responsibilities, and regular and/or necessary travel. The range listed is just one component of Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include short-term and long-term incentives.
Steamboat Resort salary range: $106,000 - $130,000 per year
Top-tier candidates with extensive multi-mountain or luxury resort experience may be considered above midpoint of range.
Performance Bonus:
Up to 20% annual bonus based on financial performance, food cost targets, leadership metrics, and strategic initiatives.
Relocation & Mountain Housing Support
We understand the realities of mountain markets — housing availability and cost are often the biggest barriers to relocation. We are committed to making this transition realistic for the right candidate.
Relocation support may include:
Relocation stipend or direct expense reimbursement
Temporary housing assistance during transition period
Access to employer-supported housing (based on availability)
Local housing navigation assistance
Potential housing stipend consideration for executive-level candidates
This is a leadership role critical to our long-term growth, and we are prepared to structure relocation support competitively for the right individual.
This job description is not an exhaustive list of all functions and responsibilities that an employee may be required to perform in this position. Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation and its affiliates reserve the right to modify, increase, decrease, suspend, and or eliminate any of the essential duties and/or the position in its entirety.
Application Deadline: Recruiting timelines vary by position, however, all Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation positions accept applications for a minimum of 4 days from the posting date listed above. This position is open and still accepting applications.
This job description is not an express or implied contract, guarantee, promise, or covenant of employment for any set term or duration, or for termination only for cause.
Employment with Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation or any of its affiliates is “at will” meaning either party may terminate the employment relationship at any time with or without cause and with or without notice.
This position is in Colorado, and the work is primarily in Steamboat Springs, CO and, as such, employment in this position is subject to the labor and employment laws of the state of Colorado.
Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation and its affiliates are equal opportunity employers and maintain drug-free workplaces. All employees and candidates are reminded that Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation and its affiliates adhere to all applicable labor and employment laws, and State, County, and City-specific labor and employment regulations, where applicable.