Executive Chef

Company Description

Embrace your passion for hiking, skiing, snowboarding and many other outdoor activities in Banff National Park while pursuing a fulfilling career at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Take a risk, make a change and experience a new adventure while further developing your career. To live and work in a National Park is a once in a lifetime opportunity.  Our team is a network of empowered individuals with a strong sense of themselves and the hospitality industry. Work hard, play hard and receive extraordinary benefits including subsidized onsite accommodations, which make saving money very easy to manage. Join our Fairmont family today!

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced Executive Chef to lead our diverse culinary & stewarding teams in our luxury resort hotel, renowned for its high volumes across multiple restaurants and banquet facilities. The ideal candidate will possess exceptional leadership and communication skills, capable of inspiring and guiding a large team of culinary professionals to deliver outstanding guest experiences. Passionate about developing culinarians, they should have a proven track record of mentoring talent, fostering creativity, and maintaining high standards of quality and presentation. This role offers the opportunity to shape the culinary direction of a prestigious property, working in an environment that values innovation, teamwork, and excellence in service.

What you will be doing:

• Oversee the operation of all kitchen operations including Pastry, Garde Manger, Banquets, Colleague Restaurant, and multiple restaurant kitchens heading a team of up to 110 team members ensuring the consistent drive for a balanced scorecard.
• Lead and mentor the Executive Sous Chef, Chef de Cuisines and sous chefs, and their teams, across diverse outlets.
• Manage a large Stewarding team (up to 60 in peak season), including the Chief Steward, ensuring effective collaboration between restaurants, kitchens and stewarding.
• Work with senior culinary team on menu development and product innovation, supported by detailed analysis and accurate costing to ensure appropriate food cost attainment.  Apply, and monitor menu engineering principles to optimize profitability.
• Oversee standards of scheduling to ensure effective payroll cost results.
• Monitor food standards (including consistency and food safety) and presentation across all outlets and banquet operations.
• Provide oversight to food waste reduction and divisional operating expenses.
• Maintain strong relationships with purchasing and food store teams to optimize par levels and minimize waste.
• Ensure food safety and hygiene standards are adhered to at all times, implementing best practices in food handling.
• Conduct regular walk-throughs to maintain cleanliness, organization, and operational readiness of kitchen and stewarding areas.
• Actively participate in marketing/media opportunities to showcase the hotel’s food and beverage offerings.
• Support and champion hotel sustainability and environmental goals undertaken by the resort.
• Recruit, train, and retain top culinary talent.  Adopt and continue the hotels internal succession planning program to develop the culinary team.
• Directly responsible for the engagement of the culinary and stewarding teams.  Adopt/maintain/update the departmental action plans to ensure effective collaboration with the wider culinary team to drive their engagement.
• Maintain effective performance management, training, recognition throughout the kitchen/s and stewarding.
• Liaise closely with other F&B and hotel leaders to ensure collaborative and efficient operations.
• Develop and update departmental SOP Manuals as required, detailing standards of performance, policies, procedures, and service standards in line with hotel policies, brand standards, and municipal requirements.
• Ensure all Fairmont standards are upheld within the culinary and stewarding areas; including H&D, Antitrust, PCI, etc.
• As an executive member, uphold the highest standards of safety, service, and guest satisfaction through all interactions and decisions.
• Carry out other duties as assigned by the Director of Food & Beverage.

Qualifications

• Strong F&B operations experience in hotels, including experience in an Executive Chef role.
• Experience with high volume across multiple restaurants will be a strong asset.
• Proven success in managing multi-outlet, high-volume, and high-quality banquet/catering operations.
• Media-friendly personality with ability to collaborate with Marketing to promote Food & Beverage.
• Valid trade certifications and advanced food safety certification.
• Demonstrated ability to manage and mentor large culinary teams across multiple outlets.
• Perform calmly under pressure.
• Expertise in menu engineering, product development, and food cost control.
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and verbal; additional languages an asset.
• Computer literacy with MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint; experience with Birchstreet, Adaco, or similar purchasing systems preferred.
• Detail-oriented, highly organized, innovative, and resilient in fast-paced environments.
• Flexible schedule with ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and overnights as required.

Additional Information

Job Perks & Benefits:

• Comprehensive benefits package (Medical, Vision & Dental) including extended benefits like; Mental Health (up to $5,000/year), Orthodontics (up to $2,500/year), Fertility Drugs and Gender Affirmation (Lifetime maximum of $10,000) for full time permanent status employees
• Defined Contribution Pension Plan with employer matching up to 5% of annual earnings for full time permanent status employees
• Employee travel program with discounts on room rates as well as on food & beverage at Fairmont & Accor properties world-wide
• Access to the Mountain Explorer Travel Program - Discounted room rates including 50% off all food & beverage at Fairmont Resorts in Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper & Whistler (subject to availability)
• Opportunity to develop your talent and grow within Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and over 5,000 properties with Accor

Visa Requirements: Must be legally authorized to work in Canada. The hotel is unable to assist candidates in obtaining Canadian work authorization.

Apply Today: Whether you're just launching your career or looking for a new adventure, we invite you to visit www.lakelouisejobs.com to learn more about Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and the extraordinary opportunities that exist within our resort!

We encourage you to let us know if you require any accommodations through the application or recruitment process, and we will work with you to meet your needs. Persons who anticipate needing accommodations for any part of the application or interview process may contact, in confidence: [email protected]

Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: 

At Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, we believe that the strength of our team lies in its diversity. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment that respects the unique backgrounds, perspectives, and talents of the individual. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are dedicated to providing equal access to opportunities. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates.