Find The RightJob.
Executive Chef
Employer: Turner Enterprises Management, LLC
Position: Executive Chef
Location: Vermejo Reserve – Raton, NM
Type: Full Time Regular / Salary / Exempt / Benefits-Eligible
Housing: Yes
At Ted Turner Reserves, we connect people with nature by providing one-of-a-kind outdoor experiences in luxury settings, and we’re looking for passionate, energetic individuals to be a part of our growing team.
Our premier Reserve, Vermejo, is currently seeking an innovative and passionate Executive Chef to lead our culinary team and deliver exceptional dining experiences that reflect Vermejo's commitment to sustainability and world-class hospitality.
ABOUT THE POSITION
The Executive Chef is a dynamic, hands-on culinary leader responsible for overseeing the entire Vermejo culinary operation. This role blends advanced culinary expertise with strong leadership and operational management, ensuring consistently exceptional dining experiences while fostering a collaborative, respectful, and high-performing kitchen culture.
You will also be responsible for:
- Leading and managing all culinary operations across the property, ensuring excellence in food quality, presentation, and service standards.
- Collaborating with the Executive Sous Chef and Chef de Cuisine to design innovative, seasonal menus that reflect a strong sense of place and incorporate locally sourced ingredients whenever possible.
- Establishing and upholding quality standards, presentation guidelines, and culinary consistency across all outlets.
- Partnering with Hospitality and Marketing teams to support food storytelling, menu features, and visual presentation (articles, photography, and promotions).
- Maintaining strict compliance with all food safety, sanitation, hygiene, and health regulations per state Board of Health standards; ensuring team-wide adherence.
- Overseeing inventory management, food rotation, ordering, receiving, and maintenance of par levels.
- Developing cost-effective menus that balance creativity, guest satisfaction, and profitability while adhering to Ted Turner Reserves Culinary SOPs.
- Staying current on culinary trends and proactively recommending innovative concepts and enhancements.
- Hiring, training, mentoring, and supervising kitchen staff, including conducting performance evaluations and addressing disciplinary matters when necessary.
- Developing and implementing structured training programs for all culinary team members, ensuring readiness and consistency prior to independent work.
- Ensuring proper and safe use of all kitchen equipment through ongoing training and routine inspections.
- Fostering a positive, respectful, and professional kitchen environment that supports team growth and engagement.
- Monitoring and managing departmental budgets, including labor, food, and beverage costs, to achieve financial targets.
- Collaborating closely with the Hospitality General Manager on departmental priorities, initiatives, and operational needs.
- Performing additional duties as assigned.
YOUR QUALIFICATIONS
Essential:
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in high-end culinary environments with demonstrated excellence in execution, creativity, and performance under pressure.
- Strong expertise in dessert and pastry techniques with an eye for innovative presentation and flavor development.
- Experience with upscale buffet service and refined plated service standards.
- Proven leadership skills with the ability to effectively manage, motivate, and collaborate with diverse teams.
- Experience in inventory management, ordering, and scheduling.
- Strong understanding of food safety regulations, sanitation standards, and health codes.
- Commitment to cleanliness, organization, and operational excellence.
- Ability to remain flexible and adapt to changing priorities and responsibilities.
- Strong working knowledge of culinary techniques and kitchen equipment.
- Ability to work varied shifts, including weekends and holidays.
- You’ll need to present documentation establishing both identity and employment authorization within three days of hire pursuant to federal law.
Preferred:
- High school diploma or GED.
- Culinary degree or formal culinary training.
- Experience in luxury hotel or resort environments.
- At least 2 years of supervisory or leadership experience preferred.
- Experience with wild game cookery and remote/outdoor culinary operations is a plus!
YOUR QUALITIES
- You’re alert, friendly and eager to assist guests politely and promptly.
- You demonstrate care and compassion for team members, putting the needs of the team before your own.
- You demonstrate excellent communication and teamwork skills.
- You’re self-directed, energetic, and motivated with multi-tasking capabilities.
- You’re creative, adaptive and willing to work with existing core resort philosophy and style.
- You demonstrate clean work habits and attention to detail.
- You’re committed to food safety and sanitation.
- You conduct yourself in a professional manner in and out of the work setting.
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS & PERKS
The Company offers full time employees an elite benefits package, including medical dental and vision insurance, basic life insurance, short term disability, 401(k) plan with matching contributions, paid time off and paid holidays.
ACCOMMODATIONS
This position will require you to live in Vermejo headquarters, located approximately 40 miles from the closest town (Raton, NM). Vermejo’s location is approximately 4.5 hours’ drive south of Denver or 4.5 hours’ drive north of Albuquerque.
Vermejo offers single- and double-bedroom dorm room style company housing (subject to availability). You may be subject to sharing a room with one other employee depending on the availability of a single dorm room.
You will need to provide or arrange for your own transportation to and from Raton for personal supplies.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT
On a regular basis, you can expect to:
- Stand; walk; move hands and fingers; reach with hands and arms; handle or feel; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear.
- Lift and/or move up to 60 pounds.
- Perform physical labor for extended periods of time.
- Be on your feet for extended periods of time.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
You will regularly be required to work long hours, and you may be exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; high altitude ~7,000+ feet; high precarious places; fumes or airborne particles. You may be exposed to moving mechanical parts and toxic or caustic chemicals. You will be occasionally exposed to vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.
The physical demands described above are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job, and the work environment characteristics are representative of those you may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Accommodation inquiries must be made to the Company’s Human Resources Department for consideration.
Turner Enterprises Management, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Smoke Free/Drug-Free Workplace.
For more information, visit https://tedturnerreserves.com/careers/.
Similar jobs
No similar jobs found
© 2026 Qureos. All rights reserved.