Company description

We are passionate hospitality professionals who thrive working with good people in an extraordinary place. The Lodge is set on 68-acres in the Catskills within the Big Indian Wilderness of upstate New York. Our expansive open-air spaces, warm hospitality, and eclectic rustic aesthetic create the ideal place for an escape or place to live and work.

Our culture is one of genuineness, creativity and professionalism. With our amazing staff that delivers the ‘casual luxe touch’ we are known for whether you stay for a week, dine in for a night, or just swing by for a cocktail. Urban Cowboy Lodge is a place where people arrive as strangers and leave as friends in both work and play.

Job description

Executive Chef at Upstate Boutique Hotel

Be a leader and create a highlight for all guests, locals and friends at an Upstate Boutique Hotel here in the Catskills. Your outpost in the woods would allow you to grow a culinary program, to tap into a one of a kind network of farmers and producers and collaborate with makers throughout the Upstate and Hudson Valley. This would be a place to show your skill, utilize your experience and also find something unique in the culinary world – time and space.

What you will find here are passionate professionals who thrive working in the woods and doing our own unique thing. Here we are able to give an experience like no other in place like no other. Whether you are outside in our expansive natural setting, inside our immaculately appointed lodge or sitting streamside on a day off you will understand that this is an ideal place to both live and work.

We strive to create a culture that is genuine, creative and professional. We deliver the ‘casual luxe touch’ we are known for whether you stay for a week, dine in for a night, or just swing by for a cocktail. This is a place where people arrive as strangers and leave as friends in both work and play.

Our Boutique Hotel is looking for someone who will not only uphold our exceptional brand of hospitality, but help develop and grow it as a team member and leader. We want to be the best and are looking for just that!

Other required qualifications include, but are not limited to:

• Is passionate about food and hospitality experiences
• Can create and develop menus that showcase creativity and culinary expertise
• Ensures consistency in food preparation and presentation
• Maintains a clean and organized kitchen at all times above the basic requirements
• Has the ability to innovate ideas, formulate a plan of action, and implement it
• Has extensive food knowledge and experience
• Desires to create one-of-a-kind experiences
• Can balance creativity and craft with pragmatism
• Is interested in developing their understanding of
• Wants to create an environment built upon teamwork and mutual shared success
• Ability to think ahead and plan for seasonality of outlet

Qualifications:

• Strong Leadership and management skills
• Administrative and organizational ability
• Understanding of kitchen systems, organization and design
• Communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to create a schedule
• Command of ingredients and technique, both general and specific
• Passion to teach and motivate employees of varying skill levels
• Knowledge of all applicable sanitation regulations and standards
• Basic financial literacy including menu costing, ordering and inventory management
• 2+ years as an Exec or CDC level and/or or 5+ years restaurant experience at Sous level
• Spanish Proficiency is always a plus

Responsibilities:

• Creating an exciting, fun and satisfying dining experience for all who visit our dining outlets and an enjoyable workspace for staff and colleagues
• Design a program that will increase dining frequency of hotel guests and increase local dining
• Provide vision, leadership, and strategy that inspires all staff to deliver exceptional service
• Collaborate with other departments to define goals and objectives that are compatible with the overall hotel goals, as well as strategies for achieving them, and then see them through
• Keep on pace with expenses, provided budgets, trends and financial goals
• Balance innovation, guest satisfaction, quality of services with profitability
• Work with leadership to define departmental goals, create strategies and implement them
• Maintain communication with guests, sales, staff and colleagues via email and regular meetings
• Account for and monitor expenses, revenue, inventory and equipment

Compensation:

• $75-85,000/year
• Employer pays up to 75% of Health, Vision and Dental insurance premium
• 10 days PTO (after 3 months) + 5 Sick Days
• Housing Stipend or Staff Housing available
• Dining and Hotel Discounts at other hotel properties

Compensation

this position is: salaried, $75,000 - $100,000

Application instructions

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Deadline

January 31, 2026