Head Chef, The Lodge at Arrow Lakes | Nakusp, British Columbia

Alterra Mountain Company; Nakusp; On-site; CAD 62,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

CMH Ski Pass

IKON Pass benefits

Health and dental after 90 days

Group Savings Plan after 90 days

Paid personal/sick/vacation days

Brand partner pro deals

Heli-hike/heli-ski opportunities

Job summary

The Lodge at Arrow Lakes, part of CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer Adventures, seeks a Head Chef to lead the culinary team for the Tavern and heli-ski operations in Nakusp, BC. You will design menus, oversee food preparation, and ensure top-tier guest experiences in a premium mountain setting.

The role requires Red Seal Chef Certification (or equivalent), 3–5 years of culinary management, and a passion for creative, high-end casual dining in a resort environment. Weekend and holiday shifts are common.

Qualifications

• Red Seal Chef Certification or equivalent with kitchen leadership experience.
• 3–5 years of culinary management in luxury or fine dining settings.
• Culinary diploma or certificate and Food Safe Certification.
• Experience in menu planning and food costing.
• Ability to lead and develop a kitchen team in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day operations of the kitchen staff including hiring, training, evaluating and scheduling.
• Oversee all stages of food handling to ensure quality and cleanliness.
• Plan and facilitate meetings to coordinate menus with culinary team.
• Enforce policies, OH&S standards, and safe food handling practices.
• Complete food orders, inventory controls and food rotations.
• Manage food inventories and food costing on menu items.
• Plan creative, seasonal menus using local ingredients and conduct costing.
• Respond to guest requests and food restrictions attentively.
• Coordinate with front-of-house for exceptional guest experiences.

Skills

Culinary management

Leadership

Menu planning

Food costing

Inventory control

Team development

Education

Culinary diploma or certificate

Red Seal Chef

Food Safe Certification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Year RoundWhy join CMH?We work hard, we play hard, and we have the best time doing it. Our mission is to guide our staff and guests through life-changing mountain experiences, and our vision is to be recognized as the world leader of guided mountain experiences - by our guests, our employees, our partners, and our communities. We're all drawn to CMH for different reasons, but we stay for the people-both employees and guests-who are brought together by a unique shared passion for skiing, riding, the mountain world, and life in general. CMH is where mountain magic happens!Things that are important to us:Safety as a cornerstone.Share our passion - every day.Always act with integrity.We work as a team.Aim for best.Balance our social, fiscal, and environmental responsibilities.Things that are important to you:The opportunity to build lifelong friendships with staff and guests from around the world.Working for a company that stands behind its mission, vision, and values.An inclusive and rewarding company culture where employees are valued and supported.Explore and work at a world-class mountain destination.Enjoy meals created by culinary professionals that incorporate fresh, local ingredients.Work with hospitality professionals that take pride in providing a high-end guest experience.An opportunity to grow and learn in a work environment that promotes feedback and development.Discounts with brand partners and on CMH merchandise.Opportunities to heli-hike and heli-ski, as available.CMH is honored to operate in the traditional territories of the Ktunaxa, Secwépemc, Syilx, Sinixt, Carrier (Dakelh), and Stoney Nakoda Nations.Position Title: Head Chef, Lodge at Arrow LakesCompany Name: The Lodge at Arrow Lakes, a branch of CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer AdventuresReports To: Hotel ManagerLocation of Work: Nakusp, British ColumbiaJob Status: Full-time, Year RoundFLSA Status: Non-ExemptNumber of Positions: 1Direct Reports: <10>Date of Last Review: October 2026Anticipated Start Date: November 2026Love great food, strong teams, and small-town mountain living? We might have the kitchen for you.We're looking for a Head Chef to lead the culinary team at The Lodge at Arrow Lakes, home to the Arrow Lake Tavern and part of the CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer Adventures family.Located in the mountain community of Nakusp, BC, the Tavern is a gathering place for locals and visitors alike. Our focus is on great food, welcoming hospitality, and creating an experience that keeps people coming back.We're not looking for someone to reinvent pub food. We're looking for someone who takes pride in doing it exceptionally well.Who We're Looking ForYou might currently be a Head Chef, Sous Chef, or Kitchen Manager who's ready for the next step.What matters most to us is that you:Have strong culinary experience in a busy, professional kitchen.Enjoy creating high-quality, approachable food.Know how to lead, coach, and develop a team.Can navigate challenges with confidence, professionalism, and a collaborative approach.Understand food costing, inventory, scheduling, and kitchen operations.Take pride in creating a positive kitchen culture.Are genuinely interested in living and working in a smaller mountain community.Experience in pub dining, full-service restaurants, hotels, or resort kitchens would be particularly valuable.To learn more about The Lodge at Arrow Lakes, please visit the website: The Lodge at Arrow LakesWhy Nakusp?Nestled between the Selkirk and Monashee Mountains, Nakusp offers a different pace of life.Whether you're drawn to skiing, mountain biking, hiking, paddling, or simply enjoying life in a welcoming mountain community, there's plenty to explore outside the kitchen.And unlike many mountain hospitality positions, this is a full-time, year-round opportunity.Position OverviewThe Head Chef is responsible for supervising the culinary team and delivering high-quality meals for both the Tavern and Heli-Ski operation. You will also oversee creative menu design, food preparation and quality control for all meals.The ideal candidate will have Red Seal Chef Certification, or equivalent, with experience managing a kitchen team. A passion for creative and high-end casual dining entrees for our evening menu. The ideal candidate will have a keen interest in collaborating with members of management to ensure the overall success of the business.Along with a year-round hotel, pub, and dining room, The Lodge at Arrow Lakes is also host to the CMH Kootenay Heli-Skiing operation during winter months.Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesManage day-to-day operations of the kitchen staff including hiring, training, evaluating and scheduling.Oversee all stages of food handling to ensure quality and cleanliness.Plan and facilitate meetings to coordinate menus with members of the culinary team.Enforce policies and procedures, OH standards, and safe food handling practices.Complete food orders, inventory controls and food rotations.Manage food inventories and food costing on menu items.Plan creative, seasonal menus that make use of fresh, local ingredients, and conduct menu costing.Respond to guest requests and food restrictions in an attentive and accommodating manner.Maintain a professional manner, appearance, and work area.Work cooperatively and professionally with front-of-house staff to provide exceptional guest experiences.Willingness to assist other members of the lodge team as needed.Minimum QualificationsCulinary diploma or certificate.Red Seal Chef.Food Safe Certification.3-5 years of Culinary Management experience with varied exposure.2+ years’ experience in menu planning and execution.Background in luxury hospitality or fine dining, preferred.Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other QualitiesAble to openly receive and act on feedback.Takes initiative and demonstrates the ability to make quick, informed decisions.Uses industry and company expertise to advance CMH’s goals and values while enhancing the guest experience.Is inclusive of differences in people and perspectives to best serve employees and guests.A passion for customer service excellence and providing a high-end guest experience.Demonstrates integrity, discretion, and problem solving.Has demonstrated attention-to-detail, with accurate data-entry skills and abilities.Able to communicate in an effective and timely manner over the phone, in-person, and in written communication.Positive and collaborative working style with an ability to build meaningful relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.Proven ability to maintain confidentiality and professional working relationships with peers.Technical proficiency in Microsoft Office, as well as an ability to learn other relevant software platforms.Able to prioritize tasks in a complex and fast-paced environment with seasonal workload fluctuations and changing priorities.Confidence to interact with all levels of the company in a hub-and-spoke model in which many individuals are remote.Trustworthy, goal-oriented, respectful, and self-directed in completing the core functions of the role.Sees projects through to completion including follow-up on any identified issues.Strong sense of work ethic and accountability, with an ability to function well in a team environment and focus on team success.Effectively prioritize tasks, responsibilities, and goals; use goals to guide actions and create detailed action plans.Working ConditionsThis type of culinary work is challenging and demanding. Successful staff are intrinsically motivated by a passion for food service and creating memorable experiences with our guests.Able to lift, carry, or otherwise move and position up to 50 pounds regularly.Manual dexterity to operate a computer and other common office equipment on a daily basis.This position will be required to work weekends and holidays based on the needs of the business, seasonal workloads, and hotel/restaurant bookings.CMH is committed to developing a rich culture, a diverse workforce, and a healthy work environment in which every employee is treated fairly and respected. Each employee will contribute to the company's success while also having the opportunity to achieve their full potential as individuals.Other Duties as AssignedThis position description is an overview of the scope of responsibilities for the role described above. With the evolution of CMH, the responsibilities of this position may change, as may the details that are associated with many of the tasks. During these times of change, this position requires the flexibility and willingness to accept new responsibilities and potentially transfer others. It will also be the responsibility of any employee of CMH to be a positive influence on the transformation of our products and associated lines of business.CompensationA competitive compensation package will be provided including an annualized base salary between $62,000-68,000 per year which is based upon qualifications, experience, and skill set. Further details will be discussed in a personal interview.Benefits and Perks:Health and dental benefits after 90-days.Group Savings Plan eligibility after the 90-days.Paid personal/sick and vacation days.CMH Ski Pass Program.IKON Pass Benefits.Pro deal affiliations with Brand Partners.Opportunities to heli-hike and heli-ski, as available.**CMH is an equal opportunity employer**