Executive Chef

Lone Mountain Ranch; Big Sky (MT); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Lone Mountain Ranch in Big Sky, MT seeks an Executive Chef to lead daily culinary operations across its dining outlets, setting standards for food quality, kitchen culture, and guest experience.

You will mentor a talented team, balance creativity with consistency, oversee production planning, menu engineering, and cost control, while partnering with Culinary Director and Front of House to deliver unforgettable hospitality.

Qualifications

• Five or more years of progressive culinary leadership experience.
• Executive Chef or Executive Sous Chef experience in an upscale restaurant, luxury hospitality, resort, or similar environment.
• Strong knowledge of culinary techniques, kitchen operations, menu execution, or food production.
• Demonstrated success leading, coaching, and developing culinary teams.
• Experience managing labor, food costs, purchasing, inventory, and departmental budgets.
• Excellent leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• ServSafe Manager Certification or the ability to obtain certification upon hire.
• Experience in fine dining, destination hospitality, highly seasonal operations, menu engineering, recipe costing, or regional cuisine is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the daily culinary operations of one of Lone Mountain Ranch's dining outlets.
• Ensure exceptional food quality, consistency, and presentation across every service.
• Execute seasonal menus and culinary initiatives in partnership with the Culinary Director.
• Oversee kitchen operations, production planning, sanitation, food safety, inventory management, purchasing, and equipment maintenance.
• Manage labor scheduling, food costs, inventory, and departmental financial performance while maintaining high operational standards.
• Recruit, onboard, train, coach, and develop a high-performing culinary team.
• Foster a professional kitchen culture built on accountability, teamwork, communication, and continuous improvement.
• Partner closely with Front of House leadership to deliver exceptional guest experiences.
• Collaborate with Events and other departments to execute special events and unique guest experiences across the Ranch.
• Ensure compliance with food safety regulations, company policies, and workplace safety standards.
• Lead by example through an active, hands-on presence during service.

Skills

Culinary leadership

Team leadership

Menu execution

Food production

Labor management

Budget management

Communication

Coaching

Job description

For more than 100 years, Lone Mountain Ranch has welcomed guests to beautiful Big Sky, Montana. Set on 148 acres just minutes from Yellowstone National Park, the Ranch is known for authentic Western hospitality, exceptional dining, outdoor adventures, and unforgettable guest experiences.

The beauty of the Ranch may be what guests remember first, but it's the people who create the experiences they remember most. Together, we take pride in caring for this special place—preserving its history, stewarding its natural surroundings, and creating meaningful experiences for every guest who visits.

Whether you're welcoming guests, preparing memorable meals, caring for our historic property, or supporting operations behind the scenes, every role contributes to creating unforgettable experiences while helping shape the next chapter of Lone Mountain Ranch's legacy.

Lead an Exceptional Culinary Team

Exceptional dining experiences begin with exceptional leadership. As Executive Chef, you'll lead one of Lone Mountain Ranch's culinary operations, setting the standard for food quality, kitchen culture, and operational excellence. This is an opportunity to build and develop a talented team while delivering memorable dining experiences that reflect the Ranch's commitment to authentic hospitality.

Working alongside the Culinary Director and Food & Beverage leadership, you'll balance creativity with consistency, mentor culinary professionals, and guide daily operations in a fast-paced hospitality environment where teamwork, craftsmanship, and genuine service are at the heart of everything we do.

What You'll Do

• Lead the daily culinary operations of one of Lone Mountain Ranch's dining outlets.
• Ensure exceptional food quality, consistency, and presentation across every service.
• Execute seasonal menus and culinary initiatives in partnership with the Culinary Director.
• Oversee kitchen operations, production planning, sanitation, food safety, inventory management, purchasing, and equipment maintenance.
• Manage labor scheduling, food costs, inventory, and departmental financial performance while maintaining high operational standards.
• Recruit, onboard, train, coach, and develop a high-performing culinary team.
• Foster a professional kitchen culture built on accountability, teamwork, communication, and continuous improvement.
• Partner closely with Front of House leadership to deliver exceptional guest experiences.
• Collaborate with Events and other departments to execute special events and unique guest experiences across the Ranch.
• Ensure compliance with food safety regulations, company policies, and workplace safety standards.
• Lead by example through an active, hands-on presence during service.

Who Thrives Here

This role is a great fit for someone who:

• Leads with professionalism, humility, and integrity.
• Is passionate about developing others and building high-performing culinary teams.
• Maintains high standards while remaining calm and adaptable during busy service periods.
• Balances culinary creativity with sound operational and financial decision-making.
• Communicates openly and collaborates effectively across departments.
• Takes ownership of both the guest experience and the success of the team.
• Thrives in a dynamic hospitality environment where every day is different.

What You'll Bring

• Five or more years of progressive culinary leadership experience.
• Executive Chef or Executive Sous Chef experience in an upscale restaurant, luxury hospitality, resort, or similar environment.
• Strong knowledge of culinary techniques, kitchen operations, menu execution, and food production.
• Demonstrated success leading, coaching, and developing culinary teams.
• Experience managing labor, food costs, purchasing, inventory, and departmental budgets.
• Excellent leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• ServSafe Manager Certification or the ability to obtain certification upon hire.
• Experience in fine dining, destination hospitality, highly seasonal operations, menu engineering, recipe costing, or regional cuisine is preferred.

Why Join Lone Mountain Ranch?

At Lone Mountain Ranch, you'll join a team that believes exceptional hospitality begins with exceptional people. This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact, contribute to an extraordinary guest experience, and help shape the future of one of Montana's most distinctive hospitality destinations.

If you're looking for a place where craftsmanship is valued, leadership matters, and your work directly contributes to creating unforgettable experiences, we'd love to hear from you.