Executive Chef- The Laurel Hotel & Spa & Walt's On The Roof

Rane Culinary Science Center; Auburn (AL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a prestigious hotel as an Executive Chef, leading culinary operations and mentoring future leaders in hospitality. This role combines luxury dining with educational partnerships, offering a unique opportunity to shape award-winning menus and the next generation of culinary professionals.

Qualifications

• 8-10 years of progressive culinary experience in luxury hotels or fine dining.
• Experience in high-profile, high-performance environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead culinary operations at The Laurel Hotel & Spa and Walt's On The Roof.
• Develop innovative, seasonal menus reflecting the hotel's sophistication.
• Recruit, train, and mentor a high-performing culinary team.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Culinary Innovation

Financial Acumen

Education

Culinary degree from an accredited institution

Job description

Position Summary:

The Executive Chef will lead the culinary operations at The Laurel Hotel & Spa and its signature rooftop venue, Walt's On The Roof. As the creative and operational head of these flagship properties, the Executive Chef is responsible for upholding the standards of a AAA Five Diamond hotel, while also mentoring future leaders of the hospitality industry through collaboration with Auburn University's Tony & Libba Rane Culinary Science Center. This role demands a visionary culinarian, a disciplined operator, and an inspiring leader-someone who can balance fine dining execution with volume efficiency, and who thrives in both luxury service environments and educational partnerships.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide visionary leadership and hands-on direction for all kitchen operations, including rooftop and in-room dining, banquet events, and culinary programming.
• Develop innovative, seasonal, and locally inspired menus that reflect the sophistication of The Laurel and the modern appeal of Walt's On The Roof.
• Foster a culture of excellence in food quality, presentation, sanitation, and hospitality service.
• Recruit, train, and mentor a high-performing culinary team, instilling professionalism, precision, and pride.
• Collaborate closely with Auburn University's culinary faculty to integrate student engagement, mentorship, and experiential learning into daily operations.
• Maintain food cost, labor, and inventory controls in line with financial targets, while protecting guest experience and product integrity.
• Oversee vendor relationships, product sourcing, and sustainability initiatives aligned with the hotel's elevated brand.
• Ensure strict adherence to health and safety regulations, HACCP standards, and AAA/Five Diamond criteria.
• Serve as a culinary ambassador for the brand-engaging in guest experiences, marketing activations, VIP events, and community outreach.

Qualifications:

• Minimum 8-10 years of progressive culinary experience in luxury hotels, fine dining restaurants, or prestigious culinary institutions; rooftop or multi-outlet experience highly preferred.
• Proven ability to lead teams in high-profile, high-performance environments.
• Strong understanding of both classical techniques and modern culinary innovation.
• Demonstrated success in mentoring, developing, and retaining culinary talent.
• Financial acumen with the ability to manage budgets, food cost, and labor efficiency.
• Experience working in educational, teaching kitchen, or student mentorship settings is a major plus.
• Culinary degree from an accredited institution required; ACF certification or equivalent preferred.

Why Join Us?

At The Laurel Hotel & Spa, you'll work at the intersection of luxury hospitality and world-class education. As Executive Chef, you'll shape not only award-winning menus-but the next generation of culinary professionals. You'll be part of a team committed to excellence, creativity, and meaningful guest connections.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, or any other status protected by law or regulation. It is our intention that all qualified applicants are given equal opportunity and that selection decisions be based on job-related factors.