Seasonal Chef

Better Talent; Elk Mountain (WY); On-site; USD 33,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site housing

Shift meals included

Job summary

The Historic Elk Mountain Hotel is seeking an experienced, hands-on Seasonal Chef to lead day-to-day kitchen execution through October 2026. This on-site role offers housing and shift meals, with dinner service daily from 5:00–7:30 PM and breakfasts by reservation.

You will own the kitchen, manage inventory, and craft high-quality seasonal menus in a small, dedicated team environment. You will collaborate closely with management and staff to deliver exceptional dining experiences for locals and

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of professional cooking experience.
• Ability to independently execute dinner service.
• Maintain high standards for food quality, cleanliness, and presentation.
• Strong organizational skills for inventory and kitchen priorities.
• Willingness to live on site in Elk Mountain, WY.
• Strong communication and collaborative approach to working with a small team.

Responsibilities

• Cook high quality food to order.
• Maintain the kitchen and equipment.
• Learn our menu, and contribute ideas for specials and events.
• Manage inventory and minimize waste.
• Communicate effectively with the team.
• Be professional and respectful to guests and colleagues.

Skills

Cooking

Kitchen management

Inventory management

Communication

Team collaboration

Seasonal hospitality

Job description

The Historic Elk Mountain Hotel and Dining Room is a charming 12-room historic hotel located in the scenic mountain community of Elk Mountain, Wyoming. Our small, close-knit team welcomes everyone from local residents to travelers from around the world, providing warm hospitality and memorable dining experiences in a truly unique setting.

Our dining room focuses on quality over volume. We take pride in preparing delicious, thoughtfully crafted food and providing personal service to every guest. As a small operation, every member of our team plays an important role, works collaboratively, and takes pride in maintaining the character, quality, and hospitality that make the Historic Elk Mountain Hotel special.

Position Summary

The Historic Elk Mountain Hotel is seeking an experienced, hands-on Seasonal Chef to lead day-to-day kitchen execution through October 2026. This is an excellent opportunity for a skilled culinary professional who enjoys working independently, taking ownership of their kitchen, and creating high-quality food in a unique mountain setting.

Our restaurant operates differently from a traditional high-volume kitchen. Dinner is our primary service and is offered daily from 5:00–7:30 PM. Breakfast is available by reservation, and occasional lunches are prepared for prearranged groups and special events. This creates a focused culinary environment where quality, organization, creativity, and consistency matter more than volume.

As the primary culinary presence in the kitchen, you will prepare dinner service, maintain kitchen standards, manage inventory and food waste, contribute ideas for specials and events, and help ensure appropriate kitchen coverage throughout the season. You'll work closely with the General Manager, Assistant Manager, kitchen staff, servers, and the rest of our small team to provide an exceptional experience for every guest.

This is an on-site seasonal position with housing and shift meals included, making it especially well suited for someone interested in spending the season working and living in the beautiful Wyoming mountains.

Key Responsibilities

Cook high quality food to order.

Maintain the kitchen and equipment.

Learn our menu, and also contribute creatively for specials, new items, and special events.

Manage inventory. Minimize waste.

Communicate effectively with team.

Be professional and respectful to all team members and guests.

Required Qualifications

Minimum of 3 years of professional cooking or relevant culinary experience.

Strong cooking fundamentals and ability to independently execute a dinner service.

Ability to maintain high standards for food quality, consistency, cleanliness, and presentation.

Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage inventory and kitchen priorities.

Dependable, professional, honest, and comfortable taking ownership of responsibilities.

Strong communication skills and a collaborative approach to working with a small team.

Ability to adapt to changing guest counts, special events, and the needs of a seasonal hospitality operation.

Willingness and ability to live on site in Elk Mountain, Wyoming, for the duration of the seasonal position.

Preferred Qualifications

Catering, banquet, or special-event culinary experience.

Experience training or teaching other kitchen employees.

Experience with inventory management, ordering, and food-cost control.

Previous experience working in a small restaurant, hotel, lodge, resort, or seasonal hospitality environment.

Compensation, Benefits & Schedule

Monthly Pay $3,000–$5,000 per month, based on experience and qualifications.

Additional compensation includes:

End-of-season bonus.

Housing & Meals

On-site housing provided.

Shift meals included.

Schedule

Seasonal position available ASAP through October 2026.

Approximately 40 hours per week, depending on occupancy, events, and business needs.

Generally six days per week, including most weekends.

Dinner service is the primary focus, with restaurant hours from 5:00–7:30 PM daily.

Breakfast is offered by reservation rather than through regular daily service.

Occasional lunches are prepared for prearranged groups and events.

Additional time off may be arranged in advance with management.