Winter 26/27: Kitchen Lead

POWDR; Colorado; On-site; USD 31,000 - 44,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Season pass for employees/dependents

Discount programs (F&B, retail, etc.)

Job summary

Copper Mountain Resort is seeking a Kitchen Lead for a seasonal role in Colorado. The position involves preparing, seasoning, and cooking a variety of dishes, while managing a specific kitchen station and coordinating with the broader team to ensure quality and efficiency.

Responsibilities include supervising junior staff, training on food safety and proper handling, assisting with inventory and ordering, and adapting to multiple outlets as business volumes dictate.

Qualifications

• One year of experience in a high-volume restaurant or resort.
• Ability to read recipes and prep lists.
• Strong teamwork and communication in a fast-paced kitchen.

Responsibilities

• Owns proper culinary tools and maintains kitchen hygiene.
• Preps and works assigned station quickly and cleanly.
• Trains lower-level staff in food handling.
• Assists in food ordering and inventory management.
• Supervises production and coordinates with other stations.
• Flexible to work in various outlets as needed.

Skills

English fluency

Culinary skills

Supervisory experience

Kitchen operations

Job description

Copper Mountain Resort is a vacation destination located 75 miles west of Denver, Colorado in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Three vibrant, pedestrian-friendly village areas host lodging, retail outlets, restaurants, bars, and family activities. During the winter months, Copper’s world-class terrain offers skiing and riding for all ages and abilities. Each summer, the mountain transforms into a playground for hikers, mountain bikers, and anyone seeking a genuine Colorado experience. Copper Mountain Resort is also home to Woodward Copper action-sports camps, programs, and training facility.

Job Title: Kitchen Lead

Job Status: Seasonal

Compensation and Benefits:

• Compensation: Proposed hiring rate of $27.08+, actual pay will be adjusted based on experience.
• Benefits: This is a seasonal position eligible for season pass for employees/dependents and privileges at several other resorts. Several discount programs (i.e. food & beverage, retail/rental, tickets, etc.) also available.

Job Summary:

Kitchen Leads who will be responsible for preparing, seasoning, and cooking soups, meats, vegetables, desserts, and other food items according to Head Chef’s specifications, managing a specific department or station within the kitchen or dining outlet, managing food production at their assigned station while coordinating with kitchen staff on other stations, supervising the preparation and presentation of all dishes, supervising and training lower-level kitchen staff in food-handling practices, including proper rotation, sanitation of storage areas, and labeling/dating to ensure compliance with health and safety standards, assisting in the direction, training, and supervision of kitchen staff, assigning tasks to kitchen staff, scheduling kitchen staff according to business volume, and assisting with food ordering to maintain inventory levels and ensure availability of ingredients. May have to lift and carry up to seventy-five (75) pounds. May supervise up to ten (10) employees, including Dishwashers, Cooks: Beginner, Cooks: Intermediate, and Cooks: Advanced.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Adheres to Copper Culinary Guidelines.
• Owns proper culinary tools
• Understands the importance of personal hygiene, safe food handling practices, and advanced culinary skills.
• Understands the importance of Standards, Speed, and Quality.
• Should have the ability to be responsible for a single department of an operation.
• This employee supports company philosophy, goals, and objectives.
• Preps and works assigned station quickly and cleanly.
• Follows prep sheets accurately and with a sense of urgency.
• Prepare food to the specifications of the Chef.
• Reads, understands, and follows recipes and standards.
• Takes responsibility for the product used in their outlet and manages it to assure a quality product.
• Responsible for and supervises lower level cooks in regards to food handling including: rotation, sanitation of all storage areas, labeling and dating, and insures all storage areas are maintained.
• Responsible for production on own station and co-ordinates with lower rated cooks on their stations (have a high level of kitchen awareness)
• Advises higher rated cooks and/or management of anticipated problems.
• Assists in the menu development process.
• Assist in the direction and supervision of staff.
• Assists in the creation, usage, and follow through of prep lists, cleaning lists and closing lists
• Assists in food ordering
• Demonstrate teamwork and co-operation with service staff.
• Completes any reasonable task assigned by supervisor.
• Takes direction from: Chefs, Sous Chefs, and outlet managers.
• Must be flexible to work in various restaurant outlets as needed.

Other Duties as Assigned:

• This job description is an overview of the scope of responsibilities for this job and is not intended to be an inclusive list of job tasks and expectations. With the evolution of POWDR-Copper, the responsibilities of this position may change. The job must be prepared to accept new responsibilities and transfer others.
• Functions as an ambassador of Copper Mountain, modeling and sharing the Copper “culture” with our guests and employees. Upholds the most professional image. Continually strives to exceed our guest’s expectations and create memories for our guests and staff.
• This position is a seasonal position and may have fluctuations in hours worked based upon overall business volumes.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Manage daily kitchen production, staffing levels and all staff communications during sous chef or chef’s absence.
• Manage daily labor model to business volumes
• May supervise up to ten (10) employees, including Dishwashers, Cooks: Beginner, Cooks: Intermediate, and Cooks: Advanced.

Personal Attributes:

• Is honest and has the highest integrity
• Is able to handle and manage confidential information
• Professional appearance.Adheres to all grooming guidelines
• Follows established policies and procedures
• Is supportive of Core Values
• Sets the example for others and is above reproach
• Is organized in tasks. Sees projects through to the finish.Has good follow-through and makes it a habit of getting back to people on issues.
• Can handle fast paced, potentially high-pressure environment
• Is flexible with hours and days of work
• Is able to work any hours of the day, any days of the week
• Prioritizes and re-prioritizes personal time and work, to have good balance in life

Basic Requirements:

• May have to lift and carry up to seventy-five (75) pounds.
• Standing or walking for up to six hours
• The senses of taste and smell are used frequently
• The use of hands and arms for periods of up to six hours
• Peripheral, color, and depth vision are essential.
• Must own non-slip shoes
• Must be at least 18 years old
• One (1) year of experience in a high-volume environment at a restaurant, resort, or private club required.

Preferred Experience and Special Skills:

• Has strong abilities in all applicable cooking techniques and practices.
• Ability to read, writes, and speaks fluently in English.
• Ability to work all stations in an outlet, work off prep list and complete station set up in time allotted, fabricates items to standard during service and completes prep list for next service period.
• Has mastered knife skills.
• Must be able to expedite production line during service period.
• Have the ability to manage the outlet during the Chef’s absence, supervise all stations and operate to standards.
• Understand, and practice all aspects of cost control.
• Should have the culinary ability to work shifts in any station in any outlet.
• This position may qualify for application under our Colorado Mountain College culinary internship partnership program.

Position was reposted posted on October 8th. This position will be posted and accepting applications until Wednesday, October 14th.

POWDR-Copper Mountain, LLC is an equal opportunity employer and that race/color/religion/sex/sexual orientation/gender identity/national origin/disability/protected veterans or any other applicable status protected by state or local law, are not taken into account in any employment decision. We offer competitive benefits, employee housing, and a unique work atmosphere.