Executive Chef (USA Operations)

Armstrong Collective is the parent company of two iconic luxury rail experience brands, Rocky Mountaineer and Canyon Spirit. These brands craft unforgettable journeys through some of the most breathtaking landscapes in Western Canada and the American Southwest, offering a blend of natural beauty, exceptional service, and culinary excellence. Guided by core values such as Create Meaningful Moments, Be One Team, and Achieve Extraordinary Outcomes, Armstrong Collective fosters a proud, inclusive, and high-performance workplace culture where integrity, teamwork, and guest experience are priorities. The company is deeply committed to supporting growth, embracing innovation, and maintaining a respectful environment that celebrates diversity and inclusion.

The Executive Chef role at Armstrong Collective is a senior leadership position reporting directly to the Director, RTR Guest Experience, with a dotted-line accountability to the Director, Culinary Strategy. This impactful role is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the Canyon Spirit onboard culinary operations. The Executive Chef ensures that guests receive an exceptional, safe, and consistent culinary experience that aligns with the brand’s standards and business goals. The position operates within a mobile and safety-critical environment where adherence to regulatory and safety requirements is paramount.

In this role, the Executive Chef leads a team of over 20 culinary professionals including the Chef de Cuisine, providing key leadership and coaching to foster a high-performing and inclusive culture. They translate culinary strategy into actionable standards, menu development, costing, and operational execution. The role demands a collaborative mindset to coordinate seamlessly with various internal departments such as Culinary Strategy, Operations, Catering, Procurement, and Guest Experience, as well as external catering partners. A focus on continuous improvement, operational excellence, and flexibility to manage culinary programs in a dynamic, mobile setting is essential.

The Executive Chef is also responsible for ensuring strict compliance with food safety, regulatory, and onboard safety protocols, supporting the company’s strong safety culture. This includes oversight of food safety audits, incident reporting, emergency preparedness, and training initiatives. They act as a vital link between culinary operations and multiple stakeholders to support reliable provisioning, inventory management, cost controls, and waste reduction, all while delivering a memorable guest experience.

With a salary range of $105,000 to $115,000 annually plus eligibility for Armstrong Collective’s bonus program, this role offers both competitive compensation and career growth opportunities within a reputable company known for its extraordinary guest experiences. Embedded in a robust support system of corporate and operational partners, the Executive Chef has a unique opportunity to influence not only culinary standards but also team development, supplier partnerships, and sustainability initiatives. This leadership opportunity is ideal for an experienced culinary professional passionate about luxury travel, operational excellence, and the art of creating memorable culinary moments on the rails.