OPENING Executive Chef

Pacific Hospitality Group is a distinguished owner-operator in the hospitality industry, celebrated for its commitment to long-term business growth and enriching the lives of its stakeholders. As a family-focused company, Pacific Hospitality Group adopts an owner/operator business model that emphasizes sustainable development and value creation. With a clear vision to offer memorable experiences, give back to communities, and honor God in all endeavors, the company upholds guiding principles such as integrity, compliance, principled entrepreneurship, customer focus, knowledge, humility, respect, and fulfillment. This strategic outlook ensures that Pacific Hospitality Group not only creates exceptional hospitality services but also fosters a supportive environment for its team members, enabling sustainable career growth and personal development.

At the heart of Pacific Hospitality Group's portfolio is the Denu Hotel & Spa, a new independent luxury hotel anchored in delivering exquisite culinary and hospitality experiences. The Executive Chef role at Denu Hotel & Spa is an exceptional leadership opportunity designed for a culinary visionary and operational expert. This position entails overseeing the comprehensive food program across various outlets including restaurants, bars, banquets, catering services, and in-room dining. The role demands a leader with profound expertise in managing high-volume banquet and catering operations, coupled with strengths in menu development, restaurant management, and team building. As the Executive Chef, the successful candidate will lead the culinary strategy and execution, directly influencing the brand's reputation for culinary excellence and guest satisfaction.

This position involves spearheading the pre-opening culinary planning including kitchen design input and equipment selection, ensuring that every detail aligns with the hotel’s standards and guest expectations. The Executive Chef will be responsible for developing and unifying culinary concepts across all service points to create a consistent and memorable dining experience. Detailed attention to establishing recipes, plating standards, production systems, and quality controls will be paramount. In this pivotal role, the Executive Chef will recruit, train, and develop the culinary team from the ground up, building a strong, cohesive unit prepared to deliver exceptional service from day one.

A vital component of the role includes managing all banquet and catering culinary operations. The Executive Chef must design banquet menus that integrate creativity with operational efficiency, cost control, and scalability suitable for diverse event types ranging from large-scale affairs to intimate high-end social functions. Ensuring flawless execution of these high-volume events while maintaining impeccable food quality and consistency is critical. Collaboration with the sales and events teams will be essential to drive revenue growth and maximize guest satisfaction.

Day-to-day responsibilities include managing kitchen operations across all outlets, maintaining rigorous food safety, sanitation, and compliance standards, and controlling food costs, labor, and inventory to achieve financial goals. The Executive Chef will also mentor sous chefs and culinary leadership staff, fostering professional development and building a sustainable talent pipeline that supports long-term operational excellence. The role demands an operational discipline balanced with creativity, confidence in leading large teams under pressure, and a collaborative approach as a partner to operations, events, and ownership stakeholders.

Ideal candidates will have 8-10 years of culinary leadership experience in full-service hotels or luxury hospitality environments, demonstrating specialized expertise in banquet and large-scale culinary operations. Previous involvement in new hotel or major restaurant openings is preferred, showcasing the ability to lead complex culinary projects from concept to execution. A knowledge of Southwest or regionally inspired cuisine is advantageous, though flexibility with global culinary influences is welcomed. A culinary degree or equivalent professional training elevates the candidate’s profile, further underscoring readiness for this prestigious role.

Pacific Hospitality Group is dedicated to equal employment opportunities, prohibiting discrimination or harassment on any legally protected basis. This commitment extends across all employment terms and conditions, fostering an inclusive workplace where diversity is valued and respected. Candidates looking to join a visionary hospitality leader and make a lasting impact through culinary excellence at the upcoming Denu Hotel & Spa will find an inspiring and rewarding career path in this Executive Chef position.