Task Force Chef

Job Description

Job Description

Do You Love Great Food, Leadership, and Mountain Living as Much as We Do?

Work Hard. Play Hard. Live Fully in Crested Butte.

At Elk Ave Hospitality, we are building teams for people who want more than just a job. We are looking for individuals who want to work hard, grow their skills, be part of a strong team, and enjoy the unmatched lifestyle that comes with living in the Gunnison Valley.

If you love cooking, take pride in leading from the line, and enjoy stepping into dynamic environments where your presence makes the operation stronger, we want to hear from you.

Whether your passion is skiing first tracks, biking wildflower-lined trails, fishing alpine waters, or simply soaking in the beauty of the Rockies, this is your chance to build a life that blends professional growth with personal adventure.

We are growing quickly and actively building career paths for people who want to develop their knowledge, expand their skills, and contribute to a strong hospitality culture.

What You Can Expect

• A positive, team-oriented work environment
• Ongoing training, learning, and development
• Opportunities for growth and advancement within Elk Ave Hospitality
• Employee housing opportunities, depending on the role and availability
• Competitive salaried compensation at $85,000 per year
• Health benefits
• Paid time off
• The opportunity to live and work in one of Colorado’s most remarkable mountain communities

This is a full-time salaried position .

Who We’re Looking For

You may be a strong fit if you:

• Work well as part of a team
• Take pride in quality, consistency, and execution
• Can lead with confidence in a fast-paced kitchen environment
• Are adaptable and effective in changing circumstances
• Value cleanliness, organization, readiness, and discipline
• Can communicate clearly with chefs, managers, and hourly teams
• Want to grow and help others grow
• Bring a positive attitude, professionalism, and accountability to work each day
• Care deeply about doing things the right way, every shift, in every kitchen

Our core values are Communication, Humility, Accountability, Integrity, and Respect , and we are looking for team members who want to live those values in the workplace.

What Will Be Expected of You

In this role, team members may be expected to:

• Maintain a professional appearance and follow dress and uniform standards
• Work mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended hours during busy seasonal periods
• Communicate clearly and work effectively with culinary leaders, venue leadership, and hourly team members
• Help maintain clean, organized, safe, and service-ready kitchen environments
• Work with consistency, urgency, and a team-first attitude
• Step into multiple venues and concepts with professionalism and adaptability
• Lead by example in kitchens that may need coverage, support, coaching, or added structure

Cross-Training and Growth

We believe in building flexible, well-rounded leadership teams through cross-training and operational awareness. The Task Force Chef role is designed to support multiple concepts across Elk Ave Hospitality, helping strengthen our kitchens while building a broad understanding of the company, our standards, and our teams.

This position offers the opportunity to work across a range of venues, service styles, and culinary environments while developing into a highly versatile leadership role within the organization.

About Elk Ave Hospitality

Elk Ave Hospitality is a growing family of restaurants and hospitality businesses in Crested Butte and the Gunnison Valley. Our venues offer a wide range of guest experiences, from elevated dining to approachable everyday hospitality, all rooted in quality, consistency, and genuine care for our guests and our team.

We believe hospitality can be both a craft and a career. With multiple venues, varied concepts, and opportunities for advancement, we are able to offer year-round employment, cross-training, and real pathways for growth. We are building a company for people who want to work hard, contribute to a strong team culture, and grow their skills over time.

About the Role

The Task Force Chef is a deployable culinary leadership position that works in rotation across Elk Ave Hospitality concepts, providing coverage, structure, and support for venue operations teams. This role is designed to strengthen kitchens where additional leadership is needed, support staffing transitions, reinforce standards, and help maintain continuity in execution across the portfolio.

This is a unique opportunity for a highly adaptable culinary professional who enjoys variety, can quickly earn trust in new environments, and takes pride in stepping in where needed to make the operation better.

Opportunities Available

Elk Ave Hospitality is hiring for the following opportunity:

• Task Force Chef

Position Summary

The Task Force Chef plays a key leadership role in supporting back-of-house operations across multiple Elk Ave Hospitality venues. This position is responsible for stepping into kitchens as needed to help lead execution, maintain food quality and consistency, support team performance, and ensure each kitchen is clean, organized, and set up for success.

This role operates with a scope similar to a Sous Chef, but from a deployable, multi-unit level. The Task Force Chef may provide temporary coverage, reinforce standards, support special projects, assist with training, or help stabilize operations during periods of transition, growth, or increased business demand.

This role is ideal for a hands-on culinary professional who leads from the line, communicates clearly, adapts quickly, and thrives in fast-paced environments. The right candidate will bring urgency, professionalism, attention to detail, and a strong commitment to food quality, team development, and operational discipline.

Benefits and Perks

• $85,000 annual salary
• Health benefits
• Paid time off
• Employee housing opportunities, depending on role and availability
• Opportunities for growth and advancement within Elk Ave Hospitality
• The chance to live and work in one of Colorado’s most remarkable mountain communities

Key Responsibilities

Culinary Leadership and Kitchen Execution

• As a Task Force Chef, I step into kitchens across Elk Ave Hospitality and lead daily culinary execution to company standards.
• I support service by maintaining strong communication, urgency, and attention to detail throughout each shift.
• I work stations as needed and lead by example in delivering smooth, efficient, and high-quality service.
• I maintain consistency in food preparation, plating, and overall product execution across multiple concepts.
• I adapt quickly to different venues, menus, teams, and service styles while protecting brand standards.

Team Support and Leadership Coverage

• I provide leadership coverage and operational support where kitchens need added structure, continuity, or hands-on guidance.
• I support the training, supervision, and development of cooks and stewards.
• I reinforce professionalism, accountability, consistency, and strong work ethic in every kitchen I enter.
• I communicate clearly with venue leadership, chefs, managers, and hourly team members to support operational success.
• I help maintain a culture of discipline, teamwork, and respect across all concepts.

Inventory, Ordering, and Operational Support

• I support ordering, inventory, prep organization, and kitchen readiness to maintain efficiency and execution.
• I help monitor product levels, storage, rotation, waste awareness, and cost-conscious kitchen habits.
• I assist in maintaining accurate inventory practices and operational discipline across venues.
• I maintain familiarity with scheduling, inventory systems, recipe management, and kitchen administrative tools.
• I support special projects, rollouts, transitions, and venue-specific initiatives as needed.

Sanitation, Safety, and Standards

• I ensure all kitchen areas remain clean, organized, sanitary, and in compliance with health and safety standards.
• I maintain complete knowledge of food handling, sanitation procedures, and company policies.
• I help oversee the cleanliness and care of kitchen equipment, storage areas, prep spaces, and production areas.
• I ensure all food-related work areas meet company and health department standards at all times.
• I promote a culture of cleanliness, safety, pride, and operational discipline throughout every kitchen I support.

Qualifications

• Prior culinary leadership experience required
• Sous Chef or similar kitchen leadership experience strongly preferred
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in fast-paced kitchen environments
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to lead, support, and develop a team
• Strong problem-solving ability and the confidence to respond effectively during service
• A hands-on leadership style with a willingness to work alongside the team wherever needed
• Ability to adapt quickly and operate effectively across multiple venues and concepts
• Ability to maintain professionalism, composure, and quality standards during high-volume periods

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Ability to work all stations in a professional kitchen
• Strong understanding of kitchen systems, prep organization, and line execution
• Experience with restaurant inventory systems and ordering processes
• Familiarity with Craftable or similar inventory management software
• Comfort with scheduling, spreadsheets, and general office software, including Microsoft Office
• Experience with recipe management software and kitchen administrative systems
• Understanding of food cost controls, waste reduction, and operational organization
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English
• Ability to communicate in Spanish is appreciated
• Strong basic math skills and attention to detail
• Experience working across multiple venues or concepts is a plus

Physical and Position Requirements

• Must be able to stand and move continuously for extended periods of time
• Must be able to walk, bend, twist, stoop, stretch, climb, and lift throughout each shift
• Must be able to work efficiently in crowded, fast-paced kitchen environments
• Must be capable of adjusting to changes in pace, priorities, venue needs, and business volume
• Must be able to lift at least 30 pounds
• Must be able to work mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended hours as needed in a seasonal hospitality environment
• Must be able to travel between venues and work where the business needs support
• Must be able to work in environments with temperature fluctuations, hot surfaces, sharp tools, kitchen equipment, cleaning chemicals, and loud background noise

Important Position Information

This is a full-time salaried position paid at $85,000 annually . Benefits include health benefits and paid time off. This role is deployable across multiple Elk Ave Hospitality concepts and is expected to provide coverage and support where needed.

What Success Looks Like in This Role

Success in this position means stepping into kitchens across the company and making them stronger. The right candidate brings stability, urgency, consistency, and leadership wherever they go. This person communicates well, lives the core values, supports teams with professionalism and humility, and helps ensure every venue delivers food, execution, and operational discipline that reflect the standards of Elk Ave Hospitality.