Executive Chef

Job Description

Job Description

ABOUT THE PROPERTY

Welcome to old-world grandeur with comfy, sumptuous updates that celebrate the spirit of good times, delicious food, and great friends. We've designed a space and a place where top-rated, lively dining experiences unfold, inside and out. This is where people connect and indulge in every detail, every moment in a truly special, historic destination, in total comfort and style.

Launching in June 2026, our brand-new Antithesis restaurant lives within the historic Royal Gorge Mansion (formerly the Robison Mansion, built in the 1880s). Located in the Royal Gorge Region, Colorado (Cañon City), situated north of Westcliffe and east of Salida, Antithesis and the Royal Gorge Mansion are perfectly positioned at the mouth of the Royal Gorge Canyon on a pristine historic 4-acre property enclosed by a stunning circa-1880 iron fence with upwards of 80 trees, an historic fountain surrounded by cozy firepits, and beautifully maintained grounds. Antithesis is open for lunch and dinner. The property runs year-round alongside the Royal Gorge Route Railroad and Caboose Café, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Antithesis at the Royal Gorge Mansion is seeking an accomplished, visionary, and entrepreneurial Founding Executive Chef to lead the culinary opening and long-term success of one of Colorado's most exciting destination dining experiences.

This is not a traditional Executive Chef role. This is a rare opportunity to build a flagship culinary destination connected to one of America's most iconic scenic railroads and hospitality experiences. Located on a stunning historic mansion estate at the mouth of the Royal Gorge canyon, Antithesis is designed to deliver a lively, elevated, chef-driven dining experience rooted in hospitality, creativity, and memorable guest experiences.

Serving hundreds of thousands of guests annually from around the world, the Royal Gorge Route Railroad has become an internationally recognized destination known for extraordinary scenery, immersive hospitality, scenic rail dining, and unforgettable experiences through the Royal Gorge.

Now, the organization is building what comes next. The Founding Executive Chef will shape the culinary identity, opening culture, systems, standards, and guest experience for Antithesis while helping create a restaurant with the potential to become one of Colorado's most talked-about dining destinations.

This role may collaborate with and influence culinary operations connected to the Royal Gorge Route Railroad and Caboose Café; however, the primary focus and legacy opportunity will be the development and leadership of the Antithesis restaurant concept.

This is a build-from-the-ground-up opportunity for a chef who thinks beyond simply running a kitchen and is excited to create something lasting alongside an ambitious and rapidly growing hospitality organization.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead all culinary operations for Antithesis restaurant.
• Oversee all food production to ensure consistency, quality, presentation, and execution aligned with the Antithesis brand and guest experience standards.
• Develop seasonal menus, banquet offerings, cuisine-appropriate concepts, food purchase specifications, and standardized recipes.
• Recruit, train, schedule, supervise, and develop Back-of-House team members while creating a culture of accountability, professionalism, and hospitality.
• Schedule and coordinate the work of chefs, cooks, and kitchen employees to ensure food preparation is economical, technically correct, and within budgeted labor goals.
• Develop and monitor food and labor budgets while implementing controls to minimize waste, loss, and theft.
• Manage inventory, purchasing, and vendor relationships through approved suppliers.
• Evaluate food products and preparation techniques to ensure consistently high culinary standards.
• Maintain elevated sanitation, cleanliness, organization, and safety standards throughout all kitchen and storage areas at all times.
• Safeguard employees through training focused on sanitation, workplace safety, accident prevention, and proper food handling procedures.
• Cook or directly supervise the preparation of items requiring advanced culinary skill and technique.
• Ensure proper staffing levels to maximize productivity, operational efficiency, and guest satisfaction.
• Provide ongoing training, mentorship, and professional development opportunities for kitchen staff.
• Stay current on culinary and hospitality trends while bringing fresh ideas and innovation to the operation.
• Maintain a visible leadership presence and support the overall guest experience throughout the property.
• Uphold service and culinary standards consistent with a destination-driven hospitality brand.
• Undertake additional projects and operational responsibilities as assigned by ownership or the General Manager.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Executive Chef, Executive Sous Chef, or Chef de Cuisine leadership experience.
• Opening experience strongly preferred.
• Strong operational and systems mindset.
• Event and banquet experience preferred.
• Experience leading high-performing teams.
• Strong understanding of food and labor cost management.
• Passion for culture-building and mentorship.
• Experience in upscale dining, destination dining, chef-driven restaurants, or experiential hospitality concepts preferred.
• Passionate about cooking and hospitality.
• A builder.
• A strong operator.
• Highly organized.
• Obsessed with guest experience.
• A strong leader and mentor.
• Creative and entrepreneurial.
• Excited by the opportunity to build something iconic.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Work tasks are performed both indoors and outdoors, and in both extreme heat and cold temperatures.
• Ability to stand and walk for up to 12 hours.
• Must be able to lift 50 lbs.
• Must be able to exert a well-paced ability to reach different outlets and other departments on a timely basis.
• Requires grasping, writing, standing, sitting, walking, repetitive motions, bending, climbing, listening, and hearing ability, and visual acuity.
  

REPORTS STRUCTURE

• Reports to: Ownership/ General Manager
• Manages and supervises: Chef de cuisine- Antithesis, Sous Chefs, BOH Staff

You Will Lead

• Full restaurant concept development.
• Culinary vision and brand identity.
• Kitchen culture and leadership.
• Menu development and seasonal programming.
• Culinary standards, consistency, and innovation.
• Team recruitment, training, and mentorship.
• Long-term culinary growth and expansion.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• $130,000–$160,000 base salary.
• Performance-based bonus plan.
• Housing assistance and/or furnished housing available
• Relocation assistance.
• 100% employer-paid health, dental & vision insurance for employee and immediate family.
• 401(k) with up to 8% company match.
• Paid time off.
• Significant creative leadership opportunity.
• Opportunity to build and lead a flagship destination restaurant from the ground up.
• Long-term growth opportunity within an expanding hospitality organization.
• Opportunity to help shape one of Colorado's most unique hospitality and dining experiences.

LOCATION DETAILS

Located near the iconic Royal Gorge and Arkansas River corridor, Cañon City offers a unique blend of dramatic scenery, outdoor adventure, and growing destination tourism, without the congestion and extreme cost of major resort markets.

The area offers:

• Year-round outdoor recreation.
• Rafting, hiking, fishing, climbing, and mountain access.
• Mild climate with over 300 days of sunshine.
• Lower cost of living than Colorado resort towns.
• Proximity to Colorado Springs.
• A growing tourism and hospitality economy.
• Opportunity to build a meaningful lifestyle and long-term legacy.