Banquet Sous Chef - The Little Nell

Company Description

Owned and operated by Aspen Hospitality, The Little Nell is Aspen's only Five-Star, Five-Diamond, ski-in/ski-out hotel and offers luxury services and unparalleled access to America's most famous mountain town. A Relais & Châteaux resort, the Nell is frequently recognized for its award-winning wine and culinary programs and dedicated service. The property boasts a variety of amenities, including two restaurants, three bars, a wine cellar and a speakeasy. The Little Nell is also home to the new The Nell Spa. During ski season, Nell guests have access to a slopeside ski concierge and numerous winter adventures. In summer months, guests enjoy lush gardens along with off-road adventures, stargazing, fly fishing and mountaintop yoga; plus, a pool, hot tub, and a newly renovated spa and health club. The Little Nell has been acknowledged with numerous awards including being named a Forbes Five-Star hotel since 1995, a AAA Five-Diamond hotel since 1991, a Wine Spectator Grand Award winner since 1997, recognition as one of America’s 100 Best Wine Restaurants from Wine Enthusiast and frequently nominated for its Outstanding Wine Program by the James Beard Foundation. The Nell will debut its first hotel outside of Aspen at Rockefeller Center in New York City in 2026. For more information, visit www.thelittlenell.com or follow @thelittlenell on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. 

Job Description

Position Summary 
The Banquet Sous Chef works in unison with the Banquet Manager, Pastry Chef and Catering department to plan food service for events. This position will support the directives of the Banquet Chef by upholding the highest of standards with quality cuisine, cleanliness, communication, food and labor cost management, professionalism & innovation. This position reports to the Banquet Chef. 

The budgeted salary range for this position is $70,000 - $80,000 plus commission. Actual pay will be dependent on budget and experience.

Job Posting Deadline
Applications for this position will be accepted until April 20, 2025.

Essential Job Functions/Key Job Responsibilities
•    Assist the Executive Banquet Chef in all areas of menus and food related operations
•    Oversee organization of kitchen management according to needs. Also responsible for coordinating staff for banquets and live stations
•    Responsible for labor analysis and breakdown, and assisting with the formulation and achievement of the annual culinary labor budget, including controlling food and labor costs
•    Assist in creation of weekly schedule for banquet culinary department
•    Training and development of staff, including, proper use of equipment, hotel orientation and culinary rules and regulations
•    Responsible for organization and quantity of china, glass, silver and any equipment needed to execute an event, including tents and scullery
•    Responsible for food inventories, food purchasing and product FIFO and storage cleanliness and organization with assistance from the Purchasing department
•    Responsible for after function break down, dissemination and salvage of leftover foods
•    Writing and monitoring daily production lists
•    Reviews daily all change logs, event reports and updates BEO’s accordingly, and ensures that other affected culinary departments are up to date
•    Responsible for all systems in banquet operations: ordering, scheduling, payroll, production and quality of product
•    Responsible for overseeing maintenance of equipment and sanitation in all food production and service areas, routinely checking temperatures of food in all levels of service and areas of property and keeping the walk-ins, dry storage and loading dock areas clean and orderly
•    Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Education & Experience Requirements 
•    Culinary Degree or Equivalent preferred
•    5 years of progressive experience in culinary operations required
•    4 years of experience in culinary management with at least 2 years as Executive Sous Chef or Sous Chef in a luxury hotel or multi-outlet restaurant required

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities  
•    Extensive knowledge of culinary techniques, food preparation, and kitchen operations
•    Strong leadership and team management skills, including training and mentoring staff
•    Ability to develop and execute creative, high-quality menus while maintaining cost control
•    Proficiency in food safety, sanitation regulations, and HACCP standards
•    Proficient in fundamental math and accounting skills
•    Strong organizational and time management skills to handle multiple tasks efficiently
•    Familiar with hotel fire and safety procedures, assisting in emergency and security procedures as directed by Planning Committee
•    Experience in inventory management, ordering, and vendor relations
•    Ability to monitor food and labor costs while optimizing kitchen efficiency
•    Excellent problem-solving skills to address kitchen challenges and service issues
•    Strong communication and collaboration skills to work with other departments
•    Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-pressure kitchen environment
•    Experience with banquet and event catering, ensuring seamless execution
•    Knowledge of kitchen equipment maintenance and troubleshooting
•    Proficiency in Microsoft Office and kitchen management software
•    Ability to adapt to changing menus, dietary restrictions, and guest preferences
•    Passion for culinary innovation and staying updated on industry trends

Additional Information

Work Environment & Physical Demands 
•    Ability to be on your feet, kneel and bend for extended periods of time
•    Regularly work in adverse conditions and requiring the use of protective apparel/equipment to prevent exposure to the elements as well as an office environment and may be required to walk on slippery and uneven surfaces
•    Must be able to lift, push or pull occasionally up to 50 lbs. individually or with assistance

Job Benefits 
This position is classified as a regular full-time position eligible for the following benefits:
Enrollment dates differ across the various programs.  
•    Health, Dental and Vision Insurance Programs
•    Flexible Spending Account Programs
•    Life Insurance Programs
•    Paid Time Off Programs
•    Paid Leave Programs
•    401(k) Savings Plan
•    Employee Ski Pass and Dependent Ski Passes 
•    Other company perks

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. By accepting a position with Aspen One, Aspen Snowmass, Aspen Ventures or Aspen Hospitality you acknowledge that you are able to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. To request accommodation during the application and interviewing process, please contact Human Resources at 970-300-7700.         

This job description is designed to indicate the general nature and level of work. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive list of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. Duties and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.

Aspen One is an equal opportunity employer (Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran). At Aspen One, inclusion, equity, and diversity are fundamental to fulfilling our vision of building a better workplace and better world. From our hiring practices through the entire employee experience, we embrace and celebrate the unique experiences, perspectives and cultural backgrounds that each employee brings to the workplace. We encourage diverse points of view which allows us to develop innovative solutions to the ever-evolving world of work. Aspen One strives to foster an environment where our employees feel respected, valued and empowered, and our team members are at the forefront of helping us promote and sustain an inclusive workplace that works for all.

For an overview of Aspen One Company's benefits and other compensation visit www.aspensnowmass.com/employment/benefits-and-perks

Aspen One participates in E-Verify.

E-Verify & Right to Work Poster