OPEN
Executive Chef
Build the Next Chapter of Culinary Excellence at One of Vancouver Island’s Most Recognized Resorts
Vancouver Island, BC
On-site
The Company
Our client is an established, independently owned destination resort located on a spectacular oceanfront property on Vancouver Island.
The resort offers a collection of guest accommodations, multiple dining experiences, spa facilities, and extensive conference, wedding, and event operations.
Today, the organization combines the scale and complexity of a major hospitality operation with the agility, community connection, and entrepreneurial spirit of an independent resort.
The Opportunity
This is a role for someone who wants to do more than run a kitchen - it’s about building a culinary program.
As Executive Chef, you’ll act as the operational and cultural anchor of the resort’s culinary function, leading multiple restaurant, spa dining, banquet, and event operations.
Together, these outlets form part of a significant food and beverage business, including high-volume weddings, conferences, and events.
This is primarily a leadership and program-development role. You’ll remain visible during critical service periods while focusing on building the people, systems, standards, and structure required for consistent long-term success.
What You'll Own
Lead the redesign of the resort’s culinary program, establishing consistent standards, recipes, systems, and quality expectations
Develop distinct, seasonally relevant menus across multiple culinary concepts while strengthening the resort’s overall culinary identity
Build, coach, and develop a strong culinary leadership team, creating clear accountability and a positive, respectful kitchen culture
Oversee food and labour costs, budgets, forecasting, purchasing, inventory, menu engineering, and overall culinary performance
Strengthen restaurant, banquet, and event execution while maintaining exceptional food-safety, sanitation, and operational standards
Create structured training pathways for apprentices, culinary students, and emerging leaders, positioning the resort as an employer of choice for culinary talent
What You Bring
Red Seal Chef certification and 7–10+ years of progressive culinary leadership experience
Senior leadership experience within a resort, hotel, conference, or complex multi-outlet environment
Strong restaurant and banquet experience, including high-volume weddings, conferences, or events
Proven experience managing a culinary operation of at least $3–5 million, with strong food-cost and labour-cost expertise
Demonstrated success building teams, developing leaders, and creating positive, accountable kitchen cultures
A strategic, commercially minded leadership style with the ability to balance culinary creativity, operational discipline, and guest expectations
Why This Role
This is an opportunity to lead a genuine culinary and cultural rebuild within an established, independently owned Vancouver Island destination.
You’ll have the autonomy to shape the resort’s culinary direction, strengthen multiple dining operations, build a respected training kitchen, and create systems and standards designed to succeed well beyond the immediate transformation.
Established and highly regarded Vancouver Island resort
High-impact leadership role with genuine ownership and influence
Opportunity to shape the culinary program, leadership structure, and team culture
Oceanfront setting with relocation support available
Total Compensation
Target base salary: $110,000–$120,000
Quarterly incentive program
Three weeks’ paid vacation
Employer-paid extended health, dental, and medical coverage
Cell phone allowance
Resort perks including spa access, resort discounts, daily meals, and additional employee perks
Please note - the salary range for this position is structured to reflect different stages of proficiency within the role. Compensation at the lower end applies to individuals developing core competencies, while higher compensation is associated with demonstrated expertise and sustained performance. Final offers are determined by the client based on candidate experience and organizational requirements.
Outlier's Process
1
Apply
Submit your application through our online portal. A real human reviews every resume - no automated AI filtering here. We assess your experience, background, and alignment with current opportunities. If there’s a strong match, we’ll be in touch with next steps. If not, we keep your profile on file for future roles that may be a better fit. Depending on the scope of the search, Outlier may continue to manage the process end-to-end, or the client may take the lead directly from this point forward. In either case, we ensure a clear handoff and will let you know exactly what to expect next.
2
Outlier Interview
If your background aligns with what our client is looking for, we’ll schedule a live interview. This 30–45 minute conversation is designed to go beyond your resume. We’ll dig into your skills and experience, but more importantly, we want to hear your story - what motivates you, what you’re looking for next, and what makes you stand out. We also use this conversation to discuss compensation expectations upfront, ensuring alignment early and avoiding surprises later in the process.
3
Candidate Submission
Once we’ve met and confirmed alignment, shortlisted candidates are presented to our client. If selected to move forward, you’ll be asked to complete a short (10–15 minute) online assessment. This helps the client better understand your values, motivation, and work style, and supports a more thoughtful, well-rounded hiring decision.
4
Client Interviews and Beyond
Once candidates move forward, our clients review a well-rounded view of your profile — including your experience, our interview perspective, and assessment insights. From there, they identify who they’d like to meet directly. We act as an advocate and connector throughout, ensuring your strengths are clearly represented and that you’re supported with preparation, context, and timely feedback at every step. For finalist candidates, we further manage background checks, facilitate offers, and support on-boarding, providing support and acting as your coach right until the end.