Culinary Director - the Wickaninnish Inn

Company Description

We are a family-owned Relais & Châteaux property located on the stunning West Coast of Vancouver Island and have been creating world-renowned guest experiences since we opened in 1996.

While situated in one of the most beautiful places in the world, the success of the Wickaninnish Inn is based on our visionary leadership, the spirit of our people, and the unwavering passion of our teams. Together we deliver the highest service standards in an engaging and supportive work environment. 

Discover why working at the Wickaninnish Inn will transform your career and give you an opportunity to explore the Pacific Northwest. Wickaninnish Inn Careers

Job Description

Join our Culinary Team as a Culinary Director, where you have the opportunity to learn and grow in a Relais & Châteaux property recognized by Forbes, Michelin Key, AAA Four Diamond, and Travel & Leisure’s World’s Best Hotels.

We are looking for the right individual to join our Director team. They will bring a pedigree of culinary excellence, eye for innovation, and a love of hospitality and service that extends beyond the kitchen.

As a Relais & Châteaux member, we are renowned for our culinary offerings. We foster a culture of learning and innovation as we change our menus with the seasons. We use only the finest ingredients and source most of our products locally. Our kitchen environment is fast-paced and team members need to be excellent multitaskers, detail-orientated, and have a positive demeanour.

The Culinary Director role will initially be focused exclusively on our culinary program. They will work aside the Chef de Cuisine and Culinary Leadership team to perfect our operations. They will lead our culinary brigade as a hands-on chef, offering both support and guidance and providing developmental opportunities within the team. In the second year, this role will expand to include front-of-house service and operations. They will work alongside our Restaurant Manager and Restaurant Leadership team to further familiarize themselves with restaurant operations in service of the overarching goal of creating a cohesive Food & Beverage team focused on building team culture and exceeding guest experience expectations.

We are dedicated to fostering a culture of belonging where every individual is appreciated and valued for who they are. We are passionate about providing a supportive environment for our team, delivering excellence to our guests while achieving the highest sustainability practices, and creating a lasting legacy for our families and communities.

As a Culinary Director you will:

• Have a desire to exceed Relais & Châteaux, AAA 4 & 5 Diamond and Forbes Standards.
• Inspire – teach others how to do it.
• Support – listen, be visible and be present.
• Lead – repeat steps 1 - 2.
• Oversee and be actively involved in food creation, menu planning, production and presentation of items for The Pointe Restaurant, On the Rocks Bar, Driftwood Café, Special Events, and Room Service.
• Support the Chef de Cuisine and Pastry Chef, who will take the lead on cuisine development, daily operations, human resources and administration of the kitchen, allowing the Culinary Director to focus on strategic and future planning and have the capacity to forward-focus on front-of-house operations and service.
• Together with the Culinary Leadership team, be responsible for all aspects of the daily operation of the kitchen, ensuring the highest level of culinary excellence.
• Personally uphold and ensure the brigade maintains the highest level of culinary excellence, safety, and commercial hygiene, adhering to all standards, procedures and protocols.
• Ensure the team has the tools and products they need to be successful: ordering, inventory, equipment, and maintenance of a safe, sanitary, and healthy working environment.
• Develop our Culinary Leaders and in time, the Restaurant Leaders.
• Coach and mentor team members; promote best practices with a calm and level demeanor.
• Budgetary oversight and approval, including monthly financials, labor allocation, expenses and purchasing, and revenue forecasting.
• Stewardship of inventories, ordering and kitchen organization.
• Push the paper; scheduling, payroll, budgeting, training and development, performance evaluations.
• Be an active member of the Inn’s Management team and participate in strategic decision-making pertaining to the overall direction of the Wickaninnish Inn.
• Have the ability to make a minimum 3-year commitment to this position.

Qualifications

The Wickaninnish Inn is committed to the principles of equality and diversity in the workplace. We aim to hire the best candidate for the position based on their qualifications and merit in terms of knowledge, skills, and experience.

Our ideal candidate will embody the West Coast culture, while being committed to the art of hospitality and the pursuit of excellence. They will have:

• Endless passion for their craft, love food and love of fresh ingredients.
• Exemplary guest service skills and a demonstrated willingness to exceed guest expectations.
• Proven leadership and excellent communication skills.
• Previous experience in a similar role at a fine-dining or comparable establishment.
• A professional demeanor in all aspects of communication and composure.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, both verbal and written.
• Superior organizational skills, attention to detail and the ability to multi-task in a high- pressure, fast-moving environment.
• Superb time management and organizational skills.
• A positive and proactive approach and the ability to work independently or as part of a team.
• Creativity and innovation, with the ability to adjust style to suit specific guest requests.
• A finger on the pulse of current culinary and F&B trends, and techniques, and a commitment to continual education and expanding their knowledge base.
• A Journeyman/Red Seal Certification an asset.
• Valid FoodSafe Certification.
• A desire to contribute exciting and creative ideas towards the ongoing improvement of the kitchen, the restaurant and the Wickaninnish Inn as a whole, as a member of the Senior Management Team.

Salary/Wage: $100,000 per year

Additional Information

A good relationship is built upon mutual and reciprocal appreciation. We value the time and experience you bring to your work; here are some of the benefits and privileges you’ll have access to alongside your experience at the Inn: Employment Benefits 

By submitting an application, you are attesting that the information given is accurate. As we receive a high volume of e-mails, we are only able to respond directly to you if your resume and interests align with our currently available positions.

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