Sous Chef

We are looking to grow our team, which is also our community, for our 2024 summer season at Beyul Retreat. From June through October, we have back-to-back wellness retreats, corporate retreats, weddings, idea conferences, concerts, and more. We are looking to hire motivated, responsible, and adventurous individuals to contribute to the incredible culture here at Beyul Retreat.

These jobs are unique, encompassing running a backcountry hotel, hosting events, operating a restaurant, and maintaining a ranch.

Apply HERE

Gathering together for a meal is one of our favorite pastimes at Beyul. The role of the sous chef at Beyul Retreat, nestled in the serene backcountry, embodies a unique and rewarding culinary experience. As the sous chef, you will be an integral part of our commitment to providing nourishing, healthy meals that celebrate the natural bounty of the surrounding environment. Living in the backcountry offers a rare opportunity to immerse yourself in nature's rhythms, fostering a deep connection with the land and its offerings. At Beyul Retreat, we embrace a communal living ethos, encouraging a sense of togetherness and collaboration within our tight-knit community. 

The sous chef plays a crucial role in delivering menus that not only satisfy the palate but also contribute to the overall well-being of our guests. This position is not just about preparing meals; it's about cultivating a holistic culinary experience that aligns with our commitment to health, sustainability, and the joy of communal living in the heart of nature.

This is a seasonal, salaried position and includes the opportunity to camp onsite for the duration of employment.   

We are looking to hire 2 qualified applicants for this position.

But more than just a job, you are in search of a community where you can wholeheartedly immerse yourself, embracing a unique blend of living and working harmoniously alongside like-minded individuals who share your values and aspirations. In addition to the tasks required at Beyul Retreat, there is also a communal aspect to this position, within work and lifestyle. Beyul Retreat has a small, committed team that requires strong social skills and emotional intelligence. We hope to find people who can work collaborative, iterate on procedures constantly, and communicate effectively in a wide variety of contexts.

The Perks:

Our 32-acre property is surrounded by White River National Forest, with trails leading straight into the wilderness. It’s an ideal basecamp for hiking, backpacking, biking, stand-up paddle boarding, & rock climbing! We have a sauna, hot tub, cold plunge, and complimentary yoga classes for staff to enjoy outside of busy hours and private events. We work hard and play hard as we truly enjoy having a lot of fun together after work! 

What We Provide:

We provide a staff camping zone with a dedicated staff kitchen and lounge space. This is a community setting where we all share spaces, so we are looking for respectful, responsible, altruistic, and considerate individuals to share and play in this incredible land and community.

Beyul Retreat:

Beyul means hidden lands in tiebetan. We have created a gathering place like no other. Our land is nestled in the Frying Pan River Valley deep in the Colorado Rocky Mountains – 1 hour from Aspen, CO. We took over the historic Diamond J guest ranch in late 2020 and have transformed the century-old property into a hub of art, live music, wellness & outdoor adventure. Beyul Retreat has already received rave reviews from the Wall Street Journal, Vogue, Denver Post, Houston Chronicle, Yoga+Life, Aspen Times, Aspen Daily News, and more. Our guests & clients choose Beyul for the creative, inspiring, and unique vibe that sets it apart from a traditional guest ranch or event venue. Check out photos of the property HERE and our instagram HERE

Job Qualifications

• High school or GED equivalent required, formal culinary training or associate degree in culinary arts preferred
• Minimum 2-5 years cooking experience in a fine dining environment and experience in a culinary leadership role preferred
• Ability to communicate clearly with managers, kitchen and dining room employees, and guests.
• Safe Food Handling Certification
• Ability to bend, stand, and stoop for long periods of time, and working long hours in hot conditions
• Must have experience calculating figures and amounts and performing mathematical functions to meet the business needs
• Understanding of various cooking methods, ingredients, equipment and procedures
• Excellent record of kitchen and staff management
• Accuracy and speed in handling emergency situations and providing solutions
• Familiar with industry’s best practices
• You are able to read, speak, and understand the English language.

The Ideal Candidate

• Has exceptional cooking skills
• Finds value in continued education and repeatedly looks for ways to improve their cooking skills.
• Maintains a positive and professional approach with coworkers and customers
• Ability to effectively manage the kitchen staff, motivate them and assign duties fairly.
• Familiarity with the best practices in the hotel and catering services industry.
• Knowledge of health and safety standards.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Point of Sale and restaurant management software.
• Ability to multitask and work quickly under pressure.
• Advanced verbal and written communication skills.
• Attention to detail and organizational skills.
• A good Sous Chef has a commitment to quality and looks to uphold their employer’s standards by conducting quality control on dishes before they approve them to go out.
• Leadership skills with staff members from various backgrounds who may have different experience levels
• A successful Sous Chef must have creativity in choosing menu items and 
• Hand-eye coordination, ability to work with 
• Exceptional time-management and multi-tasking skills
• Good under pressure and has critical decision making skills
• Handles pressure well and gracefully, able to communicate and delegate to kitchen staff in an appropriate manner.

Key Responsibilities

• Preparing meals and food to meet the specifications of guests in a timely manner
• Properly measuring kitchen ingredients and food portions
• Ensuring kitchen staff adhere to set standards, procedures, department rules and sanitation requirements
• Using kitchen knives and equipment such as grills, ovens, steamers and warmers in food preparation
• Managing the kitchen inventory and ensuring supplies are fresh and of high quality
• Supervise and inspect all preparation and cooking equipment on a regular basis to ensure that they are kept clean, sanitary, and in perfect operating order
• Ensuring proper food temperatures when cooking and proper storage afterward
• Keeping the workstation and kitchen equipment clean, organized and sanitized
• Taking charge of kitchen opening, closing and other side duties as directed by the Executive Chef
• Directs food preparation and collaborates with the executive chef.
• Assume the role as Executive Chef in his or her absence
• Helps in the design of food and drink menus.
• Produces high quality plates, including both design and taste.
• Oversees and supervises kitchen staff.
• Assists with menu planning, inventory, and management of supplies.
• Ensures that food is top quality and that the kitchen is in good condition.
• Keeps stations clean and complies with food safety standards.
• Offers suggestions and creative ideas that can improve upon the kitchen’s performance..
• Schedules staff shifts on When I work
• Trains new employees.
• Orders food supplies.
• Monitors and maintains kitchen equipment.
• Solves problems that arise and seizes control of issues in the kitchen.

2023 Employee Testimonial: 

“Working at Beyul has been an unparalleled experience. The Beyul community is incredibly welcoming and Beyul itself is just magical. With everyone living on site we really did become a little Beyul family from family meals, cooking in the communal staff kitchen, hanging together in the staff lounge, mid-day river dips, evening sauna sessions, and the communal hustle of delivering flawless events.

As an employer, Beyul is a rare breed. From training, to management, to the daily workings, the Beyul team has it dialed and it felt effortless to jump into my role and feel part of the team. The team is small enough that everyone is a crucial part of the whole and I loved how well we all worked together.

I have so much respect and admiration for the Beyul team and their vision, and they actually walk their talk in business and as humans, which is a rare and beautiful thing. With all the wonderful things Beyul has to offer as an employee, the people are truly what make the experience.
If you love nature, know how to be in community, and enjoy working as a team to deliver top-quality event after event, then I would not hesitate to work here. I'm quite convinced there’s no other place like it."
-Bronwyn (Front Desk + FOH 2023)