Opening Executive Chef

Pacific Hospitality Group provides a unique value proposition to investors and team members through our owner/operator approach. We are a family focused company committed to long term holds that enable us to grow our business and our team members. Our vision is to enrich people’s lives by offering memorable experiences, giving back to our communities and honoring God in all that we do. We are focused on long-term value creation and sustainable growth.

Our Guiding Principles:

Integrity, Compliance, Value Creation, Principled Entrepreneurship, Customer Focus, Knowledge, Change, Humility, Respect, & Fulfillment

Position Overview

The Executive Chef is the culinary visionary and operational leader responsible for defining, launching, and executing the food program at Denu Hotel & Spa. This role requires deep expertise in high-volume banquet and catering operations, alongside strong restaurant leadership, menu development, and team building for a brand-new independent hotel.

Outlet oversight in addition to Banquets & Catering, In Room Dining, and Cafeteria is:

• Sartén Kitchen & Bar is the hotel's flagship all-day restaurant and culinary centerpiece, offering a refined yet approachable menu built around contemporary technique, seasonal ingredients, and balanced flavor. Sartén also features a private dining room serving as a premier venue for executive dinners and VIP events.
• Nidos Rooftop Bar brings Latin-Mediterranean flavors to a dramatic skyline setting, pairing artisan cocktails with a curated food menu built around regional ingredients. Evenings at Nidos are elevated with live music and DJ programming, making it one of downtown Phoenix's most anticipated social destinations.
• Blend Café serves as the hotel's street-level café, offering specialty espresso, artisan teas, house-made pastries, and wellness-focused grab-and-go selections for guests and the surrounding downtown community.

Together, these outlets reflect Denū's commitment to thoughtful, locally rooted hospitality — and represent an exceptional opportunity for a culinary leader to help shape the food and beverage identity of one of Phoenix's most anticipated hotel openings.

Key Responsibilities

Pre-Opening & Concept Development

• Lead culinary planning and execution for the hotel opening, including kitchen design input, equipment selection, and menu development
• Create cohesive culinary concepts across restaurants, bars, banquets, catering, and in-room dining
• Establish recipes, plating standards, production systems, and quality controls
• Recruit, train, and develop the full culinary team from the ground up

Banquet & Catering Mastery

• Oversee all banquet and catering culinary operations, from large-scale events to high-end social functions
• Design banquet menus that balance creativity, efficiency, cost control, and scalability
• Ensure flawless execution of high-volume events while maintaining food quality and consistency
• Partner with sales and events teams to support revenue growth and guest satisfaction

Daily Operations & Leadership

• Manage day-to-day kitchen operations across all outlets
• Maintain rigorous standards for food safety, sanitation, and compliance
• Control food costs, labor, and inventory to meet financial objectives
• Mentor and develop sous chefs and culinary leaders to build long-term bench strength

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 8–10 years of culinary leadership experience in full-service hotels or luxury hospitality
• Demonstrated mastery of banquet and large-scale culinary operations within a hotel environment
• Prior experience participating in or leading new hotel or major restaurant openings
• Strong knowledge of Southwest or regionally inspired cuisine preferred, with flexibility for global influences
• Culinary degree or equivalent professional training preferred

Culinary & Leadership Style

• Operationally disciplined with a creative edge
• Confident leading large teams under pressure
• Collaborative partner to operations, events, and ownership
• Passionate about consistency, mentorship, and execution

We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.