Executive Chef/General Manager - First Chair Vail Village

Position: Executive Chef/General Manager

Location: First Chair, Vail Village, Colorado

Compensation: $55,000-$65,000/year

About Us:

First Chair is a modern burrito restaurant located in the heart of Vail Village. We specialize in creative grab-and-go breakfast burritos served all day, alongside unique lunch items like a smash burger burrito. Our focus is on delivering high-quality, fast service to busy locals and tourists alike. With a streamlined menu of only 11 burritos and a small kitchen setup, we prioritize simplicity, speed, and flavor. Besides our food, our atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. We are a breath of fresh air compared to the other restaurants in Vail Village.

Position Overview:

We are seeking an Executive Chef who will also have simple General Manager duties to lead our team. This dual-role position is ideal for a hands-on professional who thrives in (at times) fast-paced kitchens and values food quality above all else. While you’ll primarily focus on the back-of-house operations, you’ll also oversee the front-of-house team, ensuring smooth operations across the restaurant. There will be a Bar Manager to help assist with front-of-house items.

This is a unique opportunity to combine culinary creativity with operational management in a supportive and low-stress environment. The stress in this role is significantly less than any other management position in any other kitchen. This atmosphere allows for time spent on refining flavors, delivering excellent service and ensuring First Chair is a favorite spot in Vail Village.

Key Responsibilities:

Culinary Leadership:

Oversee all kitchen operations, ensuring food quality and consistency.

Practice mise en place and ensure the kitchen is kept clean.

Prepare burritos quickly and efficiently, especially during peak hours.

Maintain the simplicity of the menu while innovating for efficiency and flavor.

Develop new, unique and delicious burritos to rotate into our lineup of 11 burritos.

Manage inventory, food costs, and ordering supplies as needed.

Restaurant Management:

Act as the General Manager, overseeing daily operations of the restaurant.

Lead and support kitchen staff, Bar Manager and front-of-house staff.

Ensure the grab-and-go model operates seamlessly, maintaining fast service times.

Provide occasional support to the front of house when staffing requires.

Team Collaboration:

Train and mentor team members to uphold standards.

Foster a positive, team-oriented work environment.

Teach FOH employees kitchen basics so everyone knows how things should be.

Communicate effectively in English; Spanish fluency is highly desirable.

Operational Excellence:

Manage scheduling to ensure adequate kitchen and bar coverage.

Adhere to food safety and cleanliness standards.

Qualifications:

Must live in the Vail Valley or have housing secured.

Experience in a kitchen leadership role preferred but not required; we value passion, reliability and learnability.

Fluent English required; Spanish fluency is a strong plus.

Strong organizational skills with the ability to multitask during busy service hours.

Ability to maintain a calm, professional demeanor under infrequent pressure.

Comfortable working mornings and afternoons; no night shifts required.

Serve Safe Manager certification.

Why Join Us?

Help develop a 1-year-old restaurant.

A supportive, low-stress environment focused on simple, high-quality food.

Ample time off to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Vail.

Opportunity to grow as both a chef and a leader.

Get support from chefs and managers at Russell’s and Los Amigos.

Specific Benefits

6-8 weeks’ vacation a year during shoulder season

Ski Pass

Parking Pass

Dining dollars at Los Amigos, Russell’s and First Chair

Health Insurance reimbursement

Mental Health reimbursement

Research and Development allowance