Job Description

Employer: Turner Enterprises Management, LLC

Position: Line Cook – Costilla Lodge

Location: Vermejo Reserve – Raton, NM

Type: Seasonal / Hourly / Non-Exempt / Non-Benefits-Eligible

Housing: Yes

Are you passionate about cooking, culinary excellence, and creating memorable dining experiences for guests? Have you dreamed of spending a season working in a luxury hospitality setting surrounded by one of North America's largest privately owned landscapes?

At Ted Turner Reserves, we connect people with nature through one-of-a-kind outdoor experiences in luxury settings. We're looking for skilled, dedicated culinary professionals interested in joining our team at Vermejo in 2027.

We're planning ahead for our Spring 2027 season!

We're beginning to connect with candidates interested in seasonal Line Cook opportunities at Costilla Lodge, Vermejo's secluded luxury fishing lodge. Positions are anticipated to begin in May 2027. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis as staffing needs are confirmed, and qualified candidates will be contacted as hiring needs develop.

ABOUT THE POSITION

As the Line Cook at Costilla Lodge, you will prepare and present high-quality meals in an intimate, remote luxury hospitality setting. Working under the guidance of the Executive Chef and Sous Chefs, you will support daily culinary operations while maintaining exceptional standards of food quality, presentation, and sanitation.

This hands-on position requires strong culinary skills, attention to detail, and the ability to independently execute assigned menu items while collaborating with a small culinary team. You will contribute to personalized guest dining experiences, maintain organized kitchen workspaces, and ensure efficient and timely meal service.

You will also be responsible for:

• Preparing and cooking menu items in accordance with approved recipes, preparation guidelines, and presentation standards.
• Executing assigned cooking stations efficiently while maintaining consistent food quality, appropriate temperatures, and timely meal service.
• Completing daily food preparation, including washing, chopping, peeling, portioning, weighing, and measuring ingredients.
• Ensuring the proper preparation, portioning, cooking, and presentation of dishes consistent with Vermejo's luxury hospitality standards.
• Monitoring food quality during preparation and service, including checking cooking temperatures and adjusting preparation techniques as needed.
• Preparing meals that accommodate guest dietary restrictions, food allergies, and special requests while following established food safety procedures.
• Operating kitchen equipment, including ovens, stoves, grills, microwaves, fryers, and other culinary tools safely and efficiently.
• Maintaining clean, organized, and sanitary kitchen workstations, equipment, and storage areas.
• Assisting with inventory management, proper food storage, labeling, stock rotation, and minimizing food waste.
• Completing daily kitchen setup, breakdown, cleaning, and sanitation responsibilities.
• Communicating and collaborating with culinary team members to ensure efficient workflow, timely service, and exceptional guest experiences.
• Demonstrating the ability to independently execute assigned menu items while maintaining established quality and service standards.
• Supporting special dining experiences, guest requests, and additional culinary preparation as needed.
• Following all applicable Company and Reserve policies, food safety standards, and kitchen procedures.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

YOUR QUALIFICATIONS

Essential:

• Minimum of two to three years of professional cooking experience in a restaurant, lodge, or hospitality environment.
• Strong knowledge of food preparation techniques, kitchen equipment, and proper knife handling.
• Working knowledge of food safety, sanitation standards, and applicable health codes.
• Ability to follow recipes, maintain consistent food quality, and work independently or collaboratively in a fast-paced kitchen environment.
• Strong communication, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Flexibility to work various shifts, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended hours as operational needs require.
• If position requires operation of vehicles, and you’ll need to possess a valid driver’s license or be able to obtain one within 30 days of employment. Your driving record will need to meet the standards and requirements of the Company and the Company’s insurance provider.
• You’ll need to present documentation establishing both identity and employment authorization within three days of hire pursuant to federal law.

Preferred:

• High school diploma or GED.
• Culinary degree or formal culinary training.
• Experience working in a luxury hotel, resort, or lodge setting.
• Experience preparing meals in a remote or small-team culinary environment.
• Current ServSafe Food Handler or equivalent food safety certification.

YOUR QUALITIES

• You're alert, friendly, and eager to assist guests politely and promptly.
• You demonstrate genuine care and compassion for guests and team members.
• You place a high priority on teamwork and supporting a positive, collaborative kitchen environment.
• You're self-directed, energetic, and motivated, with the ability to manage multiple responsibilities.
• You're creative, adaptable, and committed to maintaining the resort's culinary and service standards.
• You demonstrate sound judgment, integrity, and attention to detail in food preparation and presentation.
• You maintain clean, organized, and safe working environments.
• You're comfortable living and working in a remote mountain environment.
• You conduct yourself professionally both in and outside the workplace.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS & PERKS

• Paid Sick Leave
• Employee Assistance Program
• Competitive wages with applicable gratuities
• Access to amenities and outdoor adventures, subject to Company policies and availability
• Opportunity to live and work in one of the country's most stunning natural environments

ACCOMMODATIONS

This position will require you to live at Costilla Lodge, located approximately 70 miles from the closest town (Raton, NM) and located 30 minutes from Vermejo’s headquarters. Vermejo’s location is approximately 4.5 hours’ drive south of Denver or 4.5 hours’ drive north of Albuquerque.

Vermejo offers single- and double-bedroom dorm room style company housing (subject to availability). You may be subject to sharing a room with one other employee depending on the availability of a single dorm room.

Due to Costilla Lodge's remote location, employees should be comfortable living and working in an isolated mountain environment with limited access to shopping, dining, and other services.

You will need to provide or arrange for your own transportation to and from Raton for personal supplies.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

On a regular basis, you can expect to:

• Stand, walk, use hands and fingers to handle objects, reach with hands and arms, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and communicate verbally.
• Lift and/or move up to 60 pounds.
• Remain on your feet for extended periods while preparing meals and supporting kitchen operations.
• Perform repetitive motions associated with chopping, cutting, mixing, cooking, plating, and handling kitchen equipment.
• Work near hot cooking surfaces, ovens, sharp utensils, and other commercial kitchen equipment.
• Perform physically demanding kitchen duties, including cleaning, organizing, stocking, and moving supplies.
• Work various shifts, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended hours as operational needs require.
• Be on your feet for extended periods of time.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

You will regularly be required to work long hours, and you may be exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; high altitude ~10,000+ feet; high precarious places; fumes or airborne particles. You may be exposed to moving mechanical parts and toxic or caustic chemicals. You will be occasionally exposed to vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.

The physical demands described above are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job, and the work environment characteristics are representative of those you may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Accommodation inquiries must be made to the Company’s Human Resources Department for consideration.

Turner Enterprises Management, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Smoke Free/Drug-Free Workplace.

For more information, visit https://tedturnerreserves.com/careers/.