About the Club

Nestled in Western North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, between the resort towns of Blowing Rock, Boone, and Banner Elk, Hound Ears Club is a family-oriented mountain community established in 1964.  A scenic 860 acres, the Hound Ears community is known for its casual elegance and authentic charm.

A member-owned Club, Hound Ears showcases the High Country’s natural beauty and offers a variety of amenities, including an 18-hole George Cobb designed golf course, world-class fly fishing, miles of hiking trails, racquet sports, swimming, dining, and fitness center, as well as a full calendar of social events.

As a Club, members embrace the values of being unpretentious, honest, respectful, and giving.

Hound Ears Club is a seasonal club open seven days a week from late April through October, and on the weekends in November and December. The Club is closed from January until opening in late April.

There are 355 members and the club has a waitlist. The average age of members is 65 and trending younger in recent years. Hound Ears is a second home community for the vast majority of the membership.

Food and beverages revenues in 2021 were 812K of which 600K represented food sales.  The majority of those sales were a la carte dining.  The Clubhouse has the Grille Room, the Tap Room, and the Terrace on the Green dining areas. There are also two bars, two verandas, and a dedicated private dining room that can accommodate 80 seated. In addition, the Club has the “Tee House” a dedicated building and popular casual dining venue with decks that look over the golf course.  The “Tee House” serves breakfast and lunch to golfers and other members.

The Executive Chef leads a team of approximately twenty individuals that services the different dining areas. The culinary team includes a Sous Chef, cooks, and stewards.

Core Responsibilities

The Executive Chef must be well versed in tasks associated with the overall satisfaction of members expectations. These responsibilities may vary depending on nature and direction from the COO/General Manager and/or Clubhouse Manager. Specific responsibilities are as follows, but certainly not limited to:

• Ensuring that all food is consistently superior. The Executive Chef knows that quality and consistency are essential to successful culinary operations and understands that consistently producing minor items is just as important as producing an elegant, a la carte dinner.
• Creation of rotating menus on a monthly basis, while incorporating daily and weekly features.
• Develop and document recipes.
• Implement specific controls to ensure consistency and quality. Creativity, not just variety, is essential in planning menus and events for the membership of Hound Ears Club.
• Provide excellent and necessary resources at the culinary team’s disposal, thinking “outside-of-the-box” for Member dining experiences and events is welcomed and encouraged! 
• Leads BOH initiatives relative to accident prevention, training and retention of staff, and sanitation and safety standards.
• The Executive Chef has an unmatched attention to detail, enforces the highest standards of sanitation and safety, and ensures that all BOH staff approach the standards with the same level of focus. The kitchen must always be extremely organized and clean: from walk-ins to mise-en-place.
• Must maintain current on culinary trends and is well-versed in accommodating a variety of food allergies and intolerances. The Executive Chef incorporates gluten-free and healthy items on the menu and trains all staff in the proper handling of gluten-free dishes and requests. 
• The Executive Chef needs to be comfortable conversing and interacting in both the varying kitchens as well as dining rooms with both members and team members. The use of tact in communications with members is expected.
• He or she welcomes others’ opinions yet holds his or her ground to maintain the highest level of quality and standards. The Executive Chef welcomes feedback, constructive criticism and suggestions from members and staff. 
• The Executive Chef is a hands-on leader who mentors and develops a pipeline of talented and creative individuals through building and shows a genuine interest in the future and personal growth of the staff.
• The Executive Chef works as a cohesive team player with the managers and staff of Hound Ears Club to develop information sharing, effective communication, superior internal and external customer relationships and high-performance teamwork to achieve club objectives. 
• With the Clubhouse Manager identifies key drivers for satisfaction from member survey and develop action plans to drive improvements.
• Staffing plan to meet seasonal demands.

Qualifications

Are as follows, but certainly not limited to:

• A track record of consistently delivering an excellent product in a timely fashion from multiple outlets. Whether it is a golfer getting a sandwich at the “Tee House” or a member enjoying a fine dining meal in the “Terrace on the Green” dining area; both meet or exceed member expectations for consistent quality and delivery.  
• A proven record of accomplishment in controlling food and labor costs. The Executive Chef is adept at creating and managing a budget and provides food purchase specifications to control food quality and costs. 
• The Executive Chef has a proven record of accomplishment of high-level dining expertise with a minimum of 5 years leading a cohesive brigade. Private club experience is preferred, however not required.
• Is a confident, proactive team builder who has a history of attracting, developing, and retaining high-performing teams. 
• Has strong leadership skills with verifiable strengths in inspirational, hands-on leadership, financial performance, and people skills. 
• Enjoys face time with the members/guests and regularly visits with tables when time allows.
• He or she has a passion for excellence that is contagious to all that serve with him or her and is a lifelong learner with a calling to serve others. 
• Culinary school or college degree preferred.

Initial Priorities

Initial priorities are identified with an expectation to continue the success of the club, department, and culinary operations. These priorities include the implementation and continuance of existing needs. These priorities are as follows, but certainly not limited to:

• Maintain strong relationships with the team from day one. This is through a hands-on approach with an expectation of learning, listening, and evaluating. Changes to existing operations, standards, and procedures should be done only after substantial time is given to make clear and calculated decisions.
• Consistently delivering an excellent product in a timely fashion from all Club outlets.
• Be present, available, and build a solid foundation of communication among the culinary, front of house, and club team members.
• Learn Members’ names and dining preferences. Understanding the needs of members' preferences is vital to the overall success of the Executive Chef.
• Create and maintain relationships with local vendors, producers, and artisans to continue the club’s commitment to locally sourced ingredients and products when financially acceptable.
• Continue the importance of product monitoring to remain financially responsible.
• Collaboration with Clubhouse Manager, Service Director, Beverage Director, and culinary team.
• Recruiting and training.
• Periodic interaction with House Committee.

How to Apply:

Preparing a thoughtful letter of interest and alignment, clearly articulating your fit with the profile and the above-noted expectations and requirements is necessary. Your letter should be addressed to Rhys Williams, Clubhouse Manager, Hound Ears Club, and clearly articulate why you want to be considered for this position at this stage of your career and why the Boone, N.C. area will likely be a fit for you, your family and the club if selected. Interested candidates should submit resume along with cover letter by Thursday, May 12, 2022.

Please save your resume and cover letter using the following manner:
* Last Name, First Name - Resume
* Last Name, First Name - Cover Letter, Hound Ears Club
(These documents should be in Word or PDF format)

Email your resume and cover letter to john@theprivateclubgroup.com

On the subject line write: Hound Ears Club – Executive Chef position

Lead Search Executive

John Scharer, CCM

President

The Private Club Group

john@theprivateclubgroup.com

(704) 299-0141

For more information on Hound Ears Club, please visit https://www.houndears.com/