Position: Tasting Room Manager

Reports to: Vice President

Location: Alameda, California

Status: Full-time, exempt

Salary Range: $75,000.00 - $100,000.00 USD

About St. George Spirits

St. George Spirits has been at the vanguard of the American craft spirits movement since it was founded in 1982. Distiller-owned and -operated since its inception, the Alameda, California distillery produces a diverse portfolio of world-class spirits that includes single malt whiskey, absinthe, and several gins, vodkas, brandies, and liqueurs.

Position summary

As Tasting Room Manager, you are passionate about food, drink, and take pride in being the cornerstone of the St. George Spirits hospitality experience.

You are professional, organized, gracious, and easily transition from front-of-house duties to office work and back again. You’re a hands-on manager, a natural-born host that thrives in a fast-paced environment, loves to create structure, but will rally your team to roll with changes when needed to ensure that our guests enjoy a seamless experience that they’ll be excited to share with their loved ones.

As the leader of the tasting room, you will be speaking for all of St. George Spirits, and you must thoroughly understand our family of spirits and how each spirit is made, along with the history, ethos, and people behind the brand. We don’t expect you to know everything on Day One, but this role requires someone who will strive for fluency and be able to represent St. George Spirits conscientiously. 

You will create success in this role through thoughtful program development and consistent management of our hospitality operations utilizing fresh thinking, strategic problem-solving, and collaborative partnership—all while demonstrating respect for the regulatory environment in which we must operate.

Essential duties and responsibilities 

The following reflects the company’s definition of essential functions for this job but does not restrict the tasks that may be assigned or reassigned. To perform this job successfully, an individual must have regular and reliable attendance and be able to perform each essential function from the list below satisfactorily, with or without accommodation.

• Inspire and lead the tasting room team as you speak for and about the brand with professionalism and eloquence
• Review with leadership to update and implement SOPs to ensure a high-touch experience when visiting St. George Spirits – warm and gracious hospitality coupled with beautifully crafted spirits and the stories behind them
• Recruit, hire, and manage tasting room team members to attract and retain talent; advise leadership of best practices in this endeavor
• Train and periodically review competencies of tasting room team members to ensure that everyone is both a consistent team player and has a strong ability to work independently; every team member should be thoroughly versed in the story of St. George Spirits
• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the tasting room in accordance with all company policies
• Actively manage tasting room operations during public hours (currently Friday: 3-7pm, Saturday and Sunday: noon–6pm) 
• Handle appropriate opening and closing procedures for the tasting room (including ensuring that the building is secure, alarm is set, and gate is locked)
• Responsible for maintaining the security of the facility and contents when other departmental staff are not onsite
• Manage tasting room team scheduling to balance a high-touch hospitality experience balanced with an awareness of P/L
• Manage hours of Tasting Room team and review tips to ensure compliance
• Forecast and track budget for tasting room staffing and retail space programming; occasionally review to update appropriately to maximize best use of company resources and P/L priorities
• Ensure adequate stock levels in tasting room and consumer retail space
• Work in conjunction with brand manager to develop tools, merchandise, and other assets that support the brand
• With guidance from leadership, develop private events and DTC programming
• Organizing and facilitating packing and shipping of online orders and managing inventory
• Occasionally host or facilitate trade tours and VIP guests with coordination between the brand manager and sales team
• Conduct performance and salary reviews, resolve challenges with care and respect, and communicate effectively with your team as well as interdepartmentally
• Work with HR to review, update, and implement SOPs to ensure that the company policies are consistently in compliance
• Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations, including ABC regulations
• Other duties as assigned

Required competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities)

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required.  Reasonable accommodation may be made upon request and in appropriate circumstances.

• Proficient in human resources and best F&B hospitality management practices
• Strong interpersonal, training, and leadership skills required
• Strong oral and written communication skills for both internal and external communications
• High-level time management, organizational, and budgeting skills required
• Ability to work independently required
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills required
• Knowledge of three-tier distribution system and ABC compliance
• Knowledge of Google Suite and Office Suite, Square, and Anyroad
• Knowledge of 7shifts, Commerce7 are a plus
• Sales or merchandising experience a plus

Minimum qualifications

• Minimum of 3+ years of experience of hospitality management, preferably as a Bar Manager, Beverage Director, or restaurant General Manager
• Experience executing strong bar programs with excellence
• High school diploma required, Bachelor’s Degree preferred.  Any combination of education and experience that would demonstrate required skills
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Knowledge of and respect for laws pertaining to ABC compliance
• Must possess valid California food handler certification
• Must possess valid Driver’s License 
• Must be of legal drinking age in the United States (age 21 years or above)
• Must have reliable transportation

Physical demands and work environment 

The physical requirements listed are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions and key responsibilities of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made upon request and in appropriate circumstances.

The ability to work in a constant state of alertness and in a safe manner at all times. Frequent operation of computer and other office equipment, the ability to sit or stand at a workstation for long periods of time, stand, walk, climb stairs, bend, lift, twist, pull, push, carry, grasp, reach and stoop as need, and to occasionally lift and carry items up to 30 pounds. This role requires specific auditory and visual abilities. Auditory requirements include the ability to hear and understand spoken communication in diverse settings. Visual requirements include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. 

When onsite, the noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate, and sometimes above moderate during public hours.

                                               JOB DESCRIPTION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
 

This job description is subject to change and other functions may be assigned/reassigned at management’s discretion at any time.

I understand that I am expected to adhere to all company policies.

I understand that this job description does not represent an employment contract and that my employment relationship is at-will.