Tasting Room General Manager
2 days ago
Austin
Tasting Room General Manager Classification: Full-Time, Exempt Reports To: Vice President, Operations Location: Dripping Springs, Texas (On-Site) About Goodnight Loving Vodka With a Platinum Award at San Fancisco’s World Spirits Competition, Goodnight Loving Vodka is the most awarded spirit in Texas history and the fastest growing vodka brand in North America. The company is committed to producing an exceptional product and delivering a world-class tasting room experience that reflects the spirit of the Texas Hill Country. Position Overview The Tasting Room General Manager is the face of the Goodnight Loving Vodka brand on-site. This hands-on leadership role is responsible for the day-to-day operation of our tasting room, including guest experience, team management, retail merchandise, in-house food and beverage/third-party food vendors, facility upkeep, and corporate events. The ideal candidate brings deep food and beverage hospitality experience, a genuine passion for craft spirits, and the organizational skills to run a tight, guest-first operation. Key Responsibilities Guest Experience & Tasting Room Operations • Oversee daily tasting room operations, ensuring a consistently excellent guest experience, • Develop innovative, true-to-brand, memorable guest experiences, • Serve as primary brand ambassador for Goodnight Loving Vodka, educating guests on our process and product • Work directly with guests to ensure satisfaction in quality and service, • Collect and evaluate consumer feedback on program offerings and visitor experience, adjusting strategy to meet changing market and competitive conditions • Maintain compliance with all TABC regulations governing tasting room operations, sampling and on-premise sales of beer, wine and cocktails Team Leadership & HR • Serve as the primary hiring manager for all tasting room staff, • Provide all orientation, onboarding, training, and performance coaching for tasting room staff, • Build work schedules that meet venue needs while recognizing employee work/life balance, • Conduct regular performance check-ins and maintain team morale, accountability and a positive culture of inclusion and safety • Ensure all staff hold required TABC/Dept of Health certifications and are trained accordingly, • Monitor employee productivity and provide suggestions for increased service efficiency Financial Management & Reporting • Oversee operational budgeting and labor management, working with Accounting/Finance and leadership to establish annual profit goals • Monitor revenue activity, noting variances that require attention and participating in setting tour rates and budgets • Prepare quarterly marketing activity reports and program recaps for the leadership team, • Review and follow up on work processes to ensure they are performed properly, efficiently and to completion • Accurately complete all required data entry, reporting and administrative assignments Retail, Merchandise & POS Operations • Oversee purchasing and merchandising of profitable merchandise aligned with brand essence, • Manage inventory accountability for all products, including alcohol, • Build out new inventory items within the POS system; create and manage purchase orders for new merchandise orders • Operate and reconcile POS transactions; generate basic sales reports for ownership review, • Receive and process incoming merchandise shipments, verifying quantities and condition, • Conduct weekly and monthly inventory counts and reconcile variances, • Partner with merchandise vendors to reconcile order issues and invoicing discrepancies, • Ensure accurate record-keeping for all retail and merchandise sales in accordance with TABC and TTB requirements Culinary Management • Serve as primary point of contact for on-site food vendors and food trucks, coordinating schedules, setup and guest integration • Lead GLV’s own, limited-menu, limited-prep food offerings, • Establish preferred suppliers for catering and special corporate events, • Ensure vendor operations meet facility standards and complement the overall guest experience Special Events & Community Relations • Promote and sell the facility for corporate events and GLV’s own ticketed experiences, • Plan, coordinate, and execute all on-site events; serve as on-site event lead managing logistics, staffing, vendor coordination, and guest flow • Coordinate company and VIP visits, • Support off-site brand events and activations as needed, • Establish and maintain mutually respectful relationships with community stakeholders who promote tourism, hospitality, travel, and economic development Facility & Maintenance Management • Conduct regular walkthroughs to identify and address maintenance and cleanliness needs, • Coordinate with vendors, contractors, and ownership for repairs and preventive maintenance, • Develop emergency procedures and trainings in coordination with the management team, • Maintain a safe, clean and fully operational environment for staff and guests at all times Qualifications Required • Minimum 5 years of experience in food and beverage hospitality, with at least 2 years in a management or supervisory role • Working knowledge of Texas TABC regulations and general TTB compliance requirements, • Experience managing a budget and labor, • Proficiency with point-of-sale (POS) systems and retail inventory management, including purchase orders and stock reconciliation • Demonstrated experience planning and executing special events, including contract negotiation, • Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to connect with guests and lead a team, • Excellent written communication skills, including the ability to compose social media posts, project reports, program recaps, and other materials • Understanding of social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and others, • Analytical skills, including the ability to gather data from a wide variety of sources and present it in formats suitable for diverse audiences • Strong leadership capabilities, creativity and self-motivation, • Strong attention to detail and highly organized; comfortable managing multiple priorities, • Superb work ethic and a positive, can-do attitude; never afraid to roll up your sleeves, • Ability and willingness to work some nights and weekends, • Must be 21 years of age or older, • Must be able to lift and carry up to 30 lbs unassisted, • Must successfully pass a pre-employment background check, • Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams) Preferred • Prior experience working in a distillery, brewery, or winery environment, • Experience in retail management or merchandising, • TABC seller/server and Food Handler certification (or willingness to obtain prior to start), • Familiarity with craft spirits production, tasting notes, and cocktail fundamentals, • Restaurant/catering food preparation experience, • Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Business, or a related field Compensation & Benefits Starting salary of $82,000+, commensurate with experience, plus bonus incentives; Benefits include: Medical, dental, and vision health insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, Paid vacation, Paid holidays Austin Vodka Company, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.