Bar Manager

Welcomme Group; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Autonomy over bar program

Energetic venue with loyal following

Tight FOH leadership team

Backing of Welcommé Group

Job summary

Republic Economica in South Yarra is hiring a Bar Manager to own and operate our busy bar. You will lead the bar team, own the drinks program, and drive revenue while maintaining the Republic Economica standard across all service windows—from Thursday lunch to Saturday late-night close.

You’ll collaborate with the Restaurant Manager and Head Chef as part of the FOH leadership trio, reporting directly to the Venue Manager.

Qualifications

• Proven bar management experience in a high-volume hospitality venue.
• Strong product knowledge across cocktails, wine, spirits, beer and non-alcoholic beverages.
• A confident leader who can build culture and hold standards simultaneously.
• Commercial awareness – you understand COGS%, wage %, and what moves bar revenue.
• Current RSA certificate, Victorian.

Responsibilities

• Run the bar from open to close, upholding the Welcommé Order of Service on every shift.
• Brief the team before service with specials, 86s, cocktails of the week, and goals for the night.
• Drive second-round conversion and average spend per head across services.
• Maintain bar presentation, cleanliness and setup to a consistent standard.

Skills

Bar management

Cocktail knowledge

Leadership

Commercial awareness

RSA certificate

Availability for Thu/Fri/Sat

Job description

Republic Economica is South Yarra’s recession saviour. $9 pasta, $9 negronis, DJs every night, and lines out the door Thursday to Saturday. We’re part of Welcommé Group - a Melbourne hospitality group built around one idea: welcome anyone, as you are.

We run hard. We care deeply about the standard. And we’re looking for a Bar Manager who does both.

The role

This is not a shift supervisor stepping up for the title. This is the person who owns the bar at one of South Yarra’s busiest and best-loved venues.

You will lead the bar team, own the drinks program, drive revenue, and hold the Republic Economica standard across every service - from Thursday lunch to Saturday late-night close. You’ll work alongside our Restaurant Manager and Head Chef as part of the FOH leadership trio, reporting directly to the Venue Manager.

What you’ll be doing

Running the bar

• Lead bar service from open to close, holding the team to the Welcommé Order of Service on every shift
• Brief your team before every service - specials, 86s, cocktail of the week, three goals for the night
• Drive second-round conversion and average spend per head across every service
• Maintain bar presentation, cleanliness, and set-up to a consistent standard

Owning the drinks program

• Maintain and evolve the Republic Economica cocktail list, wine list, and spirits offering
• Train bar staff to product knowledge - every team member can speak to every drink on the menu
• Champion the $9 cocktail program as an entry point and premium upsell pathway

Leading a team

• Build, roster, and develop the bar team - culture is your responsibility
• Roster to forecast, not to comfort - manage to the wage budget
• Onboard new staff through a structured training and sign-off process
• Conduct on-shift feedback and contribute to formal performance reviews

Managing operations

• Run weekly stocktakes and manage bar ordering, par levels, and supplier relationships
• Hold the bar to target COGS% using the Drinking the Profits cost toolComplete daily shift reports and attend weekly management meetings
• Maintain a current RSA log, incident log, and compliance with the Republic Economica Late Night Liquor Licence

What we’re looking for

• Proven bar management experience in a high-volume hospitality venue
• Strong product knowledge across cocktails, wine, spirits, beer and non-alcoholic beverages
• A confident leader who can build culture and hold standards simultaneously
• Commercial awareness - you understand COGS%, wage %, and what moves bar revenue
• Calm and composed under pressure when the room is full and the queue is out the door
• Current Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) certificate, Victorian
• Availability for Thursday, Friday and Saturday late-night trade - this is a core expectation of the role

What we offer

• A genuine leadership role with autonomy over the bar program
• A venue with real energy, a loyal following, and a strong identity
• A tight FOH leadership team and a group that invests in its people
• The backing of Welcommé Group - a growing Melbourne hospitality operator