Senior Bar Manager — Lead 3 Bars & Beverages

MT ERICA GROUP PTY LTD; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Publican.Co EA benefits

50% off food and drink

Staff meals

Parental leave enhancements

Annual salary increases

Professional development

Three distinct bar operations

Supportive management team

Job summary

Mount Erica Hotel in Melbourne’s Prahran is seeking an experienced Bar Manager to lead three busy bars and shape our beverage direction with creativity and commercial discipline. You will work closely with the Venue Manager and wider management to maintain standards while bringing your personality and industry knowledge to the bars.

You will oversee cocktail and beer menus, train staff, manage stock, and ensure exceptional guest experiences across lunch, dinner and seven-day operation.

Qualifications

• Minimum three years in a senior bar leadership role.
• Strong cocktail knowledge and recipe development experience.
• A genuine interest in beer, draught systems and beer culture.
• Experience managing multiple bars or beverage service areas.
• Solid understanding of beverage margins, ordering, and cost control.
• Proven ability to train and develop a team.
• Excellent communication, organisation and leadership skills.
• Victorian RSA certification and full Australian working rights.
• WSET Level 2 is a bonus.
• Evening and weekend availability is required.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of day-to-day operation of three busy bars, ensuring consistency and exceptional service.
• Lead, mentor and develop the bar team, fostering hospitality and product knowledge.
• Oversee seasonal cocktail menu development and execution for quality and viability.
• Shape the beer offering with rotating taps and beer-focused events.
• Maintain high standards in cocktail prep, batching, presentation and service.
• Oversee beverage ordering, stock control, stocktakes, cellar management and inventory systems.
• Manage beverage costs, wastage and margins, identifying efficiency opportunities.
• Build relationships with breweries, distilleries, suppliers and industry partners.
• Deliver regular training and tastings to grow team confidence and enthusiasm.
• Collaborate with management to ensure seamless service across bars, restaurant and functions.
• Maintain presentation, cleanliness, equipment maintenance and responsible service standards.
• Lead from the floor during busy service to set the tone.

Skills

Senior leadership

Cocktail knowledge

Beer knowledge

Multi-bar management

Cost control

Team training

Communication & leadership

RSA certification

WSET Level 2

Evening & weekend availability

Tools

Industry networks

Stock & ordering systems

Job description

A great pub deserves a great bar. We're looking for someone to lead ours.

Mount Erica Hotel is looking for an experienced, creative and hands-on Bar Manager to take ownership of our three working bars and help shape the next chapter of our beverage offering.

Trading seven days a week for lunch and dinner, Mount Erica is a busy, much-loved neighbourhood pub with a strong food and beverage identity, a loyal local following and a team that genuinely cares about hospitality.

We're looking for someone who understands what makes a great pub tick. Someone who can pour a perfect pint, make a brilliant Martini, develop an interesting cocktail list and, just as importantly, lead a team through a busy Saturday night.

This is a senior leadership position within the venue, working closely with our Venue Manager, Assistant Venue Manager and wider management team. You'll have the opportunity to bring your own personality, creativity and industry knowledge to our bars while maintaining the standards, consistency and commercial discipline that a busy operation demands.

With three working bars operating across the venue, you'll be responsible for creating a consistent beverage experience while recognising the different demands, pace and character of each space.

Bar Manager | Full-Time

A great pub deserves a great bar. We're looking for someone to lead ours.

Mount Erica Hotel is looking for an experienced, creative and hands-on Bar Manager to take ownership of our three working bars and help shape the next chapter of our beverage offering.

Trading seven days a week for lunch and dinner, Mount Erica is a busy, much-loved neighbourhood pub with a strong food and beverage identity, a loyal local following and a team that genuinely cares about hospitality.

We're looking for someone who understands what makes a great pub tick. Someone who can pour a perfect pint, make a brilliant Martini, develop an interesting cocktail list and, just as importantly, lead a team through a busy Saturday night.

This is a senior leadership position within the venue, working closely with our Venue Manager, Assistant Venue Manager and wider management team. You'll have the opportunity to bring your own personality, creativity and industry knowledge to our bars while maintaining the standards, consistency and commercial discipline that a busy operation demands.

With three working bars operating across the venue, you'll be responsible for creating a consistent beverage experience while recognising the different demands, pace and character of each space.

What you'll be doing

• Take ownership of the day-to-day operation of three busy working bars, ensuring consistency, quality and exceptional service across the venue.

• Lead, mentor and develop our bar team and head bartenders, creating a culture of genuine hospitality, product knowledge and professional pride.

• Oversee the development and execution of seasonal cocktail menus, balancing creativity, quality, efficiency and commercial viability.

• Help shape our beer offering, from rotating taps and interesting independent breweries to supplier relationships and beer-focused events.

• Maintain excellent standards in cocktail preparation, batching, presentation and beverage service.

• Oversee beverage ordering, stock control, stocktakes, cellar management and inventory systems.

• Manage beverage costs, wastage and margins while identifying opportunities to improve performance.

• Build meaningful relationships with breweries, distilleries, suppliers and industry partners.

• Deliver regular training and tastings, developing the team's confidence and enthusiasm for beer, spirits and cocktails.

• Work collaboratively with the wider management team to ensure seamless service across the bars, restaurant and functions.

• Maintain high standards of presentation, cleanliness, equipment maintenance and responsible service.

• Be present on the floor, leading from the front and creating the kind of atmosphere that keeps people coming back.

About you, our new Bar Manager

We're looking for someone who is as comfortable behind a busy bar, working side by side with their team, as they are managing the bigger picture.

You'll ideally bring:

• At least three years' experience in a senior bar leadership position, preferably within a busy, quality-focused pub, cocktail bar or hospitality venue.

• Strong cocktail knowledge, including classics, contemporary techniques, menu development and efficient high-volume execution.

• A genuine interest in beer, from traditional styles and independent breweries to draught systems, cellar management and emerging trends.

• Experience managing multiple bars or beverage service areas within a high-volume operation.

• Sound commercial understanding of beverage margins, ordering, stock management and cost control.

• A proven ability to train, inspire and develop a team.

• Excellent communication, organisation and leadership skills.

• A warm, personable approach to hospitality and an appreciation for the role a great pub plays in its community.

• Confidence making decisions, taking ownership and maintaining standards during busy service periods.

• Current Victorian RSA certification and full Australian working rights.

• WSET Level 2 a bonus

• Availability to work evening and weekend shifts as part of our seven-day operation. In return, you'll enjoy a regular roster with consistent days off, providing greater predictability and balance outside of work.

Most importantly, we want someone who genuinely loves hospitality. Someone who takes pride in the details, enjoys sharing their knowledge and understands that a great bar is about more than what's in the glass.

What we offer

• A full-time position with a regular 38-hour working week, consistent roster and regular days off.

• Employment under our Publican.Co Enterprise Agreement, offering some of Melbourne's leading hospitality employment conditions.

• 50% off food and drink across our venues for you and a guest.

• Delicious staff meals while on shift.

• Enhanced parental leave entitlements to support you as your family grows.

• Guaranteed annual salary increases in accordance with our Enterprise Agreement.

• A genuine opportunity to influence and develop the beverage direction of an established Melbourne pub.

• Three distinct bar operations, providing variety, creativity and scope for professional development.

• A supportive, hands-on senior management team. Including Area Manager, VM, AVM, Restaurant Manager and a fleet of Duty Managers.

• Opportunities for industry engagement, supplier collaborations, tastings and ongoing professional development.

• A workplace that values individuality, teamwork, quality and a genuine love of hospitality.

• Competetive salary based on experience
  

About Mount Erica Hotel

Mount Erica Hotel is a neighbourhood institution in the heart of Prahran, bringing together the best of what we love about Melbourne pubs: good food, considered drinks, warm service and a genuine sense of community.

We collection of independent Melbourne pubs that is goverend by the Publican.Co Enterprise Agreement, we believe in creating venues with their own character and identity. Places where people feel welcome, where the food and drinks are thoughtfully considered, and where hospitality remains at the centre of everything we do.

We value good people, strong teams and a culture that encourages curiosity, creativity and pride in the craft.

If you're an experienced Bar Manager looking for a venue where you can make a meaningful contribution, develop a team and put your own stamp on the drinks offering, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply Now

Apply directly through SEEK or email John at ••••@publican.co with the subject line: Your Name | Bar Manager | Mount Erica

Please include your current resume along with a brief cover letter telling us why you'd like to join the team at Mount Erica.

Mount Erica is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and life experiences.

Please note: This is a senior leadership position requiring demonstrated experience in bar management, beverage operations and team leadership. We encourage applications from candidates whose experience aligns with the requirements outlined above.

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