Bar & Beverage Lead — Nightlife, Revenue & Training

Virgin Hotels; New York (NY); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Virgin Hotels New York City is seeking a hands-on Bar & Beverage Manager to lead the beverage program across F&B outlets, including Riff Raff. You will drive revenue, control costs, train the team, and maintain exceptional standards from floor to back of house.

You’ll balance creativity with operational discipline, develop menus, partner with F&B leadership on pricing and concepts, and ensure compliance with liquor laws.

Qualifications

• 3–5+ years of progressive beverage, bar, lounge, nightlife, or restaurant management experience.
• Strong cocktail, spirits, wine, and beer knowledge with a genuine passion for beverages.
• Experience leading a high-volume bar, lounge, hotel, or nightlife operation.
• Proven ability to drive revenue while maintaining exceptional guest experience.
• Strong understanding of beverage COGS, inventory, purchasing, and cost controls.
• Experience developing beverage menus and programs.
• Strong training, coaching, and team-development skills.
• The ability to balance creativity with speed, consistency, profitability, and operational execution.
• Excellent communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• A willingness to be hands-on and work evenings, late nights, weekends, holidays, and high-volume events.
• Current TIPS or equivalent responsible alcohol service certification and Food Handler certification as required.
• Legal authorization to work in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Own and continuously improve the hotel's beverage program across multiple F&B outlets.
• Develop and maintain cocktail, wine, beer, spirits, zero-proof, seasonal, pool, banquet, and premium beverage offerings.
• Partner with F&B leadership on beverage strategy, pricing, new concepts, and program development.
• Stay current on beverage trends and guest preferences while maintaining each outlet's unique identity.
• Serve as the primary floor leader for Riff Raff, with a strong presence during nightly service.
• Lead bartenders, servers, and support teams while overseeing service, guest experience, VIPs, bottle service, reservations, staffing, beverage quality, and closing procedures.
• Identify opportunities to improve revenue, guest spend, and the overall nightlife experience.
• Take ownership of beverage performance - not just the bar operation.
• Partner with F&B leadership to achieve beverage revenue and profitability goals.
• Monitor beverage sales, mix, COGS, inventory, waste, comps, breakage, and variances.
• Manage beverage pars, inventory counts, product availability, and ordering needs.
• Work with Purchasing and vendors on product selection, tastings, programming, and availability.
• Lead cocktail and beverage development across all hotel F&B outlets
• Create beverages that are creative, commercially successful, and operationally realistic.
• Maintain recipes, specifications, costing, preparation standards, and presentation guidelines.
• Ensure consistency in recipes, pours, glassware, garnishes, and overall beverage quality across outlets.
• Build and deliver ongoing beverage training for bartenders, servers, and managers.
• Develop team knowledge around cocktails, spirits, wine, beer, zero-proof beverages, upselling, responsible alcohol service, and guest engagement.
• Coach and develop bartenders into stronger beverage professionals and future leaders.
• Lead with a strong floor presence, clear expectations, and accountability.

Skills

Leadership

Guest service

Inventory management

Cost control

Vendor & procurement

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

TIPS certification

Food Handler certification

Job description

Virgin Hotels New York City is seeking a hands-on Bar & Beverage Manager to lead the beverage program across F&B outlets, including Riff Raff. You will drive revenue, control costs, train the team, and maintain exceptional standards from floor to back of house.

You’ll balance creativity with operational discipline, develop menus, partner with F&B leadership on pricing and concepts, and ensure compliance with liquor laws.