Beverage Director - Service Manager for Upscale Dining - Lucy's Restaurant

Lucy's Restaurant Group; Auburn (AL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Lucy’s Restaurant Group in Auburn, AL, seeks a Beverage Director - Service Manager to lead our beverage program, develop the team, and uphold hospitality excellence across front-of-house operations. This role blends operational leadership with beverage expertise, driving program quality, inventory control, and guest engagement while fostering a positive culture of Good Vibes Only.

The ideal candidate brings strong leadership, superior communication, and a passion for hospitality in a fast-paced,

Qualifications

• 3+ years of restaurant management or hospitality leadership preferred.
• Strong knowledge of full-service restaurant operations.
• Extensive knowledge of cocktails, wine, spirits, beer, coffee, and beverage operations preferred.
• Experience managing beverage inventory, ordering, and cost controls.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to lead effectively in a high-volume, fast-paced environment.
• Wine certifications or advanced beverage education are a plus.
• Nights, weekends, and holidays required.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily restaurant operations with professionalism, urgency, organization, and positive energy.
• Oversee beverage program execution across cocktails, wine, spirits, beer, coffee, and non-alcoholic drinks.
• Manage beverage inventory, ordering, pars, storage, organization, and monthly counts.
• Train and coach bartenders and front-of-house staff.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of bars, walk-ins, and service stations.
• Collaborate with kitchen and dining room teams for guest experiences.
• Lead pre-shift meetings and uphold Lucy's standards.
• Develop vendor relationships and seasonal beverage initiatives.

Skills

Restaurant management

Hospitality leadership

Team development

Beverage program knowledge

Communication

Education

Wine certifications / beverage education

Tools

Restaurant365 (R365)

Job description

Beverage Director - Service Manager
About Lucy's Restaurant Group

At Lucy's Restaurant Group, we believe hospitality is more than service - it is how we make people feel. Our purpose is simple: to serve others through genuine hospitality.

We are passionate about creating memorable dining experiences through exceptional food, thoughtful beverages, meaningful relationships, and a culture built on positivity, teamwork, and care.

We are seeking a dynamic, hospitality-driven Beverage Director with experience to join our leadership team. This role is ideal for a highly motivated restaurant professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment, leads with energy and humility, and is passionate about both operational excellence and guest experience.

The Beverage Director - Service Manager will play a key leadership role in overseeing daily restaurant operations while leading and elevating Lucy's beverage program, team development, hospitality standards, and overall floor execution. This position combines operational leadership, beverage expertise, team coaching, and culture development into one highly impactful role.

Position Summary

The Beverage Director is responsible for supporting all aspects of restaurant leadership, including front-of-house operations, team development, guest experience, beverage program execution, inventory systems, and profitability.

This leader will help inspire and energize the team while creating "raving guests" through genuine hospitality, attention to detail, strong communication, and a relentless commitment to excellence.

The ideal candidate has strong restaurant leadership experience, beverage knowledge, emotional intelligence, and the ability to lead confidently under pressure while developing and inspiring others.

Restaurant Leadership & Operations

• Lead daily restaurant operations with professionalism, urgency, organization, and positive energy
• Act as a floor leader focused on exceptional hospitality and memorable guest experiences
• Support seamless communication between the kitchen, bar, and dining room teams
• Maintain calm and organized operations during high-volume service periods
• Lead pre-shift meetings that Inform, Inspire, and Ignite the team
• Address guest concerns with empathy, professionalism, and solution-oriented leadership
• Ensure all operational systems, side work, cleanliness, and standards are consistently executed
• Support scheduling, staffing, labor management, and shift execution
• Assist with cash handling procedures and daily administrative responsibilities
• Foster a positive, hospitality-focused culture that reflects Lucy's values and "Good Vibes Only" spirit

Beverage Program Leadership

• Oversee execution and consistency of all beverage offerings including cocktails, wine, spirits, beer, coffee, and non-alcoholic beverages
• Maintain beverage quality, presentation standards, recipes, and service consistency
• Manage beverage inventory systems including ordering, pars, storage, organization, and monthly inventory
• Utilize systems such as Restaurant365 (R365) to manage beverage inventory and ordering processes
• Ensure beverage profitability through inventory accuracy, waste reduction, and cost control
• Maintain organized and up-to-date beverage recipes, standards, and "Bar Bible" documentation
• Partner with leadership and culinary teams on seasonal beverage development and menu innovation
• Build and maintain strong vendor and distributor relationships
• Monitor beverage trends and contribute creative ideas for program growth and guest engagement

Training, Coaching & Team Development

• Lead ongoing training and education for bartenders, servers, barbacks, and front-of-house team members
• Train staff on cocktail preparation, wine service, spirits knowledge, pairings, coffee offerings, and responsible alcohol service
• Conduct real-time coaching through observation, accountability, encouragement, and feedbackSupport onboarding and continuous development of team members
• Conduct 30-60-90 day reviews and performance coaching conversations
• Monitor new team members and coordinate effective training shadow shifts
• Create a culture of learning, professionalism, teamwork, and hospitality excellence
• Reinforce Lucy's House Rules, service standards, and leadership expectations consistently

Cleanliness, Organization & Standards

• Ensure bar areas, beverage storage, walk-ins, and service stations remain clean, organized, and fully stocked
• Oversee side work, opening procedures, closing procedures, and deep cleaning projects
• Maintain health department standards and ensure all safety procedures are followed
• Ensure all mise en place, garnishes, glassware, menus, and beverage supplies meet presentation standards
• Continuously improve organization, systems, workflows, and operational efficiency

Qualifications

• 3+ years of restaurant management or hospitality leadership experience preferred
• Strong knowledge of full-service restaurant operations
• Extensive knowledge of cocktails, wine, spirits, beer, coffee, and beverage operations preferred
• Experience managing beverage inventory, ordering, and cost controls
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to lead effectively in a high-volume, fast-paced environment
• Passion for hospitality, guest experience, and developing people
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail
• Wine certifications or advanced beverage education are a plus
• Nights, weekends, and holidays required

What We Value

• Leads with humility, professionalism, positivity, and integrity
• Believes hospitality is both a profession and a calling
• Loves developing people and building strong teams
• Thrives in collaborative, energetic environments
• Takes ownership and leads by example
• Brings passion, creativity, and curiosity to beverage and hospitality programs
• Cares deeply about creating memorable guest experiences
• Embodies emotional intelligence, warmth, and genuine hospitality

Why Join Lucy's?

At Lucy's, we are building more than restaurants - we are building experiences, relationships, and a culture people want to be part of. We invest heavily in our people, leadership development, hospitality standards, and creating an environment where great people can grow and thrive.

If you are passionate about hospitality, leadership, beverage culture, and creating unforgettable experiences, we would love to meet you.

Conditions of Employment All offers of employment with Lucy's Modern American Eatery are contingent upon the successful completion of: 1. Background Check - A satisfactory background investigation, which may include verification of employment history, education, and any other information relevant to the position. 2. Drug Screening - A pre-employment drug test with negative results. Failure to successfully complete or pass either requirement may result in the withdrawal of an employment offer or termination of employment if results are received after the start date. By accepting an offer of employment, the candidate acknowledges and agrees to these conditions as a requirement for hiring and continued employment.