Head Bartender

The Lexington; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

The Lexington Bar + Restaurant in Cambridge, MA, is seeking a Head Bartender to lead the in-house beverage program, collaborate with leadership, and be the face of the bar. This role focuses on developing cocktails, managing beverage operations, and training staff to uphold high standards.

Responsibilities include planning orders, reconciling invoices, coordinating training, updating menus, and liaising with marketing for promotions.

Qualifications

• Ability to work a variable schedule, including nights, weekends and holidays.
• At least some beverage leadership or management experience in an upscale restaurant.
• Fluent in written and spoken English; Spanish is a plus.
• Ability to stand for extended periods and lift up to 40+ pounds.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute cocktail program in alignment with leadership.
• Plan and place weekly beverage orders; reconcile invoices.
• Train and educate staff; conduct monthly beverage staff meetings.
• Update printed beverage menus and respond to beverage inquiries.

Skills

Beverage Leadership

Fluent English

Spanish

Job description

Job Details

Job Title: Head Bartender

Date: October 2026

Place of Work: The Lexington, Geppetto, 100 North First Street, Cambridge MA 02141

A staple of the Cambridge culinary scene since 2012, Cambridge Street Hospitality Group (CSHG) currently comprises nine unique hospitality concepts. Led by Chef and owner Will Gilson, our team brings an award-winning mix of culinary and beverage acumen that affords our guests the opportunity to enjoy high-quality, thoughtfully prepared food, local and eclectic beers, and unique, globally-sourced wines. Our spaces are spacious and lively. Our teams are down to earth. We aim to share our excitement about our food and wine throughout each concept. Our guests and their friends feel comfortable in our warm and friendly environment.

Located in the heart of Cambridge Crossing, our building is a collection of three distinctive restaurants—the Lexington Bar + Restaurant, Geppetto, and cafe Beatrice—all under one beautifully designed roof. Each concept offers its own unique space, curated menu, and dining experience.

The Lexington Bar + Restaurant is the namesake restaurant located upstairs, featuring a 17-seat bar and one of the only roof decks in Cambridge. The menu takes American bar food to the next level with approachable items, savvy drinks, and a unique twist on flavors. It’s an ideal spot for casual drinks with friends, a full dinner, and even business meetings!

Scope & General Purpose

The Head Bartender of The Lexington leads the in-house beverage program, ensuring a bar and beverage program that executes at the highest level and collaborates with restaurant and group leadership in developing and executing bar- and beverage-related initiatives. This role manages product and systems related to bar and beverage; it does not directly manage people. Responsibilities include executing creative beverage vision in conjunction with Group Beverage Leadership, implementing and maintaining standards of bar operations, and assisting with on-the-job training and education of new and existing staff. The Head Bartender is the principal “face” of the bar and liaises with our Marketing and PR teams for promotion of our beverage offerings and relevant staff.

Schedule

5 scheduled shifts per week, split between active service and administrative time as dictated by specific projects or assignments. Some administrative duties may be performed off-site. This role begins in three phases over 90 days, to allow for growth and development into the restaurant space and integration with the team.

Reports To

General Manager, Cambridge Crossing (solid line)

Group Beverage Director, Cambridge Street Hospitality Group (dotted line)

Growth Opportunities

The Head Bartender position offers a springboard for growth company wide. Personal and professional goals, both quarterly and longer-term, are set early and honest and candid feedback is provided on a regular basis, resulting in a valuable professional skill set. This role is a suitable precursor for future opportunities in full salaried restaurant management roles or beverage-centric roles with broader scope.

Key Areas Of Responsibility

• Beverage Creative
  • Work with members of the bar team to develop and execute new cocktails for The Lexington on an ongoing basis for regular menus and private/special events, in conjunction with broader planning and goals from restaurant and beverage leadership.
  • Curate a diverse and attractive selection of beverage products, in conjunction with broader planning and goals from restaurant and beverage leadership.
• Beverage Operations
  • Plan and place weekly beverage orders through established ordering channels.
  • Receive and reconcile invoices weekly through inventory management platform.
  • Track and account for transfers of beverage products between departments and restaurants, e.g. beer for kitchen use, emergency product received from another restaurant, etc.
  • Complete periodic inventory of all beverage products through inventory management platform according to restaurant’s accounting cycle.
• Training and Education
  • Work with restaurant management and beverage leadership to create, implement, and maintain new and existing training and education documents, e.g. educational resources, outlines for in-person / on-the-job training, etc.
  • Assist restaurant management with beverage-specific training for new employees.
  • Conduct periodic bar staff meetings, minimum monthly, in conjunction with beverage leadership to meet training and educational goals.
  • Coordinate and execute ongoing education and training initiatives for all front of house staff, collaborating with beverage leadership and outside vendors.
• Administrative
  • Assist restaurant management with updates to printed beverage menus for both regular service and private/special events, providing beverage-specific language as needed and direct menu updates where necessary.
  • Assist with responding to beverage-related inquiries and media opportunities for The Lexington, both in-person and over email / phone.

Qualifications

• Ability to work a variable schedule, including nights, weekends, and certain holidays per business needs.
• At least some beverage leadership or management experience in an ‘upscale’ restaurant preferred.
• Fluent in both written and spoken English. Ability to also speak Spanish preferred.
• Ability to stand for extended periods of time
• Ability to reach, bend, stoop and frequently lift up to 40+ pounds

Compensation

• Service-Oriented Head Bartender at the rate of $12.00 per hour with a $3.00 tip credit. What this means is that you have a base pay rate of $12.00 per hour with the addition of tips, but you will never earn less than minimum wage on a daily basis which is currently set by the state of Massachusetts at $15.00 per hour.
• Non-Service Administrative Time at the rate of $25.00 per hour.