Head Bartender | Union Padel Club

Lakeshore Sport and Fitness; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO

401(k)

Discounts on playing time

Job summary

Union Padel Club in Chicago is seeking a Head Bartender & Club Experience Lead. This is a hands-on leadership role to run the bar, shape the beverage program, and elevate the hospitality experience around it.

You’ll be behind the bar and on the floor, building relationships with members, managing inventory, and contributing to events and social moments throughout the club. This is a full-time salaried position with tips on top of salary.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of bartending, bar management, restaurant, hotel, private club, or other high-touch hospitality experience.
• Strong knowledge of cocktails, spirits, beer, wine, coffee, and non-alcoholic beverages.
• Someone who genuinely enjoys taking care of people and building relationships.
• Confident working independently and taking ownership of a bar operation.
• Organized and comfortable with inventory, ordering, and day-to-day operational details.
• A natural leader who can set the tone for service and help others be successful.
• Comfortable working evenings and weekends.
• Padel experience is a plus, but absolutely not required.

Responsibilities

• Own the Day-to-Day Bar Experience: Lead the operation, set service standards, create an energetic environment, prepare and serve drinks, build member relationships, and maintain presentation.
• Build the Beverage Program: Develop offerings, maintain consistency, bring ideas for new drinks and experiences, stay knowledgeable about products and trends.
• Own the Operations: Manage inventory, ordering, receiving, organization, and stock levels; keep bar clean and ready for service; monitor usage and costs.
• Bring the Club to Life: Support private events and club activities, collaborate with the Union team to create a seamless member experience, train and support staff, and contribute to the club’s growth.

Skills

Bartending

Bar management

Customer service

Inventory management

Evening/weekend availability

Job description

Head Bartender & Club Experience Lead

At Union Padel Club, the bar is a big part of the club experience. We’re looking for a Head Bartender & Club Experience Lead to take ownership of our bar, beverage program, and the hospitality experience that happens around it.

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who knows how to run a great bar but is also genuinely passionate about hospitality. You’ll be behind the bar, getting to know our members, helping shape our beverage program, managing inventory and ordering, and bringing energy to events and social moments throughout the club.

You don’t need to come from a private club. You might be a strong lead bartender ready for your next step, a bar manager who still loves being on the floor, or a hospitality professional who enjoys building something from the ground up.

This is a full-time, salaried position with tips on top of salary, working approximately five days per week, including evenings and weekends. You’ll be one of the key people helping define what hospitality looks like at Union.

What You’ll Do

Own the Bar Experience

• Lead the day-to-day bar operation and set the standard for service, hospitality, cleanliness, and presentation

• Create a warm, energetic environment where members and guests want to stay awhile

• Prepare and serve cocktails, beer, wine, coffee, and zero-proof beverages

• Build relationships with members and become a familiar face within the club

• Heat, plate, and serve food while maintaining a high standard of presentation

Build the Beverage Program

• Help develop and evolve our cocktail, beer, wine, coffee, and zero-proof offerings

• Maintain consistent recipes, quality, presentation, and service standards

• Bring ideas for new drinks, experiences, and ways to make the bar a destination within the club

• Stay knowledgeable about products and trends and bring that knowledge to the member experience

Own the Operations

• Manage inventory, ordering, receiving, organization, and appropriate product levels

• Keep the bar clean, organized, properly stocked, and ready for service

• Monitor product usage and help manage costs and waste

• Maintain appropriate food, beverage, sanitation, and safety standards

Bring the Club to Life

• Support private events, member gatherings, tournaments, social nights, and special programming

• Help create memorable food and beverage experiences around the club's events and activities

• Work closely with the broader Union team to create a seamless member experience

• Help train and support other team members working in the bar and hospitality areas

• Jump in wherever needed — we're building this together

What We’re Looking For

• 3+ years of bartending, bar management, restaurant, hotel, private club, or other high-touch hospitality experience

• Strong knowledge of cocktails, spirits, beer, wine, coffee, and non-alcoholic beverages

• Someone who genuinely enjoys taking care of people and building relationships

• Confident working independently and taking ownership of a bar operation

• Organized and comfortable with inventory, ordering, and day-to-day operational details

• A natural leader who can set the tone for service and help others be successful

• Comfortable working evenings and weekends

• Someone who brings energy, personality, and a little fun to the room

• Padel experience is a plus, but absolutely not required

Why Union Padel Club

Padel is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, and Union Padel Club is bringing Chicago a premium indoor experience built around the game, hospitality, and community.

Our flagship West Loop club features five indoor padel courts, a full-service bar, social lounges, coworking and recovery spaces, and a pro shop. But we're building more than a place to play. Union is a place where members can spend time, connect, work, eat, drink, compete, and build community.

This is an opportunity to join something from the beginning and help shape the experience as we grow. You’ll have real ownership over the bar and the opportunity to help define what a modern, hospitality-driven sports club can look like.

We offer competitive benefits including PTO, 401(k), and discounts on playing time so you can enjoy the game yourself.