Lead Bartender

Ensemble; Northern, San Diego (KY, CA); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Ensemble seeks a Lead Bartender for Margot Lounge, a hotel bar delivering an elevated, approachable experience that reflects the venue's personality. You will lead the bar team, execute the cocktail program, control costs, ensure presentation and cleanliness, and engage guests throughout service.

You will train and coach staff, maintain product knowledge, monitor wastage and beverage costs, and collaborate with hotel leadership on promotions and events while upholding liquor laws and safety

Qualifications

• 4+ years of bartending in a high-volume hotel, restaurant, cocktail bar, or similar environment.
• Previous lead or supervisory experience preferred.
• California Responsible Beverage Service certification and Hilton trainings or similar hospitality compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead by example during service with warm, polished hospitality.
• Prepare and serve cocktails, wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages to Margot standards, including cost containment.
• Execute the cocktail menu with consistency, speed, accuracy, and presentation.
• Train and coach bartenders and bar support on recipes, service standards, POS procedures, and responsible alcohol service.
• Maintain a clean, organized, stylish, and guest-ready bar throughout every shift.
• Monitor product quality, waste, portion control, and beverage costs.
• Assist with menu development, recipe testing, and promotional activations.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, sanitation, liquor laws, and hotel policies.

Skills

Bartending expertise

Leadership

Customer service

Communication

Multitasking

Training/mentoring

Menu development

Tools

POS: Toast

Job description

Description

Position Summary

The Lead Bartender is a hands‑on leader responsible for delivering an elevated, approachable bar experience that reflects the personality of Margot Lounge. This role combines exceptional bartending skills with strong hospitality, beverage knowledge, administration, and day‑to‑day leadership. The Lead Bartender sets the standard for service, cocktail execution, cost control presentation, cleanliness, and guest engagement while helping create the vibrant social atmosphere that makes Margot the heart of the hotel.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead by example during service and consistently deliver warm, polished, and genuine hospitality. A role model to bar operations team.
• Prepare and serve cocktails, wine, beer, and non‑alcoholic beverages to Margot standards, including cost containment.
• Execute the cocktail menu with consistency, speed, accuracy, and attention to presentation.
• Understand and communicate the story and ingredients behind Margot's brand, signature cocktails and beverage offerings.
• Create an approachable experience that appeals equally to hotel guests, locals, business travelers, convention guests, and visitors to the Gaslamp.
• Maintain a strong knowledge of spirits, cocktails, wine, beer, NA beverages, and current beverage trends.
• Assist with opening and closing procedures, daily bar setup, stocking, sanitation, and cash handling.
• Maintain appropriate product pars and communicate inventory needs to management.
• Order and accept product according to menu and standards, Separate person to pay invoice, using accounting principles.
• Safe and secure place for all products.
• Account for and ring up each transaction in POS system, no exception.
• Monitor product quality, waste, portion control, and beverage costs.
• Train and coach bartenders and bar support team members on recipes, service standards, POS procedures, and responsible alcohol service.
• Help establish a culture of hospitality, accountability, teamwork, and positive energy.
• Work closely with hotel leadership to introduce promotions, seasonal cocktails, events, and programming.
• Support execution of Margot's happy hour/Golden Hour experience and other promotional activations.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, sanitation, liquor laws, and hotel policies.
• Resolve guest concerns professionally and escalation issues when appropriate.
• Assist management with menu development, recipe testing, beverage features, and operational improvements.
• Maintain a clean, organized, stylish, and guest‑ready bar throughout every shift.
• Maintain professional relationships with all vendors and uphold no drinking policy on the job.
• Execute any reasonable requests by leadership.

Requirements

Qualifications

• 4+ years of bartending experience in a high-volume hotel, restaurant, cocktail bar, or similar environment.
• Previous lead or supervisory experience preferred.
• Strong knowledge of classic and contemporary cocktails.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to multitask while maintaining service standards.
• Strong attention to detail and organization.
• Comfortable training and mentoring team members.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and high-volume periods.
• Current California Responsible Beverage Service certification and other relevant certificates required, including but not limited Hilton brand and hotel trainings, i.e. sexual harassment, PCI compliance etc.
• POS Knowledge, preferable Toast.
• Adhere to all ABC requirements.