Wine & Beverage Director

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

COMPENSATION + BENEFITS

• Pay Scale: $110,000 - $140,000/year
• Medical, Dental, Vision Plans
• Paid Time Off - Including Vacation, Sick and Mental Health Time Off
• Employee Assistance Program - 6 free counseling sessions annually
• Employee Dining and Wine Discounts
• Daily Family Meal
• Access to Customized Educational Opportunities
• Opportunity for advancement within the Vertice portfolio

What You'll Do...

Reporting to the CEO, the Wine and Beverage Director provides strategic leadership and oversight for all beverage programs across Vertice Hospitality Management's portfolio of restaurants, inns, retail concepts, and future hospitality ventures. This role is responsible for developing and executing a world-class beverage strategy that reflects the unique identity of each property while maintaining consistent operational standards, financial performance, and exceptional guest experiences.

The Beverage Director partners closely with property leadership, culinary teams, operations, marketing, finance, and ownership to oversee wine, spirits, beer, non-alcoholic beverages, cocktail programs, retail beverage offerings, and beverage education. This leader drives innovation, cultivates industry relationships, develops beverage talent, and ensures each program supports the company's long-term business objectives and hospitality philosophy.

Wine & Beverage Strategy & Program Development

• Develop and execute the overall beverage vision and strategy across the Vertice Hospitality Management portfolio.
• Create beverage programs that align with the identity, guest experience, and financial objectives of each property.
• Oversee the development and evolution of wine lists, cocktail programs, spirits selections, beer offerings, and non-alcoholic beverage programs.
• Evaluate emerging beverage trends and introduce innovative concepts that strengthen the company's reputation as a hospitality leader.
• Ensure consistency in beverage philosophy while allowing each property to maintain its own unique identity.
• Collaborate with culinary leadership to create thoughtful beverage pairings and seasonal offerings.
• Support new property openings, renovations, and concept development related to beverage operations.

Portfolio Leadership

• Provide strategic direction and operational support to Beverage Managers, Sommeliers, General Managers, and restaurant leadership across all properties.
• Establish company-wide beverage standards, operating procedures, and service expectations.
• Conduct regular property visits to evaluate beverage quality, service execution, inventory management, and operational performance.
• Partner with leadership teams to identify opportunities for improvement and implement best practices.
• Foster collaboration and knowledge sharing between properties.

Vendor & Industry Relations

• Develop and maintain strategic partnerships with wineries, distributors, importers, breweries, distilleries, producers, and beverage suppliers.
• Negotiate pricing, allocations, purchasing agreements, and vendor partnerships that maximize value while maintaining quality standards.
• Represent Vertice Hospitality Management within the hospitality and beverage industries.
• Identify exclusive opportunities, allocations, collaborations, and special events that enhance the company's beverage programs.

Financial Performance & Inventory Management

• Develop beverage purchasing strategies that support profitability while maintaining exceptional quality.
• Establish beverage budgets, cost controls, pricing strategies, and performance benchmarks across the portfolio.
• Monitor beverage cost, gross profit, inventory variance, and purchasing trends.
• Oversee company-wide inventory controls, reconciliation processes, cellar management, and loss prevention initiatives.
• Analyze sales performance and recommend opportunities to improve revenue and profitability.
• Collaborate with Finance and Operations to support annual budgeting and forecasting.

Team Leadership & Talent Development

• Recruit, mentor, and develop beverage leaders throughout the organization.
• Design and implement comprehensive beverage education programs for hospitality teams across all properties.
• Establish career development pathways for sommeliers, bartenders, beverage managers, and service professionals.
• Promote a culture of curiosity, accountability, continuous learning, and operational excellence.
• Conduct performance coaching and support succession planning for beverage leadership positions.
• Serve as a mentor and subject matter expert for beverage professionals across the company.

Guest Experience & Hospitality

• Champion exceptional hospitality standards across every beverage touchpoint.
• Support teams in creating memorable guest experiences through thoughtful beverage recommendations and personalized service.
• Cultivate relationships with collectors, producers, industry professionals, and loyal guests.
• Participate in key guest experiences, special events, winemaker dinners, educational programming, and VIP engagements.
• Assist property leadership in resolving guest concerns related to beverage service while preserving the integrity of the guest experience.

Operational Excellence & Compliance

• Develop, implement, and maintain company-wide beverage operating procedures and service standards.
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local alcohol regulations, licensing requirements, health codes, and company policies.
• Standardize beverage purchasing, storage, handling, inventory management, and service practices.
• Collaborate with Operations, Human Resources, and Finance to improve efficiency and consistency across the portfolio.
• Support technology implementation, POS programming, inventory systems, and reporting related to beverage operations.

General Responsibilities

• Champion Vertice Hospitality Management's vision, values, and culture across every property.
• Foster a culture of Kaizen and continuous improvement.
• Maintain professionalism, integrity, and discretion in all guest, employee, and business interactions.
• Participate in strategic planning, budgeting, leadership meetings, and company initiatives.
• Support special events, media engagements, partnership opportunities, and new business development.
• Ensure effective communication across all departments and properties.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and special events as business needs require
• Perform additional responsibilities as assigned.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR:

• Minimum 7-10 years of progressive beverage leadership experience in luxury hospitality, Michelin-starred restaurants, luxury hotels, or multi-unit hospitality organizations.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing beverage operations across multiple locations or concepts.
• Advanced knowledge of wine, spirits, beer, sake, cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverage programs.
• Professional beverage certifications required (e.g. Master Sommelier, Advanced Sommelier, WSET Diploma or equivalent).
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing beverage budgets, purchasing, inventory controls, and profitability.
• Proven success developing high-performing teams through coaching, education, and mentorship.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and project management abilities.
• Ability to balance strategic planning with operational execution.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• High level of professionalism, integrity, and discretion.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, POS systems, inventory management software, reservation platforms, and reporting tools.
• Extensive knowledge of California wine country, global wine regions, premium beverage producers, and luxury hospitality standards.
• Valid CA Driver’s License required.

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to effectively communicate, including speaking, hearing, and maintaining visual acuity (close, distance, peripheral, depth perception, and focus).
• Ability to stand, walk, reach, bend, stoop, kneel, climb stairs and ladders, and perform physical movements required in hospitality and operational environments.
• Ability to frequently lift and carry up to 35 pounds and occasionally lift or move up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to use manual dexterity and fine motor skills to safely handle beverage products, conduct inventories, and operate office and hospitality equipment.
• Ability to work in a variety of indoor and outdoor environments, including restaurants, inns, wineries, warehouses, farms, and event venues.
• Ability to travel regularly between company properties and event locations.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended hours as business needs require.

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Analytically minded : always thinking about how to use data to support decision-making. Brings an analytical perspective to conversations and can explain their quantitative viewpoint to others
• Independent, self-starter : can push projects forward completely independently, proactively offers next steps and prioritizes their work on their own, does not require significant oversight
• Collaborative: enjoys working with others towards a common goal and values cooperation
• Oriented towards positive impact : taking responsibility and initiative to resolve issues, always clearly communicating with leadership team and team members
• Decisive : accepting responsibility for making things happen, thinking ahead, and developing contingency plans
• Motivated and committed : approaching all tasks with enthusiasm and seizing opportunities to learn new skills or knowledge in order to improve your performance
• Flexible : responding quickly and positively to changing environments
• Be a positive role model : demonstrate the ethos of Kyle, Katina, Tony and the management team

CORE VALUES

As a member of The Selvedge team, every employee is expected to embody the values that define our culture:

• Integrity – Act honestly, ethically, and with accountability.
• Stewardship – Care for our guests, one another, our community, and our environment.
• Growth – Pursue continuous learning, curiosity, and improvement.
• Humility – Lead with respect, kindness, and a willingness to serve others.

Each of the items listed is considered to be an essential function of the role. However, this list should not be construed as an exhaustive list of all the responsibilities of the position. Vertice Hospitality reserves the right to alter the duties of this role.

Vertice Hospitality is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, registered domestic partner status, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions, disability (physical or mental), medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, reproductive health decision-making, citizenship status (where legally protected), or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Vertice Hospitality is dedicated to cultivating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where all team members are respected, valued, and empowered to contribute. We foster a culture of integrity, stewardship, growth, and humility, and are committed to continuous improvement, professional development, and creating meaningful opportunities for learning, advancement, and career growth.