Bar Operations Manager

Bar Operations Manager

Lawn Club is an exciting competitive socializing destination in the Seaport, positioning itself as "New York's Leisure Headquarters." The massive 25,000 square foot venue features indoor and outdoor rentable gaming lawns, amazing cocktails, and a streamlined menu of tasty bites. Each rentable lawn includes popular lawn games, big-screen TVs, courtside F&B service, and dedicated "Lawncierges." Lawn Club caters to a variety of audiences, from twenty-somethings to corporate event planners.

The Bar Operations Manager is a key part of bringing the Lawn Club vision to life and plays a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of the establishment. With a primary focus on delivering a welcoming, fun and memorable experience for guests and fostering a positive environment for staff, this role will oversee day-to-day operations, set-up, opening, and closing procedures for Lawn Club's bars.

The Bar Operations Manager owns the beverage program, from drink development through flawless execution at high volume. Speed, consistency, and tasty drinks are the standard. This role leads the bar team in delivering on those standards and manages beverage costs, ordering and inventory. They also plan and execute beverage service against BEO requirements for an event-driven business.

This role will operate primarily as the Manager on Duty, responsible for the guest experience on the floor, holding the team to Lawn Club standards, coaching in real time, and ensuring every guest leaves happy. The ideal candidate has experience in competitive socializing businesses, has managed a high-volume, event-focused bar program, and has a passion for enhancing the guest experience. They lead by example, keep the bar service-ready at all times, and develop a positive, high-performing team culture.

Beverage Program & Drink Development

Own the beverage program, including the core cocktail menu, seasonal and limited-time offerings, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic options, and event and package menus

Develop, test, and cost all drink recipes, with a target margin for each drink

Design drinks for volume: batchable, fast to build, consistent across bartenders

Maintain accuracy of all drink recipes, modifiers, and bar menus in Toast and inventory software

Partner with senior leadership on menu updates, programming opportunities, and prep changes

Speed, Consistency & Quality

Lead a bar team that delivers fast, accurate, and brand-consistent beverage service across all areas of the venue; speed and consistency are core expectations of this role

Ensure every cocktail, beer, and non-alcoholic drink is executed to spec from build to garnish

Monitor adherence and consistency of all drinks to recipe and brand standard

Conduct daily quality control checks for batches, syrups, and garnish mise en place

Maintain bar prep, cleanliness, and daily readiness across all service periods

Oversee bar opening and closing duties, daily cleaning checklists, and sidework execution

Lead weekly deep cleans and ensure DOH compliance at all times

Cost Control: COGS, Ordering & Inventory

Manage weekly ordering, inventory, and vendor communications for the bar program, including product and equipment

Own beverage cost performance, including usage, waste, and COGS tracking, weekly counts, par levels, and variance follow-up

Review comps, voids, and waste, and address root causes

Manage vendor pricing and distributor relationships

Receive and organize deliveries; ensure stock is rotated and labeled properly

Forecast, order, and manage beverage spend against beverage targets and BEO requirements

Event Beverage Operations

Review BEOs and build the beverage plan for each event, including consumption forecasts, product quantities, and bar and station setup

Coordinate with the Events team on private and group function beverage planning

Advise leadership on bar staffing needs and station deployment based on event size and type

Manage pre-event logistics, including ice, glassware, batches, and portable bars

Run beverage service across multiple simultaneous events with overlapping demand

Manage beverage packages, open bars, tabs, and bar minimums

Attend and contribute to weekly BEO, ops, and leadership meetings

Team Leadership & Training

Train bartenders and barbacks to anticipate guest needs before requests are made, including offering water, refills, second rounds, and menu guidance without prompting

Coach bartenders to make personalized recommendations based on guest cues, table context, and occasion

Foster a bar culture where eye contact, greetings, and genuine engagement are the norm

Build and maintain the bar training program, including onboarding and readiness verification

Lead daily lineups and bar team pre-shifts; provide real-time coaching during service

Hold the team accountable to standards, providing ongoing feedback, performance coaching, and documentation in partnership with leadership

Participate in hiring and onboarding of bartenders and barbacks

Execute against the schedule and labor budget set by leadership, and provide input on staffing needs

Conduct staff checkouts and ensure accurate shift-end reporting

Maintain bar SOPs, training materials, and up-to-date product guides

Ensure team members communicate clearly and courteously with one another to avoid confusion, duplication, or delay

Ensure barbacks are replenishing ice, glassware, and stock without disrupting the guest experience

Enforce systems for keeping bar tops, garnish stations, tools, and guest-facing areas pristine throughout service

Manager on Duty & Guest Experience

Serve as Manager on Duty for the majority of scheduled shifts, including nights, weekends, and peak season

Own the quality of the guest experience across the bar, lawns, dining areas, and front desk

Hold the team to Lawn Club service and hospitality standards in real time, coaching and correcting as needed

Oversee guest flow and bar pacing, ensuring timely and friendly service at all times

Respond to guest concerns with urgency, care, and professionalism, including guest recovery

Assist with creating and updating floor plans, daily deployment rosters, and shift notes

Handle MOD duties including opening and closing, cash handling, and incident reporting

Support a culture of high performance, professionalism, and hospitality

Compliance & Company Standards

Ensure compliance with all company policies and training expectations as well as New York State and New York City law

Follow all company policies, SOPs, and guidelines

Operate ethically to protect the assets and image of the company

Perform other duties and responsibilities as needed

ABOUT YOU! | KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS Qualifications & Skills

Minimum of 3 years of experience in a high-volume bar or restaurant environment

Minimum 1 year of management or supervisory experience

Extensive knowledge of bar lifecycles and setup, spirits, cocktail ingredients, and garnishes

Familiarity with alcohol service and food safety standards, including DOH protocols

Experience developing and costing cocktail menus and large-scale batching

Proven cost control skills, including inventory management, variance analysis, and ordering

Strong communication and leadership skills

Ability to multitask and work effectively under pressure

Strong attention to detail and organizational skills

High standards for cleanliness of workspace and service areas

Professional demeanor, polished appearance with the ability to exceed guest's expectations

Ability to work in an ever-changing environment

Ability to work both independently and in a team environment

Strong work ethic and customer-focused approach

Ability to work a flexible schedule including days, nights, weekends, and holidays

Must be passionate, entrepreneurial, and dedicated to success

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to lift and carry up to 25 lbs.

Comfortable standing and walking for prolonged periods.

Regularly required to bend, reach, climb stairs, and move throughout the venue.