Assistant General Manager - Taproom

Job Description

Job Description

About Highland Brewing:

Highland is proudly independent, deeply rooted, and generating joy for our customers and our community. As the first brewery in Asheville since Prohibition, our beer and destination brewery are authentic tastes of the heart and soul of a place that continues to captivate people. Committed to quality, sustainability, and community, Highland champions a “Thirst for Good” across the Southern Appalachians.

Working at Highland:

We are proud to be absurdly people-focused. To support the physical, mental, and financial health of our team, we have a wide range of benefits offerings including health, dental, vision, company-paid life insurance, no-cost mental health and financial services, paid time off, paid holidays, free beer and so much more!

TITLE : Assistant General Manager - Taproom

STATUS : Full-time, salary, exempt

PAY: Starting at $65,000 plus bonus potential

About the role:

The Assistant General Manager (AGM) is the operational leader responsible for the daily execution of Highland Brewing's Taproom experience. Reporting to the Taproom General Manager, the AGM oversees guest-facing operations across Highland's destination brewery campus, including beverage and food service, staffing, inventory management, event support, and service execution. This role directly leads the Taproom Assistant Manager team, ensuring strong shift leadership, operational consistency, and an exceptional guest experience. Through leadership development, cross-department collaboration, and continuous operational improvement, the AGM helps translate Highland's hospitality vision into a world-class experience for every guest who visits the brewery.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Operational Leadership

• Oversee daily Taproom operations and ensure exceptional guest experiences.
• Serve as Manager on Duty as needed.
• Ensure operational readiness, cleanliness, compliance, safety, and service consistency in our Taproom, Meadow, and Kitchen operations.

Team Development

• Directly supervise and mentor Taproom Assistant Managers
• Coach, mentor, and develop future leaders.
• Drive accountability and team engagement.

Staffing & Labor Management

• Manage staffing schedules and leadership coverage.
• Monitor labor performance and staffing needs.

Guest Experience Excellence

• Serve as a visible leader on the floor, modeling exceptional hospitality and guest engagement.
• Act as the primary escalation point for guest concerns, complaints, and service recovery situations.
• Empower Taproom Managers and Ambassadors to resolve guest issues effectively while ensuring consistency in service standards.
• Foster a welcoming, inclusive, and memorable environment that reflects Highland Brewing's values and brand.
• Collaborate with the Taproom GM and Hospitality Director to continuously elevate the guest experience across the brewery campus.

Cross-Department Collaboration

• Partner with Head Chef, Events Manager, and Facilities & Recreation Manager on creating and executing ongoing Taproom programming and special events.
• Support cohesive execution across departments.

Inventory Management & Financial Controls

• Own weekly, monthly, and quarterly inventory counts.
• Maintain inventory records and reporting.
• Partner with Accounting to reconcile inventory and investigate variances.
• Identify opportunities to reduce waste and improve controls.

Financial & Business Performance

• Support revenue, labor, inventory, and profitability goals.

Compliance & Safety

• Ensure compliance with all alcohol and food safety policies and regulations.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum 3-5 years of hospitality, restaurant, brewery, taproom, or entertainment venue management experience
• Minimum 2 years of experience directly supervising staff
• Demonstrated success in a high-volume guest-facing environment
• Experience managing labor, scheduling, and staffing plans
• Experience leading teams of 20+ employees
• Strong understanding of hospitality operations and guest service standards
• Experience conducting performance coaching, corrective action, and employee development conversations
• Proficiency with POS systems, scheduling software, and MS Office applications
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and special events
• Ability to stand and move throughout the facility for extended periods

WORKING CONDITIONS:

As this position is working in a bar and restaurant environment, the physical demands of this role include, but are not limited to:

• Standing for long periods of time.
• Bending, twisting, reaching overhead, lifting up to 30lbs frequently & up to 50lbs occasionally.
• Working with cleaning chemicals.

At-Will Employment : Employment with Highland Brewing Co. may be terminated by either Highland or the employee at any time with or without cause or notice.