Bar Manager

Job Description

Job Description

American Legion Post 76 is seeking an experienced, dependable, and community-focused  Bar Manager to oversee the daily operations of our members-only lounge.

Unlike a traditional public bar, our lounge serves American Legion members, veterans, active-duty military personnel, Auxiliary members, Sons of the American Legion, Legion Riders, eligible guests, and visitors from other American Legion posts. Many of our customers are long-term members who value friendly service, consistency, respect, and a welcoming community atmosphere.

The ideal candidate will understand how to balance professional bar management with the personal, relationship-driven environment of a private veterans organization. This position requires a hands-on leader who can manage staff, control costs, maintain compliance, support events, and create an inviting environment where members feel recognized and appreciated.

Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the lounge, bar, and food-service areas.
• Recruit, train, schedule, supervise, and support bartenders and other lounge staff.
• Ensure members and guests receive prompt, friendly, respectful, and professional service.
• Build positive relationships with veterans, members, officers, volunteers, and regular customers.
• Enforce private-club membership, guest-sign-in, identification, and service requirements.
• Ensure compliance with Washington State liquor laws, responsible alcohol-service requirements, health regulations, food-safety standards, and Post policies.
• Monitor customers for signs of intoxication and ensure alcohol is served responsibly.
• Oversee cash handling, deposits, till reconciliation, discounts, voids, refunds, and transaction accuracy.
• Manage and maintain the Toast POS system, including menu buttons, pricing, employee access, and sales reporting.
• Control liquor, beer, wine, food, and supply inventory.
• Place orders, receive deliveries, rotate products, and maintain accurate inventory records.
• Monitor pour costs, food costs, labor costs, product waste, and overall lounge profitability.
• Review sales trends and recommend pricing, promotions, menu items, and cost-saving measures.
• Maintain appropriate par levels while reducing overordering, shortages, and unnecessary waste.
• Ensure the bar, kitchen, coolers, storage areas, equipment, and customer areas remain clean, organized, and properly maintained.
• Train employees on drink preparation, portion control, food handling, customer service, cash procedures, and responsible beverage service.
• Address employee performance concerns, attendance issues, customer complaints, and workplace conflicts professionally.
• Coordinate lounge operations for meetings, bands, fundraisers, dinners, holiday celebrations, memorial events, private functions, and other Post activities.
• Work with Post leadership, committees, volunteers, and affiliated groups to support events and member activities.
• Assist with food specials, beverage promotions, event menus, and marketing efforts that encourage member participation.
• Oversee permitted gaming and fundraising activities offered through the lounge, including pull-tabs, raffles, poker, or other approved activities, as assigned.
• Follow all applicable recordkeeping, cash-control, and regulatory procedures related to gaming activities.
• Maintain a safe, respectful, and inclusive atmosphere that honors the mission and traditions of the American Legion.
• Perform bartending, food service, cleaning, stocking, and other hands-on duties when staffing or business needs require it.

Qualifications

• Previous bar management, restaurant management, hospitality management, or comparable supervisory experience.
• Strong bartending knowledge, including beer, wine, spirits, standard cocktails, responsible pouring, and portion control.
• Experience supervising employees, preparing schedules, providing training, and managing employee performance.
• Experience with Toast POS or a similar point-of-sale system is preferred.
• Strong cash-handling, reconciliation, inventory-control, and basic bookkeeping skills.
• Understanding of liquor costs, pour costs, food costs, labor percentages, retail pricing, and profit margins.
• Knowledge of food-safety, sanitation, and responsible alcohol-service requirements.
• Ability to work respectfully with veterans, senior members, volunteers, Post officers, and customers from diverse backgrounds.
• Strong communication, organization, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to remain calm and professional when handling intoxicated customers, employee concerns, complaints, or difficult situations.
• Experience coordinating bands, dinners, fundraisers, banquets, private events, or community activities is preferred.
• Gaming, pull-tab, raffle, or nonprofit private-club experience is helpful but not required.
• Must be dependable, trustworthy, and willing to maintain strict accountability for cash, alcohol, food, and gaming funds.
• Must be willing to work a flexible schedule that may include evenings, weekends, holidays, meetings, and special events.
• Must hold or be able to obtain all required Washington State permits and certifications, including a valid MAST permit and food-worker card.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is not only an experienced bartender or hospitality manager but also someone who understands the importance of community.

Our members often come to the Post for more than food or drinks. They come for friendship, veteran support, social activities, meetings, fundraisers, and a sense of belonging. The successful Bar Manager will take the time to learn members’ names, understand the culture of the Post, support its mission, and create an atmosphere where members and eligible guests feel comfortable and welcome.

This position is best suited for a hands-on manager who is willing to lead from behind the bar, hold employees accountable, control expenses, increase participation, and work collaboratively with Post leadership.

Work Environment

American Legion Post 76 is a private, membership-based veterans organization rather than a traditional public nightclub or high-volume cocktail bar. The lounge serves a loyal group of regular members and guests and also hosts meetings, meals, live entertainment, gaming activities, fundraisers, and community events.

Respect for veterans, the American Legion organization, and the private-club environment is essential.

Join our team and help us provide a welcoming, responsible, and financially successful lounge that supports our veterans, members, families, and local community.

I changed the title from  Bartender Manager to  Bar Manager , which sounds more professional and better reflects the operational, staffing, financial, and compliance responsibilities of the position.