Bar Manager

Bar Manager – Dear Charlotte

Steele Creek |  4936 Trojan Dr., Charlotte, NC 28278

$60,000–$70,000 + Bonus Opportunity | Full-Time

About Dear Charlotte

Dear Charlotte is a new Mediterranean-inspired rooftop restaurant, bar, and event destination coming to Charlotte.

We're creating a high-energy destination built around great food, an elevated cocktail program, and an indoor/outdoor rooftop atmosphere. The beverage program will be a major part of the experience, and we're looking for a Bar Manager who wants to help build it from the ground up.

This isn't a role where you're stepping into an established bar program. You'll have the opportunity to help shape what Dear Charlotte becomes.

The Opportunity

As Bar Manager, you'll take ownership of the day-to-day bar operation while helping establish the beverage standards, team, culture, and guest experience from pre-opening forward.

You'll work closely with the General Manager and culinary leadership to create a cohesive food and beverage experience while building a bar program that drives both guest satisfaction and revenue.

What You'll Do

• Help lead the bar pre-opening and launch
• Build and establish bar standards, procedures, and service expectations
• Recruit, interview, hire, train, and develop the bar team
• Lead daily bar operations and service execution
• Develop and execute a cocktail-forward beverage program
• Support seasonal cocktail menu development and beverage programming
• Train bartenders on cocktail technique, spirits, wine, beer, menu knowledge, and hospitality
• Maintain consistency, speed, presentation, and quality throughout service
• Manage beverage inventory, ordering, receiving, and storage
• Monitor beverage cost, waste, comps, and operational controls
• Support beverage P&L performance and profitability
• Develop relationships with vendors and beverage partners
• Create strategies to drive premium-spirit sales and increase average check
• Support private events and special programming
• Coach the team throughout service and provide ongoing feedback
• Maintain responsible alcohol service, cleanliness, organization, and compliance standards
• Partner with the GM and leadership team to create a strong restaurant culture

What We're Looking For

We're looking for a hands-on beverage leader who understands that a great bar is about more than making great cocktails. It's about creating an experience, developing people, controlling costs, and driving the business.

Required:

• 3+ years of bar management or progressive beverage leadership experience
• Strong cocktail and spirits knowledge
• Experience training and developing bartenders
• Experience with beverage inventory and cost controls
• Strong understanding of high-volume bar operations
• Ability to lead a team while remaining hands-on during service
• Strong guest engagement and hospitality skills
• Comfortable working evenings, weekends, and high-volume service periods

Ideal experience includes:

• New restaurant opening experience
• Rooftop bar or restaurant experience
• Craft cocktail programs
• Mediterranean or globally inspired concepts
• Upscale or elevated casual dining
• Private events and large-format service
• Hotel food & beverage
• Beverage P&L and financial management

What Makes You Successful Here

The right person will be someone who gets genuinely excited about beverage, hospitality, and building something new.

You should be someone who:

• Gets excited about cocktails, spirits, and the guest experience
• Can build a beverage program rather than simply manage an existing one
• Thinks about both creativity and numbers
• Understands beverage cost and profitability
• Develops bartenders into hospitality professionals
• Leads from the floor and sets the standard by example
• Takes ownership when something isn't working
• Has the energy and flexibility required for a new opening
• Wants to help create a bar that becomes a destination

Why Join Dear Charlotte?

Great restaurants start with great teams — and we believe in taking care of ours.

In addition to competitive compensation, you'll receive an excellent benefits package designed to support you both at work and outside of it.

• $60,000–$70,000 salary + bonus opportunity
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Health and wellness benefits
• Dining perks
• Career growth and advancement opportunities
• Opportunity to build a beverage program from the ground up
• Opportunity to shape the bar team, culture, and guest experience from day one

If you're a beverage leader who wants the opportunity to build something from scratch, lead a team, and create a bar program people want to come back to, we'd love to hear from you.