What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lead Bartender position at Hop Haus Southington?
Company Overview
Job Scope: Lead Bartender
Position Title: Lead Bartender
Reports To: Bar Manager – Southington
Department: Beverage & Bar Operations
Employment Classification: Hourly – Leadership Role
Locations: Southington
Summary
Lead Bartender, this role recognizes your outstanding contributions to the bar program and entrusts you with expanded responsibilities at Hop Haus Southington. This is a leadership position that combines hands-on bartending with elevated strategic, operational, and creative duties in support of our evolving beverage program onsite and off. Working with local breweries and distillers to build and facilitate start to finish offsite and in-house events, tastings and dinners in calibration with our chef.
Job Scope & Responsibilities
Your role will be divided into two major functions:
A. Bartending Responsibilities (~25–30 hours/week)
You will continue to lead from behind the bar by providing high-quality service during scheduled shifts,
B. Mixologist Leadership Responsibilities (~10-15 hours/week)
You are responsible for:
1. Beverage Program Development
- Design and implement seasonal cocktail menus (4 per year)
- Develop and price weekly cocktail specials
- Maintain detailed recipe books with pour specs / COGS, and backed up on OneDrive
2. Inventory & Purchasing
- Review inventory with GMs; finalize and submit weekly liquor orders
- Maintain supplier relations and monitor pricing trends
- Track beverage COGS to help meet financial targets
- Keep up with new trends and implement them ahead of our competition
4. Training & Staff Development
- Train bartenders on new menus, recipes, techniques, and service expectations
- Maintain and update training materials (manuals, visual guides)
- Facilitate regular staff tastings and performance check-ins
5. Compliance & Cleanliness
- Enforce all local/state alcohol service laws
- Maintain a clean and compliant bar area
- Monitor responsible alcohol service and assist in conflict resolution
- Construct and use an opening and closing checklist
6. Marketing & Communication
- Collaborate with marketing on promotions, campaigns, and social content online and inhouse with signage and promotional material
- Provide detailed descriptions, names, and imagery for cocktail marketing
- Promote new items and events internally and to guests
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $1,000.00 - $1,600.00 per week
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Employee discount
- Paid training
Shift:
- 8 hour shift
- Day shift
- Evening shift
Application Question(s):
- What is your approach to leading and managing a bar team?
Please share a specific example of how you've trained or mentored bartenders to improve consistency, speed, or guest experience. What are your expectations for bar staff under your leadership?
- Describe how you’ve developed a cocktail menu that is both creative and cost-effective.
Include how you factor in pour cost, seasonality, and profitability when crafting new drinks. Bonus if you've implemented inventory systems or vendor strategies.
- Tell us about one of your seasonal cocktail creations.
What ingredients did you use, how did you present it, and how was it received by guests? Why was it successful?
- What do you love most about crafting high-end cocktails?
Explain what excites you about this profession and how you stay inspired or push the boundaries of your craft.
- How do you ensure consistency and excellence across multiple locations or busy shifts?
Include any systems, prep methods, or team strategies you've used to maintain standards under pressure or across teams.
- You’re asked to create a signature cocktail using gin, one house-made element, and no citrus.
What would you make, and why? (We’re curious about your flavor thinking and creativity under a constraint.)
- In your opinion, what separates a great bar program from an average one?
What elements do you prioritize when building a program from scratch or improving an existing one?
Experience:
- Cocktail Mixology: 3 years (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- Southington, CT 06489 (Required)
Work Location: In person
Salary : $1,000 - $1,600