Restaurant & Bar Operations Manager, Main Lodge

Sugar Bowl Resort is seeking a Restaurant & Bar Operations Manager to lead all front-of-house Food & Beverage Team Members at Main Lodge, in close partnership with our F&B Director. This role must be willing and able to provide unbridled, exceptional customer service in all situations, 100% of the time — not only to Sugar Bowl’s homeowners and guests, but to fellow team members as well. You’ll bring exceptional problem-solving and troubleshooting skills and the ability to act decisively in highly stressful situations, owning service standards, the front-of-house schedule, and team coaching at Main Lodge’s restaurant and bar, while extending that same leadership to Main Lodge’s other food & beverage outlets when priorities call for it.

Why Sugar Bowl?

Sugar Bowl Resort has been proudly independent for over 80 years and is one of the oldest ski resorts in California. Situated atop beautiful Donner Summit, Sugar Bowl has a storied past with ties to Austrian ski culture, Hollywood and Walt Disney. This special community helped bring skiing to “sunny California” since December 1939. Since then, it continues to attract adventurous winter sports enthusiasts a like.

Who You Are:

·         5 years of front-of-house leadership experience in a restaurant, resort, or hospitality environment, with a track record of leading teams

·         Comfortable leading, coaching, and holding a team accountable in real time, with sound judgment on personnel matters

·         Prior experience building staff schedules across multiple outlets or departments is strongly preferred

·         Highly organized, with excellent follow-through and the ability to juggle many moving pieces without dropping details

·         Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, comfortable being a first point of contact for staff and guest needs, with exceptional problem-solving and troubleshooting skills

·         Comfortable working with confidential and sensitive information with discretion

·         Proficient with Microsoft Office or Google Workspace; comfortable learning new systems and software

·         A proactive self-starter who anticipates needs and exercises independent judgment on daily operational and personnel matters

·         Calm and professional under pressure, especially during peak weekends, holidays, and events

·         A valid California Driver's License, with the ability to pass an MVR check

·         TIPS / Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) certified

·         ServSafe / Responsible Service of Food certified

·         Working understanding of Workplace Harassment prevention, training, and coaching

·         Open to learning new skills and supporting other departments as needed; a versatile, team-first mindset

What You’ll do:

Guest Experience & Service Excellence

·         Deliver unbridled, exceptional customer service in every interaction, 100% of the time, to homeowners, guests, and fellow team members alike

·         Lead the daily execution of front-of-house service at Main Lodge’s restaurant and bar, with cross-functional support to Main Lodge’s other food & beverage outlets as needed

·         Maintain a highly visible presence on the floor at Main Lodge, particularly during peak service periods

·         Establish, communicate, and reinforce consistent service and hospitality standards across Main Lodge

·         Ensure teams are informed, properly positioned, and fully prepared for successful service

·         Maintain comprehensive knowledge of menus, beverages, service styles, events, and current programming

·         Observe service in real time and provide immediate, constructive coaching

·         Anticipate guest needs and respond to feedback with professionalism, empathy, and appropriate follow-through

·         Resolve guest concerns promptly and thoughtfully, escalating significant matters to the F&B Director when appropriate

·         Identify opportunities to improve service flow, efficiency, and the overall guest experience

·         Develop meaningful relationships with homeowners, members, resort guests, and colleagues

Daily Operations

·         Direct the daily flow of service at Main Lodge’s restaurant and bar, assigning priorities and adjusting staffing and responsibilities in real time

·         Serve as the primary day-to-day operational resource for front-of-house teams at Main Lodge

·         Conduct daily pre-shift meetings covering service priorities, menu changes, events, reservations, and relevant resort information

·         Ensure consistent completion of opening, closing, side-work, sanitation, and service-readiness checklists

·         Maintain immaculate, organized, safe, and guest-ready dining and service areas

·         Conduct regular operational and sanitation walkthroughs and ensure deficiencies are corrected promptly

·         Coordinate front-of-house execution for events, homeowner initiatives, and special programming

·         Collaborate with culinary, beverage, lodging, mountain operations, and other resort departments to provide seamless service

·         Extend operational support to Main Lodge’s other food & beverage outlets as business needs require

·         Support snow removal and other mountain operational needs when necessary

·         Handle heavy cash handling and reconciliation of cash banks and closing paperwork with high integrity

·         Conduct weekly inventories and manage ordering/requisitions for all Main Lodge F&B outlets

Scheduling and Staff Oversight

·         Build, manage, and adjust front-of-house schedules, primarily for Main Lodge, with support to other outlets as needed

·         Align staffing with projected business levels, service demands, employee availability, and established labor targets

·         Adjust staffing based on occupancy, reservations, weather, events, and changes in business volume

·         Manage attendance, punctuality, shift coverage, and schedule-related communication

·         Ensure thoughtful, equitable, and effective deployment of employees across venues

·         Review employee timekeeping for accuracy before submission

·         Communicate staffing concerns and anticipated recruitment needs to the F&B Director

Team Leadership and Development

·         Participate in interviewing, selecting, onboarding, training, and retaining employees who embody the resort's culture and hospitality standards

·         Set clear expectations for individual and team performance

·         Coach employees through active observation, timely feedback, and consistent follow-through

·         Support supervisors and lead employees in developing their leadership and decision-making skills

·         Recognize exceptional performance and address performance concerns promptly and professionally

·         Create a positive, respectful, upbeat, and accountable workplace

·         Train staff on and enforce timekeeping policies and procedures

·         Maintain a positive, streamlined working relationship with HR, upholding company policies and procedures

·         Model exceptional professionalism, grooming, communication, and conduct

·         Promote open communication and demonstrate excellent listening skills with employees and guests

·         Develop and maintain relevant service standards, training materials, operational checklists, and onboarding resources

·         Take pride and ownership in the role and the department, and stay focused on making Main Lodge’s F&B program look exceptional through consistent, hard work

Administrative & Director Support

·         Partner with the F&B Director’s calendar, scheduling meetings, coaching sessions, and leadership check-ins

·         Prepare agendas, take notes, and track follow-up items for leadership meetings

·         Compile and organize financial, labor, and beverage cost reports for the F&B Director’s review

·         Support vendor and supplier coordination, including scheduling, order tracking, and correspondence

·         Maintain organized files and records for budgets, contracts, and operational documentation

·         Cross-train and lend a hand in other Main Lodge venues as needed, building a broader understanding of the full guest experience

·         Take advantage of opportunities to learn new skills across the resort, supporting a well-rounded, team-first approach to the guest experience

Physical Requirements:

·         Comfortable standing and walking for extended periods across multiple venues throughout a shift, particularly during peak service

·         Able to move quickly between outlets across the Main Lodge property, including outdoor areas in winter conditions

·         Capable of lifting and carrying up to 30 lbs, such as supplies or event materials

·         Comfortable sitting and working at a computer for administrative tasks (scheduling, reporting, correspondence)

·         Comfortable communicating clearly in person, by phone, and in writing throughout the day

·         Available to work evenings, weekends, and holidays to support service, scheduling needs, leadership meetings, or events

Benefits:

·         Paid time off & Paid sick leave

·         Employer sponsored 401k plan after 1,000 worked hours and one (1) year of service

·         Medical, dental, and vision benefits

·         Employer paid life insurance

·         Additional voluntary benefits (AD&D, critical illness, etc.)

·         Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

·         Professional development opportunities  

·         Free ski and tubing passes for employees 

·         Free ski passes for dependents 

·         50% off food at our restaurants

·         Free group ski and snowboard lessons for employees 

·         Employee discounted lift tickets for family and friends 

·         Lift ticket discounts at multiple resorts including 24 Mountain Collective destinations

·         Hotel discounts

·         Employee ski reciprocal programs 

Sugar Bowl Resort believes that all persons are entitled to equal employment opportunity and does not discriminate against its employees or applicants because of race, color, hair, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender orientation, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, national origin, citizenship, veteran status, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, or any other status protected by federal, state or local law, ordinance or regulation. Equal employment opportunity will be extended to all persons in all aspects of the employer-employee relationship, including recruitment, hiring, upgrading, training, promotion, transfer, discipline, layoff, recall, and termination.