Wine Director

STARR Restaurants is reimagining one of New York’s most iconic Italian destinations—Babbo – just steps from Washington Square Park. We are seeking exceptional culinary and hospitality leaders to help shape this extraordinary new chapter. At the helm of Babbo is Chef Mark Ladner, a James Beard Award winning chef who earned two Michelin stars and a four-star New York Times review as Executive Chef of Del Posto. With formative experience under legends like Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Todd English, Chef Ladner brings a rare level of craft and vision. Alongside Chef Ladner’s reimagined culinary program is a wine & beverage program of great depth with a wine cellar that is the home to rare gems and benchmark Italian wine producers spanning the country from north to south. This is a unique opportunity to join a team of industry-leading talent, committed to elevating a restaurant with a deeply-rooted legacy.

Now Hiring: A dynamic Wine Director with an unmistakable passion for the art and science of Italian wine with a commitment to lead an expertly curated, service-forward wine and beverage program.

About the Role:

The Wine Director works collaboratively with our Corporate Wine and Beverage Directors and plays a critical role in delivering a sophisticated, thoughtfully curated beverage experience— a world class wine list, high-quality ingredients, and forward-thinking mixology. Their focus is to serve as a boots on the ground beverage expert, actively engaging with guests, making thoughtful selections, and leading a service team that ensures an exceptional guest experience. The Wine Director is also responsible for leading all aspects of beverage purchasing, inventory management, and cost control to ensure the program is at the apex of both quality and financially fitness.

This position offers a comprehensive package including:

• A Base Salary Range of $100,000- $110,000
• Quarterly Bonus Program up to 15%
• Paid Vacation and Sick Time
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits Coverage
• Dining Discounts at over 25 Affiliated STARR Restaurants - and more!

Qualifications:

• 3–5 years of experience managing a high-volume, quality-focused beverage program
• Deep knowledge of European and American wines, with a strong emphasis on Italy
• Knowledge of spirits, cocktail development, and modern mixology techniques
• Familiarity with POS systems, inventory systems, CTUIT, OpenTable/Resy
• Wine certification such as WSET, SWE, and second-level CMS desired 
• A collaborative, team-oriented mindset with a desire for continuous learning and growth

Babbo is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.