Beverage Director

Lazy Bear is looking for a Wine & Beverage Director to lead our award winning program. This person should have experience as a sommelier and upper level manager in fine dining restaurants operating at the highest levels. This role includes all aspects of our beverage program, including guiding the direction of the program, selecting wines for pairings and for the menu, diligently expanding the depth and breadth of our cellar, wine ordering, wine service, staff training, and many other departmental responsibilities. This position will build on the foundation of our existing list of 300+ selections, continue to bring exciting wines to the program, and bring their own point of view to the program. The ideal candidate would also take on manager level responsibilities, and would have experience in doing them. This is a very pairing focused program and will need someone who is eager to create innovative and awe inspiring beverage pairings.  The position also oversees our bar program, including the Non Alcoholic progression; coffee & tea program; and staff training and recruitment.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

• Sommelier experience of 4+ years in fine dining establishments;
• Deep wine knowledge a requirement, with Advanced WSET, MW, CMS certification or equivalent knowledge a plus;
• College degree preferred
• Computer literate (knowledge of Google Docs, Excel, Dropbox, Illustrator an asset, facebook, instagram, twitter)
• Previous experience in a Michelin environment; preferably in a similar sized cellar

• Revise pairing menus and a la carte menus daily, keeping staff up to date
• Expand and upgrade our bottle list and reserve wine collection
• Work closely with ABM and bar team to ensure the program is pushing new boundaries, relevant and innovative, and maintaining a clear, specific voice in line with the identity of the restaurant.
• Constantly search for new and exciting additions to the program, including attending auctions, gaining connections with local vintners/wineries, and hosting winemaker event dinners.
• Manage and track wine costs/revenue and accounting of inventory
• Set growth/revenue targets for the program
• Communicate with guests and employees in a professional, clear, precise, elegant, and efficient manner 
• Respond to emails in a professional and timely manner
• Continually train and educate the rest of the staff on our offerings and general wine knowledge, including a scheduled wine education class
• Attend manager meetings and contribute to the creative growth of the restaurant
• Take on additional managerial duties and guide the entire front of house toward ever more refined service.

Lazy Bear is a 2 Michelin Star fine dining restaurant in the heart of San Francisco’s Mission District. We were nominated for a James Beard Award for ‘Outstanding Beverage Program’ and 'Outstanding Beverage Professional', nominated for Bon Appetit magazine’s Best New Restaurant, and recently listed No. 25 Best Restaurant in North America by 50 Best. We serve modern American cuisine with a pre-fixe menu of 10-14 courses which changes every two to three weeks and features very seasonal, high quality local ingredients. The right candidate will be joining our team which is comprised of individuals from leading restaurants in San Francisco.

• Salaried pay commensurate with skill and experience
• Education Expenses are mostly covered
• We offer fully subsidized  health insurance, as well as dental and vision coverage.

Please respond with a brief cover letter along with your resume.