General Manager

The Pen and Pencil Club is one of Philadelphia’s oldest and most storied institutions. It’s a members-only journalism club and late-night gathering place that has been in operation since 1892. Per our charter, the club is overseen by a volunteer board of working journalists. 

We operate under Pennsylvania’s private club licensing, which allows us to serve drinks beyond standard bar hours but limits customer access to members and their guests. Our membership is divided between journalists and associate members – “friends of journalism,” who are largely folks from the service and hospitality industry who find their way to us after their own shifts end. 

These associate members are the lifeblood of our nightly operation, and growing that community is central to this role. But we are a social club first and foremost, which attracts new members and significant philanthropic support through our event program, which runs the gamut from mixers to civic events featuring notable public speakers.

We’re looking for a General Manager who shares our vision for the club’s future, has the skillset to professionalize its operations, and is excited to experiment with offerings that can activate our two separate spaces and our kitchen.  You will serve as the face and brains of the club, and must understand the importance of making everyone feel like a regular from the moment they walk in.

The General Manager is the operational heart of the Pen and Pencil Club. You will run the bar, lead the staff, manage our inventory, help coordinate events, and serve as the public face of a club that is actively working to be more open, more welcoming, and more alive. 

You will report to the board but will have meaningful autonomy over day-to-day operations and the vision for how we continue to grow as the nation’s oldest continuously operating press club.

Responsibilities

Bar Operations & Staff Management

• Hire, train, schedule, and supervise bar staff; foster a team culture that reflects the warmth and inclusivity we want members to experience. Ensure courteous and professional conduct between members, guests and all public-facing staff.
• Maintain the quality and consistency of our drink program; identify opportunities to evolve the menu while respecting the club’s classic character.
• Ensure compliance with PLCB regulations and all applicable club licensing requirements, and maintain a safe and secure environment inside the bar.
• Manage opening and closing procedures, cash handling, and nightly operations.
• Manage contracted cleaning, maintenance and security personnel, and ensure the club is kept tidy, welcome, and presentable. Proactively identify maintenance needs, communicate them to the board, and assist in overseeing repairs and improvements as needed.
• Develop and execute on a plan for activating our kitchen in hopes of reliably offering a limited menu of bar food to club guests while managing costs.

• Track and manage all liquor, beer, wine, and supply inventory; establish ordering systems that minimize waste and stockouts.
• Negotiate with vendors, liquor reps and distributors to maintain competitive pricing.
• Monitor costs, flag discrepancies, and provide regular operational reports to the board.
• Maintain accurate records in keeping with the club’s bookkeeping practices, in conjunction with the Board treasurer.
• Expand the bar’s non-alcoholic and cocktail options, and develop strategies to provide consistent and speedy service across shifts, such as a limited menu of batch cocktails.

• Lead outreach to grow our associate membership, with particular focus on Philadelphia’s service industry community—bartenders, servers, cooks, and hospitality workers who are our core late-night audience.
• Build relationships with industry professionals across the city; represent the club at relevant events, industry nights, and community gatherings.
• Develop creative programming and promotions that attract new associate members and give existing ones reasons to come back.
• Work collaboratively with the journalist board, who oversee charter membership, to ensure the two membership communities complement and enrich each other.

• Champion a culture of genuine hospitality—making new faces feel as welcome as old-timers.
• Serve as a connector between the club’s different communities: journalists, service industry workers, regulars, and newcomers alike.
• Bring fresh ideas for how the physical space, programming, and day-to-day vibe can better reflect who we are and who we want to be.

• 3+ years of bar management or hospitality management experience.
• A driver’s license and a car, or consistent access to a car. 
• Ability to learn how to add events to our online event calendar, communicate with board members using Slack messaging platform, and respond timely and professionally to emails from guests seeking to host events at the club. 
• A genuine people person—someone who is energized by meeting new people and building community. You’ll also need to have the ability to manage staff and contractors, and to build a shared culture of respect, professionalism and hospitality.
• Proven ability to grow a customer or membership base through outreach, relationship-building, and creative programming.
• Experience with inventory management and vendor/rep relationships.
• Knowledge of and enthusiasm for Philadelphia’s service industry community is a strong plus.
• An entrepreneurial mindset: you see the Pen and Pencil’s history as an asset and its current challenges as an opportunity.

Schedule and compensation are negotiable. We expect a general manager would likely work about 50% of his or her time behind the bar, using the balance of the time to handle administrative, operational and managerial responsibilities. That said, the role may require late-night and weekend availability in keeping with the club’s hours. This is a salaried position with health insurance and the opportunity for tips. 

Send a resume and a brief cover letter to [email protected]. Applications received by April 1 will be given priority consideration.