Required Years of Experience
3 years
Job Details
Mattos Hospitality is seeking a Beverage Director for a new venture opening in New York City in early 2027. Joining during the pre-opening stage, the Beverage Director will work closely with the senior leadership team to develop the beverage program, build and train the team, and establish the systems and standards that will guide the operation from opening forward.
The venture will include multiple food and beverage experiences and requires a leader who can develop a thoughtful and cohesive beverage program while maintaining strong operational and financial discipline. We are looking for a knowledgeable and engaged hospitality professional with a distinct point of view, strong business judgment, and the ability to translate a clear beverage vision into a consistent and well-executed program.
The Role- Lead the development and execution of the beverage program from pre-opening through launch and ongoing operations
- Develop and maintain wine, spirits, cocktail, beer, and non-alcoholic programs appropriate to the different food and beverage experiences within the venture
- Collaborate closely with culinary and restaurant leadership to ensure the beverage program complements the culinary direction and overall experience
- Lead beverage tastings, selection, pricing, menu development, and ongoing refinement of the program
- Establish beverage systems, SOPs, service standards, inventory controls, training materials, and operational procedures
- Build and maintain strong relationships with distributors, importers, producers, and other beverage partners
- Lead purchasing, receiving, inventory, storage, and product allocation across the operation
- Own beverage cost, pricing strategy, inventory levels, purchasing, and other key financial and operational metrics
- Partner with finance and senior leadership on budgets, forecasting, and beverage-related P&L performance
- Analyze sales, product mix, margins, and inventory performance and make informed adjustments to support both the program and the business
- Recruit, train, develop, and lead the beverage team while supporting the continued beverage education of the broader FOH team
- Establish and maintain clear standards for wine and beverage service, including presentation, preparation, storage, and product knowledge
- Develop ongoing education and training around wine, spirits, cocktails, non-alcoholic beverages, and service standards
- Maintain an active presence on the floor, supporting service and ensuring consistent execution of the beverage program
- Partner with restaurant leadership on private dining, events, and other beverage-related programming and revenue opportunities
- Ensure compliance with all applicable liquor laws, licensing requirements, company policies, and responsible alcohol service standards
- Foster a culture centered on hospitality, professionalism, curiosity, collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning
- Continue to evolve the beverage program after opening while maintaining a clear and cohesive point of view
- Significant experience as a Beverage Director, Wine Director, or senior beverage leader within high-quality, full-service restaurants or hospitality environments
- Experience opening a restaurant or developing a beverage program from its early stages strongly preferred
- Deep knowledge of wine, spirits, cocktails, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages, with the ability to build a balanced and thoughtful program
- Strong understanding of beverage service and the relationship between the beverage, culinary, and overall hospitality experience
- Demonstrated experience with purchasing, inventory management, pricing, beverage cost, margins, and financial performance
- Proven ability to recruit, train, develop, and lead beverage professionals and educate broader service teams
- Strong industry relationships and knowledge of distributors, importers, producers, and the broader beverage landscape
- Highly organized and comfortable creating systems, controls, standards, and structure from the ground up
- A composed and accountable leader who communicates clearly and leads with consistency
- Collaborative in approach and comfortable working across beverage, culinary, operations, finance, and senior leadership
- Hands-on and detail-oriented, with a strong presence in the operation and high standards for service and execution
- Motivated by the opportunity to build and develop a beverage program with a long-term perspective
- Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
- Robust Paid Time Off Policy
- Performance-Based Incentive Plan
- Paid Parental Leave
- Commuter Benefits
- Discounted Gym Membership
- Dining Discounts across Mattos Hospitality
- Employee Assistance Program
The physical demands for this position include seeing, hearing, speaking, reaching, frequently lifting up to 25 pounds, occasionally lifting up to 50 pounds, standing for extended periods, bending, and moving intermittently throughout working hours.
NOTE: JOB DESCRIPTION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON BUSINESS NECESSITY.
Mattos Hospitality reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and responsibilities as business needs evolve. This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or qualifications associated with the position.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Mattos Hospitality is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, we provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourage prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin.
Compensation Details
Compensation: Salary ($122,000.00 - $135,000.00)
Benefits & Perks: Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Paid Time Off, Commuter Benefits, Dining Discounts, Wellness Program
Required Skills
Leadership
Team Development
Operational Management
Financial Acumen
Strategic Planning
Communication Skills
Relationship Management
Problem Solving
Read more
Gallery
Other jobs you might be interested in
New American
Casual Dining
1 Employee RecommendationSee Details
Part of Mattos Hospitality
Our Purpose
At Mattos Hospitality our purpose is to create memorable and joyful experiences for our community through commitment to each others development, creativity, and craftsmanship.
About Us
In 2013, Ignacio Mattos opened Estela on Houston Street in the space that once housed the Knitting Factory music venue. With a deep wine list and a bar serving cocktails late into every evening, Estela is a place that takes inspiration from the busy, dependable restaurants that Mattos loves to visit around the world but that is also firmly rooted in downtown New York City.
In early 2016, he opened his second restaurant on Spring Street in SoHo, the Italian restaurant Café Altro Paradiso. Since its opening, Estela has been named one of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants and has received a Michelin Star, in addition to a wide range of best-of local and national publications, and Ignacio was nominated for a James Beard Best Chef: New York award in 2017 .
Located at 1 Rockefeller Plaza, Lodi which opened in September 2021, draws inspiration from Italian aperitivo culture and the Art Deco architecture of the bakery and restaurants’ surroundings. Ignacio Mattos and his team envision Lodi as a neighborhood anchor both elegant and friendly that matches its historic address. It is a place you can visit any time of day, whether for a quick morning espresso or a leisurely late-afternoon cocktail on the plaza.
In 2022, the group led the food and beverage program for a luxury, boutique hotel - Nine Orchard - in a beautiful period building on the Lower East Side. This includes: an elegant, upscale restaurant, a neighborhood bar, lounge, rooftop bar, in-room dining and a number of private event spaces.







