Bar Manager

A Bar Manager oversees the staff and operations of a bar by making sure it’s clean, functioning efficiently and inviting for customers to relax in. Their main duties include scheduling employees and building their shift calendars, managing and resolving customer complaints and ensuring the bar’s inventory is well-stocked.

A Bar Manager uses skills in project management and leadership to ensure customers have a great experience. Bar managers keep their bars running smoothly by handling day-to-day operations, managing resources, and employees, and creating a safe, fun environment for staff and patrons.

Bar Manager Job Duties

• Managing the business aspects of the bar, such as keeping a current liquor license, negotiating supplier contracts, taking/maintaining inventory and reordering supplies, managing budgets, and setting goals
• Recruit, interview, hire and train new bar staff employees
• Handle customer complaints
• Advertise the daily, weekly and monthly promotions of the bar
• Ensure staff is following all food control and safety regulations
• Create employee schedules based on expected customer numbers
• Creates drink and food menus
• Determines employees’ schedules
• Ensures bar is well-stocked and clean
• Tracks customer behavior and sales
• Maintains budget and monitors costs
• Maintains drink recipe documentation
• Oversees planning for special events
• Appropriately delegates tasks to staff
• Selects and purchases liquor and other supplies
• Oversees staff, including bartenders and barbacks, and, in some cases, bouncers, wait staff, and/or kitchen staff as well
• Hires, trains, promotes, and, when necessary, disciplines or fires staff
• Selects music, books bands, and provides input on décor and marketing, including social media and other forms of publicity
• Initiates and maintains vendor relationships
• Uses point-of-sale tracking technology and bar and restaurant management platform
• Diffusing tense situations between patrons or staff members to prevent possible safety or legal issues, ejecting unruly persons, if needed
• Maintaining a fun, safe atmosphere for patrons

Bar Manager Qualifications/Skills

• Accomplished mixologist
• Excellent multitasking ability
• Problem-solving skills
• Interpersonal relationship skills
• Attention to detail
• Strong leadership ability
• Organizational and customer service skills
• Knowledge of food, beverage, and hospitality industries
• Calm under pressure
• Able to maintain restraint in stressful situations
• Ability to deescalate tense interactions
• Judgment and creativity
• Math / financial skills
• Comfortable with hospitality and sales technology platforms
• Enthusiastic and energetic