Beverage Manager - Flame & Sunfire

About Us

Flame Bar & Grill and Sunfire are two busy waterfront restaurants on Steamer Wharf, each with its own distinct identity and loyal following

Flame has been serving legendary ribs, premium steaks and high-energy hospitality for over 18 years, while Sunfire has quickly established itself as one of Queenstown's most exciting dining destinations - serving breakfast, lunch and dinner over charcoal.

Together, our bars serve hundreds of guests every day. From perfectly executed classics and premium wines to seasonal cocktails and high-volume service, our beverage programme plays a huge part in the experience our guests remember.

We're looking for an experienced Beverage Manager to take ownership of that experience.

About the Role

This is not an office-based management role. This is a hands-on leadership role. You'll spend the majority of your week in service, leading one of our bars and setting the standard through your presence, coaching and attention to detail.

Away from service, you'll be trusted to continually improve the systems that sit behind two busy dispense bars.

Working alongside our Restaurants Director and Operations Manager, you'll oversee the beverage program across both venues — driving consistency, developing people and continually improving the way our bars operate.

You'll also work closely with two experienced Head Bartenders, helping them raise standards within their own bars while ensuring both bars operate as one cohesive beverage program.

This role is ideal for someone ready to step beyond running a single bar and take ownership of the beverage function across two successful restaurants, while remaining hands-on in service every week.

What You'll Be Responsible For

Leading From the Bar

• Leading one of our bars during service and setting the pace for the team.

• Coaching and supporting our Head Bartenders in real time to deliver consistently exceptional drinks.

• Creating bars that are organised, disciplined and enjoyable places to work.

• Embedding a culture of consistency, cleanliness and continuous improvement.

• Maintaining outstanding beverage quality and guest experience.

• Ensuring both bars deliver the same high standards, regardless of venue or team.

Building Better Systems

• Beverage ordering and inventory management across both venues.
• Maintaining accurate recipes and beverage systems within MarketMan.
• Leading the execution of beverage stocktakes and maintaining organised shelf-to-sheet inventory.
• Driving consistency through accurate batching and specifications.
• Managing pour control and reducing wastage through strong systems and training.

Developing Our Beverage Program

• Working alongside the Restaurants Director to create cocktails and beverage features for monthly activations.
• Continually refining our core beverage offering.
• Developing clear recipes, batching procedures and infusion specifications.
• Ensuring every new beverage is operationally practical, commercially sound and consistently executed.

About You

You'll probably be someone who:

• Has experience leading high-volume restaurant dispense bars.
• Loves being behind the bar just as much as improving what happens behind the scenes.
• Notices when systems could work better and enjoys fixing them.
• Takes pride in organised, well-run bars where standards never slip.
• Enjoys coaching people and watching them grow.
• Understands that consistency comes from great systems, clear training and attention to detail.
• Has strong commercial awareness around stock control, beverage costs and waste.

Experience with MarketMan or similar inventory management software would be highly regarded but not essential.

What We Offer

• A genuine leadership role within two of Queenstown's busiest restaurants.
• The opportunity to shape and continually improve a well-established beverage program.
• Competitive salary based on experience.
• Weekly tips.
• Staff housing (subject to availability).
• Ongoing professional development and career progression.
• A supportive senior leadership team that values ideas, initiative and continuous improvement.

Join Our Team

If you're passionate about hospitality, love leading from the front and want the opportunity to influence the beverage experience across two successful restaurants, we'd love to hear from you.

Please apply via SEEK with your CV and a brief cover letter telling us why you'd be a great fit for the role.

All applications will be treated confidentially.