Hospitality Manager

Job Description

Mercer Wine Estates is searching for a knowledgeable, fun, team-leader with exceptional hospitality skills and a lively passion for wine to help run our new tasting room in downtown Walla Walla, set to open early summer 2024. The Hospitality Manager will work directly with the Tasting Room Manager in Walla Walla, and collaboratively with the Tasting Room Manager and Wine Club Manager in Prosser. The ideal candidate possesses excellent sales and customer service skills, communication skills, the ability to work in a fast-paced environment, great problem-solving capabilities, a willingness to learn, a genuine interest in wine culture, the ability to lead by example, respect for others, and the desire to work collaboratively as a team.

The Hospitality Manager will play an integral role in the opening of the new Mercer Wine Estates Tasting Room in downtown Walla Walla. The candidate needs to be flexible and excited to deal with all the surprises that come with opening a new business.

This position will report directly to the winery’s General Manager and work in tandem with the Tasting Room Manager. Ideally, this person will assist with the hiring process for the other full-time and part-time Tasting Room Associates.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Carry out and delegate daily operations required of the tasting room, consumer-facing, and back-of-house.

- Assist with hiring, training, and educating new tasting room employees. Ensure all staff are well-educated on Mercer wines, company history, Walla Walla, customer service, and all additional skills required to provide top-tier experiences to customers.

- Manage daily opening and closing procedures with attention to detail.

- Maintain a clean, inviting, and well-organized tasting room floor.

- Manage reservations via phone and Tock. Work with the Tasting Room Manager to plan for large parties, special requests, private tastings, host trade, etc.

- Learn and effectively communicate the company history, philosophy, wines, and brand identity.

- Always maintain and demonstrate a positive attitude in a fast-paced, hospitality-driven setting.

- Work in tandem with Wine Club Manager in Prosser to make sure wine club goals are being met in Walla Walla and develop and enact effective strategies for member acquisition.

- Ability to plan and coordinate special events such as winemaker dinners, wine club packing, industry events, vineyard tours, new release parties, etc.

- Keep accurate inventory and place appropriate orders for supplies as needed. This includes sending wine orders to the Logistics Manager to receive wine shipments.

- Collaborate with the Tasting Room Manager to plan and execute meaningful events to provide consumers with memorable experiences, drive sales, grow the wine club, and increase brand awareness.

- Coordinate, alongside the Tasting Room Manager and Wine Club Manager, awesome wine club pick-up parties that leave club members feeling valued and more connected to Mercer.

- Lead tasting room associates to effectively carry out daily tasks and successful customer interactions.

- Report and analyze retail sales. Assess the effectiveness of current strategies.

- Assist with community outreach. This includes brainstorming ideas on how to work with local tour guides, hotels, tourism boards, restaurants, and wine shops to increase foot traffic in the tasting room.

- Uphold a positive and respectful reputation around the community as an employee of Mercer Wine Estates.

- Work in tandem with the Tasting Room Manager to plan intriguing and exciting wine flights, food offerings and unique experiences for customers.

- Report any incidents in the record log.

QUALIFICATIONS:

- Excellent verbal and written communication, customer service, public speaking, and presentation skills

- Positivity, strong work-ethic, self-starter

- 5+ years of winery tasting room or hospitality experience.

- Passion for the wine and food industry

- Managerial experience with the ability to train and develop employees.

- Strong customer service and decision-making skills

- Must be available for weekend, holiday, and evening work.

- Proficient computer skills including POS experience and database management.

- Professional demeanor

- Enthusiasm for Washington Wine and the desire to help grow the industry.

- Desire to be involved in community wine industry events.

- Ability to lift 50 pounds repeatedly.

- Ability to stand for long periods.

- MAST 12 Certification (within 90 days of hire)

- Must be 21+

- Walla Walla Food Handler’s Permit (within 30 days of hire)

- Ability to prioritize tasks while maintaining excellent customer service

- Strong ability to develop customer relationships to build brand awareness.

Additional Information

Job Posted: Tuesday, March 19th

Type of Work: Full Time

Job Level: Mid-Level

Compensation: $68,000.00 - $80,000.00 + 401K, Benefits (Health, Dental, Vision) Bonus