Lead Bartender

Salt Wood Kitchen & Oysterette is a renowned culinary destination located in the Monterey area, offering a unique and vibrant dining experience. This establishment prides itself on its three distinct dining environments: a full-service dining room providing an elegant and comfortable setting, a lively bar and lounge ideal for socializing and casual meetups, and an al fresco dining patio that allows guests to enjoy their meals in the refreshing outdoor ambiance. At the heart of Salt Wood Kitchen & Oysterette is an experiential oyster bar alongside a central live-fire kitchen, serving as the core of the creative and convivial atmosphere the restaurant is famous for. These elements combine to create a dynamic, comprehensive, and memorable dining experience for all guests. Salt Wood caters to a wide array of guests, ranging from those enjoying cocktails on the patio to larger groups taking advantage of the multifunctional meeting spaces and private dining rooms available for events and special occasions.

Salt Wood Kitchen & Oysterette operates under HHM Hotels, a hospitality group that demonstrates a strong commitment to equal opportunity employment and inclusive workplace standards. HHM Hotels emphasizes core values such as People Are Our Capability, Hearts That Serve, Only Excellence, Stay Nimble, and Own It. These guiding principles foster a culture of respect, dedication, and innovation that permeates all aspects of the workplace and guest service.

The Lead Bartender role at Salt Wood Kitchen & Oysterette is a supervisory and hands-on position essential to the seamless operation of the food and beverage outlets. This role involves not only preparing and serving drink and food orders but also ensuring that daily operations maintain the highest standards of quality and guest satisfaction. The Lead Bartender supervises associate schedules, coaches team members, and monitors the performance of the bar and lounge teams. Additionally, the Lead Bartender is responsible for managing beverage inventory and working closely with the team to maintain par levels and compliance with safety and sanitation standards.

This position requires experience in drink preparation, bar service, and customer interaction, alongside supervisory skills to guide and support staff in accordance with HHM’s core values and brand standards. The Lead Bartender also plays a vital role in identifying intoxicated guests and managing their service with safety and professionalism. This position demands adherence to all local, state, and federal regulations related to alcohol service alongside the ability to handle high volume service periods effectively.

Furthermore, the Lead Bartender will engage in side work to ensure the bar area remains orderly and fully stocked, and will participate actively in maintaining a positive and welcoming atmosphere for guests. This role requires standing for extended periods, lifting up to 50 pounds, and performing various physical tasks such as bending, reaching, stooping, and kneeling. The work schedule is variable and includes shifts on holidays and weekends.

Overall, this position offers a career path leading from Beverage/Restaurant Supervisor to Restaurant Manager and ultimately, Food and Beverage Manager, reflecting the establishment’s commitment to career growth and development within the hospitality industry. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated and skilled individual to take on a leadership role in a prestigious and vibrant restaurant setting where quality, customer satisfaction, and teamwork are paramount.