Bar Manager

About us : Join the team at Darling , led by Sean Brock—a restaurant and listening bar that opened last summer and quickly earned attention for its standout bar program. Darling’s menu highlights live‑fire cooking and the vibrant, seasonal ingredients of Southern California. An important part of our space, the listening lounge of the restaurant, offers a completely different kind of escape: an intimate listening bar where vinyl records play through a world‑class hi‑fi system and cocktails are crafted with care.

Job Summary : Bar Manager is a passionate and experienced hospitality leader who plays a key role in shaping every facet of the guest experience. With a strong emphasis on developing and executing an exceptional bar program, this role includes hands-on training and mentorship of the bar team, while also enhancing beverage knowledge across the entire front-of-house staff. Beyond the bar, this position contributes to the broader operation of the restaurant—taking charge of floor leadership, managing reservations, and ensuring seamless, memorable service at every touchpoint.

Bar Program Management Collaborating closely with the bar team, the Bar Manager helps shape and execute a dynamic, seasonal cocktail program. This includes leading staff education, updating menu offerings, and creating clear SOPs and Steps of Service designed specifically for the bar. The Bar Manager oversees all financial aspects of the bar, including daily inventory tracking, COGS reporting, invoice processing, and vendor relationships.

They ensure the bar is properly staffed and scheduled for efficiency, while also identifying opportunities to grow beverage sales and deepen guest engagement. Operational Leadership The Bar Manager oversees the daily operations of the bar, ensuring smooth, consistent, and high‑quality execution every shift. This includes managing bar‑specific administrative tasks such as inventory systems, POS accuracy for beverage items, bar opening and closing procedures, and maintaining organized workspaces and prep systems.

They provide structure and clarity for the bar team through clear direction, hands‑on coaching, and consistent follow‑through. The Bar Manager ensures the bar meets all standards by conducting regular walkthroughs, maintaining proper sanitation practices, and addressing any issues immediately. Operational excellence is supported through strong safety practices, proper equipment handling, and strict adherence to Darling’s recipes, specs, and service standards.

The Bar Manager also helps communicate bar‑related promotions, menu updates, and initiatives to the team, ensuring everyone is aligned and informed. Team Development & Leadership At the core of the Bar Manager’s role is building and supporting a high‑performing, hospitality‑driven bar team. This includes recruiting, interviewing, hiring, training, and developing bartenders and barbacks.

The Bar Manager sets the tone for excellence by leading through example, maintaining high service standards, and fostering a positive, professional workplace culture. They handle day‑to‑day coaching, help resolve team conflicts, and provide constructive feedback to support growth and consistency. The Bar Manager keeps training materials and service manuals up to date and ensures the entire bar team is knowledgeable about Darling’s cocktails, spirits, and beverage offerings.

By encouraging open communication and team collaboration, the Bar Manager strengthens morale and builds a cohesive, motivated bar staff. Service Standards The Bar Manager embodies Darling’s core values—people, learning, culture, relationships, sustainability, and stewardship. They lead with professionalism and hospitality, consistently modeling the grooming standards, behavior expectations, and policies outlined in the Employee Handbook.

The Bar Manager ensures all bar operations follow local, state, and federal regulations while maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness, safety, and sanitation behind the bar. They actively participate in trainings, meetings, and ongoing education to stay aligned with company standards and evolving bar practices. They are responsible for the proper care and organization of bar equipment, tools, and inventory, and they help uphold the brand’s visual and service identity across all bar touchpoints.

More detail about Darling by Sean Brock, please visit https://culinaryagents.com/entities/933666-Darling-by-Sean-Brock