Position Summary:

Tasting Bar Managers at Paste & Rind are personable, enthusiastic, and passionate cheese and wine professionals that thrive on learning about and exposing guests to exciting and exceptional cheeses and wines in a fun and dynamic environment. If you’re an experienced sommelier or cheesemonger looking for experience managing a boutique wine and cheese bar, this is the opportunity for you. As an early member of a fast-growing cheese team, you’ll wear multiple hats:

• You’ll open, operate, and close the Cheese Counter & Tasting Bar
• You’ll help walk-in retail customers looking for cheese to take home
• You’ll recommend and advise guests on cheese and wine pairings
• You’ll help serve guests and resolve any issues to make their experience great
• You’ll ensure the tasting bar is a safe, clean, friendly, and fun environment
• You’ll lead and participate in cleaning, sanitation, and food safety efforts, including dish washing and sanitizing, sweeping, cleaning surfaces, cleaning and organizing the interior of fridges, among others
• You’ll manage part time cheesemongers that are scheduled to work with you
• You’ll help manage inventory and ensure the tasting bar is in good working order
• You’ll work with Paste & Rind’s management team to develop plans for growth and profitability including marketing specials, improvements to processes, and other initiatives

The Tasting Bar is a dynamic environment. Because it is a small kitchen and bar space with limited selection at a given time, Tasting Bar Managers and Cheesemongers will share in responsibilities required to operate the space, whether that be serving guests, conducting retail transactions, restocking cheese and other supplies, cleaning restrooms, washing service dishes, keeping inventory logs or other needed tasks to ensure a clean, safe, and productive environment for patrons and staff.

Work Schedule:

The Tasting Bar Manager position is a full time position. You’ll spend the majority of your time at Paste & Rind’s Cheese Counter and Tasting Bar on H Street. You will be on-site at the Tasting Bar from 1pm to 10pm on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday to open and close. You will conduct service, both bar and retail, from 3-5pm during the slower hours on your own. Part time staff will arrive daily at 5pm and stay through close to assist you.

You will also be responsible for leading and managing cleaning, sanitation, and food safety standards, in accordance with Paste & Rind’s internal standards and in accordance with the Department of Health’s standards and requirements. This will include dish washing and sanitizing, sweeping, cleaning surfaces, cleaning and organizing the interior of fridges, dusting, mopping, window wiping, bathroom cleaning, among others.

Finally, you will also be responsible for administrative and professional tasks related to managing the Tasting Bar including strategic planning with company management, conducting inventory, and other tasks as needed.

Your week could look like:

• Sunday: Off
• Monday: Off
• Tuesday: flexible 6-8 hour custodial and administrative shift (in person)
• Wednesday: 2:00pm to 10:00pm tasting bar shift (in person)
• Thursday: 2:00pm to 10:00pm tasting bar shift (in person)
• Friday: 2:00pm to 10:00pm tasting bar shift (in person)
• Saturday: 2:00pm to 10:00pm tasting bar shift (in person)

About You:

Successful Tasting Bar Managers are:

• Self-starters - when they see a problem, they solve it quickly and independently
• Detail-oriented - they appreciate the little details that make big differences
• Organized - they understand the importance of maintaining order, can keep detailed records and logs, and can work with and help build structure for a consistent customer and employee experience
• Knowledgeable - they are familiar with the cheese world and want to share their knowledge with others
• Willing to Learn - they are open to adopting new ways of doing things
• Good communicators - they are able to communicate effectively with customers and team members
• Flexible - they can multi-task and switch contexts without getting overwhelmed
• Team-oriented - they watch out for and support each other and their community
• Service-oriented - they care deeply about the customer experience and strive for a great experience every time

Candidates must have:

• 2-4 years of combined total experience behind a cheese counter or wine bar
• A strong base of general cheese and American artisanal cheese knowledge
• A strong knowledge of wine and how wine pairs with cheese
• Proficiency in google docs and google sheets
• Proficient knife skills to safely prepare food
• The physical ability to lift at least 40 pounds and physical ability to stand for 4 hours at a time
• Fluent-equivalency in the English language

Preferred qualifications:

• An active alcohol manager license with the city
• An active food safety manager license with the city

Compensation & Benefits:

The Tasting Bar Manager is a salaried position starting at $55,000 per year and is not eligible for overtime. The Tasting Bar Manager will also be eligible for health, vision, and dental benefits, paid vacation days, a monthly $100 credit at the cheese counter or tasting bar, and free tickets to cheese classes.