Beverage Manager

THE FAENA CULTURE

The FAENA Movement is one of culture, art and community. The FAENA Culture is steeped in the warmth and traditions of the south combining authentic and attentive hospitality with the world’s finest amenities. We act as a catalyst in making dreams a reality with the collaboration of ideas. Creating carefully curated spaces paired with excellence in service to delight the most sophisticated guests as they are indulged by the FAENA Culture.

JOB OVERVIEW

The Beverage Manager is responsible for leading and elevating Faena’s overall beverage and wine program while providing direct leadership to the Sommelier team. This role requires a highly knowledgeable beverage professional with extensive wine and sommelier expertise, strong operational leadership, and a passion for luxury hospitality.

The Beverage Manager will oversee wine and beverage operations across the property, ensuring exceptional guest experiences, strong financial performance, accurate inventory controls, effective purchasing, and consistent execution of Faena and Forbes Five-Star service standards.

The Beverage Manager is expected to serve as the clear leader and point of accountability for the Sommelier team and beverage program. The position requires a hands-on leader who establishes expectations, follows through on operational responsibilities, addresses performance concerns promptly, and maintains consistent standards across all areas of the property.

Success in this position will be measured through guest satisfaction, wine and beverage sales growth, beverage profitability, inventory accuracy, cost management, team performance, training effectiveness, and consistent execution of Faena and Forbes Five-Star standards.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Sommelier Team Leadership

• Lead, supervise, schedule, and develop the Sommelier team across the property.
• Establish clear responsibilities, accountability, and operational coverage for the team.
• Provide daily directions and ensure appropriate sommelier presence based on business levels and outlet needs.
• Conduct regular coaching, training, and performance discussions.
• Ensure sommeliers actively support service, guest engagement, wine sales, and upselling.
• Partner with Food & Beverage leadership to recruit and develop strong sommelier talent.
• Create succession and development opportunities within the wine team.

Wine Program

• Lead the strategic direction and day-to-day management of Faena's wine program.
• Maintain an exceptional and commercially successful wine selection appropriate for a luxury Five-Star environment.
• Develop and maintain wine lists across restaurants, bars, events, theater, and other applicable venues.
• Evaluate vintages, varietals, regions, producers, pricing, and emerging wine trends.
• Develop strong relationships with distributors, wineries, and suppliers.
• Manage wine purchasing while balancing quality, guest demand, inventory levels, and financial objectives.
• Conduct regular wine education and tastings for Sommeliers, servers, bartenders, and F&B leadership.
• Drive wine sales through thoughtful recommendations, pairing strategies, and team education.

Beverage Program

• Partner with outlet leaders and the Director of Food & Beverage to develop and execute the overall beverage strategy.
• Oversee wine, spirits, beer, and other beverage selections to ensure consistency with Faena's luxury positioning.
• Identify opportunities to enhance beverage offerings, activations, events, and guest experiences.
• Analyze beverage mix, sales trends, margins, and guest preferences to continually optimize the program.
• Support beverage menu development and seasonal programming.

Inventory & Financial Accountability

• Maintain strict controls over wine and beverage inventory.
• Oversee receiving, storage, transfers, requisitions, and inventory procedures.
• Ensure monthly inventories and related reports are completed accurately and on time.
• Investigate and address inventory variances, breakage, merchandise losses, and other discrepancies.
• Maintain appropriate par levels and purchasing controls.
• Monitor beverage cost, pricing, margins, and profitability.
• Identify slow-moving inventory and implement strategies to improve inventory turnover.
• Partner closely with Finance and F&B leadership regarding beverage financial performance.

Operations & Service Excellence

• Maintain a strong presence on the floor during peak business periods.
• Support restaurants, bars, nightlife, theater, banquets, and special events as required.
• Engage directly with guests and provide expert wine and beverage recommendations.
• Ensure wine presentation, decanting, glassware, storage, temperatures, and service rituals meet luxury standards.
• Ensure appropriate leadership coverage based on occupancy, events, outlet volume, and business demands.
• Maintain the highest standards of professionalism, accountability, and integrity.
• Support Faena's commitment to Forbes Five-Star service excellence.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 5–7 years of progressive luxury hospitality beverage experience, preferably within a Five-Star hotel, luxury resort, or high-end restaurant environment.
• Significant experience as a Sommelier, Head Sommelier, Beverage Manager, or similar wine-focused leadership position.
• Extensive knowledge of Old World and New World wines, vintages, producers, wine regions, food pairings, spirits, and beverage trends.
• Sommelier certification is strongly preferred, such as Court of Master Sommeliers, WSET, or equivalent professional win education.
• Previous experience leading and developing a Sommelier or beverage team.
• Strong understanding of beverage purchasing inventory management, cost controls, pricing, and profitability.
• Demonstrated ability to increase wine and beverage sales through education, recommendations, and strategic programming.
• Excellent communication, leadership, organizational, and guest-relations skills.
• Ability to operate effectively in a high-volume, luxury hospitality environment.
• Flexible schedule with availability for evenings, weekends, holidays, and major hotel events.