We’re looking for a Bar Manager to lead our staff and bar operations as we prepare to reopen.
Berlin is an iconic Chicago pan-cultural venue and nightclub that programs DJs, live electronic music, drag performance, and visual and performance art. We strive to create a community space for people of all backgrounds and identities to come together through the enjoyment of dance music and artistic expression. Berlin is an eclectic, multi-faceted small business, and the Bar Manager will have the opportunity to gain experience in many areas of running a business.
If you have previous hospitality or live venue management experience and you’re interested in applying, please check out the job description posted below and fill out our application form here:
https://forms.gle/tgKx1W1jqZWYYZby8
Berlin is an iconic Chicago pan-cultural venue and nightclub that programs DJs, live electronic music, drag performance, and visual and performance art. We strive to create a community space for people of all backgrounds and identities to come together through the enjoyment of dance music and artistic expression. Berlin is an eclectic, multi-faceted small business, and the Bar Manager will have the opportunity to gain experience in many areas of running a business.
If you have previous hospitality or live venue management experience and you’re interested in applying, please check out the job description posted below and fill out our application form here:
https://forms.gle/tgKx1W1jqZWYYZby8
Bar Manager
Job Description
Berlin’s Bar Manager will ensure that day-to-day operations at the venue run smoothly. They will find an effective balance between representing the best interests of the business and acting as a liaison between staff and ownership. They will work to build and maintain a fair, equitable, nurturing, and safe work environment for staff. Responsibilities will include training, scheduling, running the bar program, POS programming and maintenance, light bookkeeping and money-handling, licenses, inspections, equipment maintenance/repair, and floor managing. They will also collaborate with the Program and Marketing Coordinator on fundraisers and private events. The Bar Manager must be organized, responsive, manage their time well and have strong problem-solving skills. They must stay current on beverage and nightlife trends. They must have at least three years of experience in the service or entertainment industries, including at least one year as a bartender or barback, and at least two years in management.
Staff
Berlin’s Bar Manager will be responsible for all policies and procedures affecting employees, and with day-to-day management of bar and door staff, including:
Bar
Berlin’s bar program is relatively straightforward, but there is always room for creativity with signage, drink specials, and systems. Maximizing efficiency and minimizing product waste should be prioritized. Maintaining several functioning bars will require the Bar Manager to be detail-oriented, and to set pars and plan in advance for busy periods.
Operations
Berlin’s Bar Manager will be responsible for some operational duties, including:
Community Relations
Berlin has built strong ties to the surrounding community over the years, which are vital to any Chicago bar with a 4 am license. We trust the judgment of Berlin’s security team, and we want to get the best possible response to an escalated situation if security deems it necessary to call the police. The Bar Manager will attend CAPS meetings, neighborhood association meetings, and be the point of contact for the alderman’s office.
Fundraisers
In conjunction with Berlin’s Program and Marketing Coordinator, the Bar Manager will be responsible for booking and managing fundraisers and charitable events at the venue. Berlin strives to support the charities and organizations that reflect the values and needs of our community. All fundraisers and charitable events must be approved by ownership, and Berlin will work to keep costs for these events as low as possible. The Bar Manager will assist the Program and Marketing Coordinator in maintaining records of how much money is raised through these events and make sure that donations are made promptly and recorded clearly.
Private Events
In conjunction with Berlin’s Program and Marketing Coordinator, the Bar Manager will book and manage private events such as community group gatherings, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, corporate events, holiday parties, and memorials. This will involve maintaining an updated private events deck, including complete room rental and package rates, as well as strategically soliciting clients, executing contracts, handling communication and payment, staffing, and floor managing day-of-event. The Program and Marketing Coordinator and the Bar Manager will each receive a percentage of the package total for each private event.
Berlin’s Bar Manager will ensure that day-to-day operations at the venue run smoothly. They will find an effective balance between representing the best interests of the business and acting as a liaison between staff and ownership. They will work to build and maintain a fair, equitable, nurturing, and safe work environment for staff. Responsibilities will include training, scheduling, running the bar program, POS programming and maintenance, light bookkeeping and money-handling, licenses, inspections, equipment maintenance/repair, and floor managing. They will also collaborate with the Program and Marketing Coordinator on fundraisers and private events. The Bar Manager must be organized, responsive, manage their time well and have strong problem-solving skills. They must stay current on beverage and nightlife trends. They must have at least three years of experience in the service or entertainment industries, including at least one year as a bartender or barback, and at least two years in management.
Staff
Berlin’s Bar Manager will be responsible for all policies and procedures affecting employees, and with day-to-day management of bar and door staff, including:
- Interviews and hiring: participate in the hiring process, along with ownership.
- Discipline and firing: responsible for transparent and even-handed employee discipline based on fair, clearly-stated rules. Verbal and written warnings must be documented. Berlin’s ownership will maintain final responsibility for decisions about firing staff.
- Managing performers: monitor behavior to make sure performers and event staff adhere to guidelines and expectations, and provide feedback or discipline when necessary.
- Training: responsible for scheduling and supervising all bar and door staff training, and maintaining comprehensive training materials.
- Scheduling: write bar and security schedules, and assist employees with necessary changes. Schedules should always come out at least 5 days in advance, and should be adjusted to anticipate the volume of business.
- Staff Meetings: responsible for setting agendas and leading regularly-scheduled staff meetings.
Bar
Berlin’s bar program is relatively straightforward, but there is always room for creativity with signage, drink specials, and systems. Maximizing efficiency and minimizing product waste should be prioritized. Maintaining several functioning bars will require the Bar Manager to be detail-oriented, and to set pars and plan in advance for busy periods.
- POS: maintain up-to-date POS menus, including 86es and low inventory warnings, and understand how to troubleshoot when the system goes down.
- Ordering: establish pars for all products and place weekly orders with liquor, beer, and wine distributors, as well as NA, dry goods and other bar supplies. Develop strong relationships with distributor and brand reps, remain up-to-date with new brands and products, learn about deals, and explore legal opportunities for partnerships and sponsorships.
- Receiving: write checks for COD deliveries, check in all bottles, cases and kegs to ensure accuracy, organize inventory, and make sure that empty kegs get returned and credited.
- Inventory: overseeing physical inventory / reporting and ensuring that product is not going missing.
- Equipment maintenance: regularly schedule cleaning and maintenance of all equipment, including ice machine, fire extinguishers, heating and cooling systems, coolers behind bars, soda guns, and draft lines.
- Cleaning: Regularly schedule opening and closing cleaning tasks for bar staff to maintain cleanliness of workspace. Develop and monitor opening and closing checklists to ensure that bar staff are setting their coworkers up well. Regularly check on quality of bar closes. Schedule quarterly deep cleans with all staff.
- Maintain weekly drink specials and signage.
Operations
Berlin’s Bar Manager will be responsible for some operational duties, including:
- Payroll: input new employees into ADP, keep up-to-date with minimum wage changes and ensure that tipped employees are made whole.
- Checkout slips and banking: review nightly checkouts for accuracy, record numbers, do bank deposits and change runs.
- HR: keep current with state and national laws and HR requirements and other certifications. Handle employee concerns and disputes when appropriate.
- Onboarding: collect legally-required hiring documents and certifications and maintain employee files.
- Licenses/Inspections: ensure current licenses and insurance certificates are displayed. Handle all scheduled inspections.
Community Relations
Berlin has built strong ties to the surrounding community over the years, which are vital to any Chicago bar with a 4 am license. We trust the judgment of Berlin’s security team, and we want to get the best possible response to an escalated situation if security deems it necessary to call the police. The Bar Manager will attend CAPS meetings, neighborhood association meetings, and be the point of contact for the alderman’s office.
Fundraisers
In conjunction with Berlin’s Program and Marketing Coordinator, the Bar Manager will be responsible for booking and managing fundraisers and charitable events at the venue. Berlin strives to support the charities and organizations that reflect the values and needs of our community. All fundraisers and charitable events must be approved by ownership, and Berlin will work to keep costs for these events as low as possible. The Bar Manager will assist the Program and Marketing Coordinator in maintaining records of how much money is raised through these events and make sure that donations are made promptly and recorded clearly.
Private Events
In conjunction with Berlin’s Program and Marketing Coordinator, the Bar Manager will book and manage private events such as community group gatherings, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, corporate events, holiday parties, and memorials. This will involve maintaining an updated private events deck, including complete room rental and package rates, as well as strategically soliciting clients, executing contracts, handling communication and payment, staffing, and floor managing day-of-event. The Program and Marketing Coordinator and the Bar Manager will each receive a percentage of the package total for each private event.
