Wine and Beverage Director at Union Square Cafe
Union Square Cafe’s seasonal cuisine draws inspiration from the kitchens and tables of Italy, France, and Northern California. Union Square Cafe—the flagship business that launched Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group—has been one of the country’s most beloved restaurants for over 40 years. In our second home on 19th Street, Union Square Cafe embodies the heartfelt passion and generosity that has been the restaurant’s calling card since we opened in 1985. Designed by Rockwell Group, our new home preserves the restaurant’s signature charm, intimacy, and familiarity in a fresh, contemporary dining environment. Union Square Cafe has won five James Beard Awards and earned Zagat Survey’s #1 ranking as New York’s Most Popular Restaurant an unprecedented nine times
Who you are:
The Wine and Beverage Director is responsible for ensuring the excellence, creativity, brand promise, and profitability of the bar and beverage programs within the restaurant. You serve as a leader, educator, coach and mentor to the Bar and Service Teams by inspiring and teaching skills that will elevate the core values and mission of USHG. You work with Senior leadership to make decisions that impact the financial health of the business and do so in a way that is aligned with the culture and policies of the company.
What you’ll do:
- Cultivate a culture of Enlightened Hospitality for all stakeholders that supports our business objectives and growth
- Partner with the management team to lead the service staff in ensuring that USHG provides unparalleled hospitality for every guest
- Endlessly look for opportunities for Beverage to open doors to Hospitality and dialogue between guests and businesses
- Guide teams in discovering ways to ‘find the yes’ for guests in a manner that upholds the integrity of USHG operations
- Use Beverage to actively drive cover counts and introduce new guests to our brand as well as encouraging existing guests to return
- Consistently looks for internal and external opportunities to build our growing team
- Fosters a positive, collaborative work environment for both the service and kitchen teams, ensuring clear communication at all times
- Educate the Service Team on the beer, spirits, cocktail, and non-alcoholic beverage offerings for all beverage within the restaurant in a way that adds quality and value as well as enhancing guest experience while achieving and surpassing financial goals
- Ensure that all end-of-period reports, inventories, and forecasts are completed accurately and on time
- Ensure that all beverage changes are executed properly with necessary communication and with education in mind
- Ensure that all POS systems, inventory systems, beverage lists and any other information related to the selling of beverage are understood by the team and remain accurate and up to date
- Maintain key relationships with other beverage / wine managers and directors across USHG. Show commitment to sharing best practices and learning from a family of professionals
- Perform all due diligence, utilize strategy and exercise exceptional judgment in order to ensure we are getting the best possible product for the most advantageous price possible
What we need from you:
- 3+ years of restaurant beverage management experience
- Excellent Beverage knowledge – including beer, wine and spirits
- Excellent understanding of beverage inventory and cost management
- Excellent knowledge of restaurant service team roles
- Strong communication and people management skills
- Fluency in the English language
What you’ll get from us:
At Union Square Hospitality Group, we believe our people are our greatest ingredient. Joining our team means becoming part of a culture rooted in care, creativity, and growth. As a Wine and Beverage Director, you’ll enjoy:
- Competitive pay and bonus potential: Annual compensation of $90,000 - $105,000 plus eligibility for a performance-based bonus, with consideration for your experience and impact
- Comprehensive health coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance, plus flexible spending options for healthcare and dependent care
- Time to recharge: Generous paid time off and paid parental leave to support life outside of work
- Investing in your future: A matched 401(k) plan to help you grow long-term savings
- Peace of mind: Life insurance, employee assistance programs, and exclusive access to primary care, mental health, and other wellness services.
- Support in times of need: Access to the USHG HUGS Employee Relief Fund, offering direct assistance to team members facing unexpected hardship
- Hospitality perks: Annual dining credit and a 51% dining discount across the entire USHG family of restaurants
- Convenience & flexibility: Pre-tax commuter benefits for transit and parking
- Growth and community: Opportunities for learning, mentorship, and collaboration with some of the most passionate people in hospitality.
Putting Enlightened Hospitality into Practice
Integral to our culture are our six behaviors. Our behaviors guide how we work together.
- We play to win with humble swagger. Hospitality is a team sport where everyone deserves an opportunity to thrive and belong
- Turn over the rocks and always be connecting dots to build uplifting experiences and relationships
- Center the salt shaker with an unwavering commitment to excellence and the values that matter most
- Write a great next chapter. The road to success is paved with mistakes well-handled
- Bring a charitable assumption and err on the side of generosity
- Leave our campsite better than we found it; always responsible for the impact of our wake
*The above represents the expected salary for this position. Ultimately, in determining your pay, we'll consider your experience and other job-related factors.
The responsibilities outlined above are not exhaustive. This role may be required to take on other duties or projects as necessary to support organizational goals, in alignment with their skills, experience, and the evolving needs of the business.
