Lead Bartender (Full Time) - InterContinental Houston

IHG•Houston, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Bartender prepares beverages and/or serves food promptly and courteously while maintaining quality and consistency, and acts as a team lead for bartenders. The role focuses on welcoming guests, anticipating their needs, and creating memorable experiences through knowledgeable and attentive service. The Lead Bartender greets and serves guests, promotes drinks and upsells, handles cash and credit transactions, helps develop drink menus and supports promotions, and coordinates with other bartenders and restaurant staff. The role also includes monitoring guests’ alcohol consumption, following drink recipes and pouring standards, maintaining bar inventory and supplies, securing liquor, and keeping the bar and its equipment clean and operational. The position requires frequent communication with guests and colleagues, cash-handling and basic math skills, and the ability to work nights, weekends, and/or holidays. The posted tipped hourly rate is $8.00 for work performed in Houston, Texas. Eligible full-time employees are offered benefits including paid time off, medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k), a room discount, and training.

Requirements

At least 2 years of experience as a mixologist or bartender.
Strong knowledge of liquor brands, beer, wine, champagne, non-alcoholic beverages, designated glassware, preparation methods, and garnishments.
Meet state legal age requirements.
Speak fluent English.
Ability to handle, carry, lift, push, or pull items weighing up to 50 pounds.
Ability to stand and move about the bar, lounge, and kitchen, and to bend, stoop, kneel, and lift.
Communication skills for interacting with guests, wait staff, cooks, and supervisors.
Alcohol awareness certification and/or a food service permit or valid health/food handler card, as required by local or state government agency.
Reading and writing abilities for taking orders, describing cocktail items, and completing paperwork.
Basic math skills for handling cash and credit.
Ability to work nights, weekends, and/or holidays.

Nice To Haves

Formal bartending training.

Responsibilities

Greet guests and promote house drinks, using upselling skills to maximize revenue.
Obtain, count, and secure the bartender’s bank; accept cash and credit payments, give accurate change, and balance the cash drawer at the end of the shift.
Contribute to new drink menu design and support promotional bar activities.
Promote teamwork and monitor service quality through daily communication and coordination with other bartenders.
Prepare requested beverages according to established pouring standards and drink recipes, and coordinate food service with restaurant staff for bar or lounge guests when applicable.
Monitor guest behavior and alcohol consumption; stop alcohol service when appropriate, notify management of incidents involving excessive consumption or impairment, and check identification when a guest’s age is questionable.
Alert management to service or safety issues and make appropriate service recovery gestures according to established guidelines.
Set up the bar, perform pre- and post-shift side work, and requisition necessary supplies.
Inventory unused liquor and beverages and ensure liquor is secured before, during, and at the end of each shift.
Inspect the bar, equipment, and machinery for cleanliness, attractiveness, and proper operation; clean the bar and surrounding areas as required.
Perform other duties as assigned.