Wine & Spirits Department Manager

Festival Foods•La Crosse, WI

1d•Onsite

About The Position

As a Wine & Spirits Department Manager, you’ll lead a team of knowledgeable associates who provide thoughtful product recommendations and create an enjoyable shopping experience for every guest. Your leadership, operational skills, and focus on service excellence will make an impact every day. This role requires a passion for creating exceptional customer service experiences, leadership in a restaurant, bar, or bartending background, and a love for helping guests find exactly what they need. It is also suited for a retail leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys mentoring others.

Requirements

High School education or equivalent.
Strong leadership experience with the ability to motivate and develop a team.
Knowledge of retail food and beverage operations, including beer, wine, and liquor management.
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to work effectively with a diverse team in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
Strong decision-making skills and operational focus.
Understanding of all safety requirements and company policies.
Requires proper training and application of training in relevant equipment.
Ability to safely operate equipment such as hand jacks, balers, forklifts, hand trucks, and trash compactors.
Proper lifting techniques and scanning procedures.

Nice To Haves

Experience in restaurants or bartending is a plus.
Experience in restaurants or bartending

Responsibilities

Lead and develop your team: Coach, mentor, and support Wine & Spirits associates while reinforcing Festival culture, customer service standards, and performance expectations. Conduct performance reviews and provide guidance to help associates succeed.
Hire and onboard associates: Partner with Human Resources to review and interview candidates, extend job offers, and ensure new associates are trained thoroughly — helping them become experts in beer, wine, and liquor selections.
Plan and manage schedules: Approve weekly schedules and maintain adequate staffing levels to meet department needs while controlling labor expenses.
Support associate growth: Mentor Assistant Department Managers and Department Leads to prepare them for future advancement opportunities.
Oversee department operations: Manage inventory, pricing accuracy, and product rotation to ensure the department is well-stocked, organized, and profitable. Assist associates with stocking and rotating beer, wine, and liquor.
Deliver exceptional guest service: Help guests find the perfect beer, wine, or liquor for their occasion, offer pairing suggestions, and provide insights that even a bartender or restaurant pro would appreciate. Handle special orders and resolve concerns with professionalism and care.
Maintain merchandising standards: Observe the sales floor and back stock conditions daily, correcting issues and ensuring attractive, organized displays that highlight seasonal or trending products.
Ensure timekeeping accuracy: Monitor associate hours, communicate issues to HR, and ensure payroll records are accurate.
Maintain department cleanliness and safety: Lead by example in keeping work areas, shelving, and sales floor organized, clean, and compliant with all safety requirements.
Honor commitments: Regular, timely attendance in compliance with the work schedule, and adequate notice to find a replacement for occasional absences.
Support the team: Assist with other duties as assigned to ensure overall store success.