Bar Operations Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Sugar Bowl Resort is building one of the most ambitious food and beverage programs in North American mountain hospitality, guided by our Culinary Director and led operationally by our Director of Restaurant Operations, Village Lodge. We're seeking a dynamic, hospitality-driven Restaurant & Bar Operations Manager to lead the guest experience and service delivery at Yarrow and Belt Room Bar - our flagship restaurant and bar within the Village Lodge - while providing cross-functional support across our other Village Lodge venues: Village Espresso, The Terrace, and Disney Sundeck. You'll be the visible, trusted leader on the floor at Yarrow and Belt Room Bar - owning service standards, building and directing the front-of-house schedule, leading and coaching the team in real time, and being the Director's right hand for hiring, performance, and daily operational decisions. When priorities call for it, you'll extend that same leadership and support to the other Village venues, helping ensure a consistent, connected guest experience across the entire Village Lodge program.

Why Sugar Bowl?

Sugar Bowl Resort has been proudly independent for over 80 years and is one of the oldest ski resorts in California. Situated atop beautiful Donner Summit, Sugar Bowl has a storied past with ties to Austrian ski culture, Hollywood and Walt Disney. This special community helped bring skiing to "sunny California" since December 1939. Since then, it continues to attract adventurous winter sports enthusiasts a like.

Who You Are:

5+ years of front-of-house leadership experience in a restaurant, resort, or hospitality environment, with a track record of leading teams

Comfortable leading, coaching, and holding a team accountable in real time, with sound judgment on personnel matters

Prior experience building staff schedules across multiple outlets or departments is strongly preferred

Highly organized, with excellent follow-through and the ability to juggle many moving pieces without dropping details

Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, comfortable being a first point of contact for staff and guest needs

Comfortable working with confidential and sensitive information with discretion

Proficient with Microsoft Office or Google Workspace; comfortable learning new systems and software

A proactive self-starter who anticipates needs and exercises independent judgment on daily operational and personnel matters

Calm and professional under pressure, especially during peak weekends, holidays, and events

A valid California Driver's License, with the ability to pass an MVR check

Open to learning new skills and supporting other departments as needed; a versatile, team-first mindset

What You'll do:

Guest Experience & Service Excellence

Lead the daily execution of front-of-house service at Yarrow and Belt Room Bar, with cross-functional support to Village Espresso, The Terrace, and Disney Sundeck as needed

Maintain a highly visible presence on the floor at Yarrow and Belt Room Bar, particularly during peak service periods

Establish, communicate, and reinforce consistent service and hospitality standards, primarily at Yarrow and Belt Room Bar, in support of standards set across the Village Lodge

Ensure teams are informed, properly positioned, and fully prepared for successful service

Maintain comprehensive knowledge of menus, beverages, service styles, events, and current programming

Observe service in real time and provide immediate, constructive coaching

Anticipate guest needs and respond to feedback with professionalism, empathy, and appropriate follow-through

Resolve guest concerns promptly and thoughtfully, escalating significant matters to the Director of Restaurant Operations when appropriate

Identify opportunities to improve service flow, efficiency, and the overall guest experience

Develop meaningful relationships with homeowners, members, resort guests, and colleagues

Daily Operations

Direct the daily flow of service at Yarrow and Belt Room Bar, assigning priorities and adjusting staffing and responsibilities in real time

Serve as the primary day-to-day operational resource for front-of-house teams at Yarrow and Belt Room Bar

Conduct daily pre-shift meetings covering service priorities, menu changes, events, reservations, and relevant resort information

Ensure consistent completion of opening, closing, side-work, sanitation, and service-readiness checklists

Maintain immaculate, organized, safe, and guest-ready dining and service areas

Conduct regular operational and sanitation walkthroughs and ensure deficiencies are corrected promptly

Coordinate front-of-house execution for events, homeowner initiatives, and special programming

Collaborate with culinary, beverage, lodging, mountain operations, and other resort departments to provide seamless service

Extend operational support to Village Espresso, The Terrace, and Disney Sundeck as business needs require

Support snow removal and other mountain operational needs when necessary

Scheduling and Staff Oversight

Build, manage, and adjust front-of-house schedules, primarily for Yarrow and Belt Room Bar, with support to other venues as needed

Align staffing with projected business levels, service demands, employee availability, and established labor targets

Adjust staffing based on occupancy, reservations, weather, events, and changes in business volume

Manage attendance, punctuality, shift coverage, and schedule-related communication

Ensure thoughtful, equitable, and effective deployment of employees across venues

Review employee timekeeping for accuracy before submission

Communicate staffing concerns and anticipated recruitment needs to the Director of Restaurant Operations

Team Leadership and Development

Participate in interviewing, selecting, onboarding, training, and retaining employees who embody the resort's culture and hospitality standards

Set clear expectations for individual and team performance

Coach employees through active observation, timely feedback, and consistent follow-through

Support supervisors and lead employees in developing their leadership and decision-making skills

Recognize exceptional performance and address performance concerns promptly and professionally

Create a positive, respectful, upbeat, and accountable workplace

Model exceptional professionalism, grooming, communication, and conduct

Promote open communication and demonstrate excellent listening skills with employees and guests

Develop and maintain relevant service standards, training materials, operational checklists, and onboarding resources

Administrative & Director Support

Partner with the Director's calendar, scheduling meetings, coaching sessions, and leadership check-ins

Prepare agendas, take notes, and track follow-up items for leadership meetings

Compile and organize financial, labor, and beverage cost reports for the Director's review

Support vendor and supplier coordination, including scheduling, order tracking, and correspondence

Maintain organized files and records for budgets, contracts, and operational documentation

Cross-train and lend a hand in other Village Lodge venues as needed, building a broader understanding of the full guest experience

Take advantage of opportunities to learn new skills across the resort, supporting a well-rounded, team-first approach to the guest experience

Physical Requirements:

Comfortable standing and walking for extended periods across multiple venues throughout a shift, particularly during peak service

Able to move quickly between venues across the Village Lodge property, including outdoor areas in winter conditions

Capable of lifting and carrying up to 30 lbs, such as supplies or event materials

Comfortable sitting and working at a computer for administrative tasks (scheduling, reporting, correspondence)

Comfortable communicating clearly in person, by phone, and in writing throughout the day

Available to work evenings, weekends, and holidays to support service, scheduling needs, leadership meetings, or events

Benefits:

Paid time off & Paid sick leave

Employer sponsored 401k plan after 1,000 worked hours and one (1) year of service

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Employer paid life insurance

Additional voluntary benefits (AD&D, critical illness, etc.)

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Professional development opportunities

Free ski and tubing passes for employees

Free ski passes for dependents

50% off food at our restaurants

Free group ski and snowboard lessons for employees

Employee discounted lift tickets for family and friends

Lift ticket discounts at multiple resorts including 24 Mountain Collective destinations

Hotel discounts

Employee ski reciprocal programs

Sugar Bowl Resort believes that all persons are entitled to equal employment opportunity and does not discriminate against its employees or applicants because of race, color, hair, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender orientation, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, national origin, citizenship, veteran status, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, or any other status protected by federal, state or local law, ordinance or regulation. Equal employment opportunity will be extended to all persons in all aspects of the employer-employee relationship, including recruitment, hiring, upgrading, training, promotion, transfer, discipline, layoff, recall, and termination.