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Assistant General Manager / Wine Director

Auburn, Alabama

$75,000 Base Salary

About the Opportunity

SkyBridge Luxury & Associates has partnered with a highly acclaimed, nationally recognized fine dining restaurant to identify an exceptional Assistant General Manager / Wine Director. This confidential opportunity is ideal for a hospitality professional who is equally passionate about luxury service, wine education, and developing the next generation of hospitality leaders.

Following recent national recognition, this restaurant has become one of the country's most exciting culinary destinations, attracting significant attention from guests, media, and the fine dining community. The selected candidate will play a highly visible leadership role in maintaining exceptional service standards while overseeing an elevated beverage program and serving as an Adjunct Professor within a respected university hospitality program.

This position offers a rare opportunity to blend luxury restaurant operations, wine leadership, hospitality education, and mentorship into one unique career path.

Position Overview

The Assistant General Manager / Wine Director serves as a key member of the restaurant leadership team, partnering closely with the General Manager and Executive Chef to deliver an extraordinary guest experience rooted in precision, hospitality, and operational excellence.

This individual will oversee all aspects of the restaurant's wine program while leading front-of-house operations and ensuring Forbes-caliber service standards are consistently executed. In addition to restaurant leadership responsibilities, the successful candidate will contribute to the university's culinary education program by teaching and mentoring hospitality students within the test kitchen environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead daily front-of-house operations with a strong emphasis on luxury hospitality and guest engagement.
• Direct and continually evolve an award-worthy wine program, including purchasing, inventory management, vendor relations, and wine list development.
• Curate thoughtful wine pairings that complement seasonal tasting menus and elevate the overall dining experience.
• Ensure flawless execution of Forbes-level beverage and service standards.
• Mentor, coach, and develop service professionals while fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Conduct pre-shift meetings, beverage education sessions, and ongoing wine training for the service team.
• Collaborate closely with the Executive Chef to develop innovative dining experiences, chef collaborations, wine dinners, and special events.
• Maintain financial accountability through beverage cost management, inventory controls, forecasting, and purchasing strategies.
• Build lasting relationships with guests through personalized service and wine recommendations.
• Represent the restaurant with professionalism while serving as an Adjunct Professor, teaching wine appreciation, hospitality service, and beverage knowledge to university students.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's Degree
• Court of Master Sommeliers Certified Sommelier (Level II) certification required
• Advanced Sommelier (Level III) strongly preferred
• Minimum of five years of progressive leadership experience in luxury restaurants, luxury hotels, or Michelin-recognized dining environments
• Extensive knowledge of Forbes Travel Guide beverage and service standards
• Strong understanding of wine regions, varietals, food pairings, and luxury beverage service
• Exceptional communication, leadership, and presentation skills
• Experience developing, mentoring, and training hospitality professionals
• Financial acumen including beverage cost management, purchasing, inventory, and vendor negotiations

Preferred

• WSET Level III Certification
• Michelin Star, Michelin Recommended, Michelin Key, Relais & Châteaux, Forbes Travel Guide, or AAA Five Diamond experience
• Experience managing premium wine programs and extensive wine inventories
• Luxury resort or destination dining experience
• Previous teaching, hospitality education, or public speaking experience

The Ideal Candidate

We're seeking a hospitality leader who combines the polish of a luxury restaurant manager with the passion of an educator and the expertise of a seasoned sommelier. This individual thrives on creating memorable guest experiences, mentoring future industry professionals, and elevating every aspect of service through knowledge, precision, and genuine hospitality.

Compensation

• Base Salary: $75,000
• Comprehensive Benefits Package
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Unique Opportunity to Teach Within a University Hospitality Program
• Join one of the country's most exciting and nationally recognized culinary destinations

Confidential Search

This search is being conducted on a strictly confidential basis by SkyBridge Luxury & Associates. Additional details regarding the restaurant and ownership will be shared with qualified candidates during the interview process.