What does a bar manager do?

Bar managers help enforce the company’s policies and respond to incidents, accidents and safety issues. They also manage inventory, working with the head bartender to plan ordering quantities and stock the bar with alcohol and supplies, such as garnishes, napkins and glasses.

The bar manager also typically handles the administrative side of the business, including hiring, training, scheduling, payroll, financial reporting and permit or licensing requirements. They may develop promotions to attract customers, such as trivia nights, happy hours or live music each week.

Bar manager skills and qualifications

Strong candidates often demonstrate customer service, leadership and communication skills, which may be important for success in this role. Organization and conflict management are also valuable competencies that set top candidates apart.

Skills commonly listed in bar manager job descriptions include:

• Strong leadership and verbal communication skills
• Knowledge of relevant local, state and federal safety and compliance standards, such as those enforced bythe Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)Ability to enforce policies, resolve conflicts and de-escalate tense situations
• Technical proficiency in point-of-sale (POS) and inventory management software
• Understanding of beer, wine, cocktails and mixology techniques
• Familiarity with business accounting and budget management
• Knowledge of the target audience for promotions and marketing

Bar manager experience requirements

Bar managers may benefit from experience in the hospitality industry, including bars, restaurants or hotels, but you can also search for candidates with conflict resolution and communication skills who haven’t worked in the industry.

You can listtransferable skills in your bar manager job description if you’re open to skills-first hiring. For example, candidates may have gained experience managing budgets or creating employee schedules inscheduler, human resources (HR) andrestaurant manager roles.

Bar manager education and training requirements

Bar manager jobs don’t typically have formal education requirements, letting you prioritize helpful skills for your position, such as inventory management, leadership, customer service or familiarity with restaurant and bar software.

Candidates may have learned software and hardware proficiency through other roles. For example,restaurant servers or cashiers may be familiar with common POS systems or online ordering software. Because bar managers have compliance and safety requirements, you might also search for voluntary certifications, such as ServSafe Manager or state alcohol server permits.

Job description samples for similar positions

If this bar manager job description doesn’t match your open position, consider these sample job descriptions for similar roles:

• Bartender
• Barback
• Shift manager

Bar manager job description FAQs

What’s the difference between a bar manager and a shift manager?

Bar managers and shift managers typically have similar duties, such as delegating tasks to employees, tracking inventory and coordinating with suppliers to ensure vendors deliver products on time. Bar managers also typically complete management, administrative, financial and compliance duties.

While bar managers work in bars, shift managers may work in various environments, such as manufacturing, retail or hospitality industries.

Who reports to a bar manager?

The majority of employees in a bar report to the bar manager, including bartenders, custodians, barbacks and cocktail servers. If the bar also serves food, the bar manager may also oversee kitchen staff. A restaurant with a large bar and an extensive food menu may hire a separate kitchen manager to manage the kitchen crew.

Who does the bar manager report to?

A bar manager typically reports to the general manager, depending onthe business’s size and complexity. Several bar managers may report to the owner, or multiple managers could report to a general bar manager. In a restaurant or hotel with a bar, the bar manager often reports to the general manager or the food and beverage manager.

Who employs bar managers?

Bar managers can work in various hospitality businesses, including bars, restaurants, clubs, catering companies, cruise ships, hotels and resorts. You might also find this role in venues with bars, including theaters and sports arenas. Breweries, wineries and distilleries with tap rooms or tasting rooms typically hire bar managers to run the customer-facing side of the business.