Tap Room Manager in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey at CONNELL FOUNDATION FOOD GROUP LLC

Emberside Brewery is bringing together exceptional craft beer, inviting spaces, and the warmth of genuine hospitality to create a vibrant gathering place where great conversations flow, connections are made, and every visit feels like something worth coming back for.

As part of Table & Banter Hospitality, we're looking for an exceptional Taproom Manager to help bring this exciting new concept to life. We're seeking a passionate, hands-on leader with a deep appreciation for craft beer, a natural talent for hospitality, and the experience to build an outstanding team, shape a welcoming culture, and set exceptional service standards from day one.

This is more than opening a brewery. It's an opportunity to create a destination, build a community, and bring something truly special to life.

How You'll Make an Impact

• Lead the successful opening of Emberside Brewery's taproom, including pre-opening preparations, recruitment, training, operational readiness, and establishing exceptional service standards.
• Oversee daily taproom operations, including opening and closing procedures, staffing, floor coverage, and service execution, creating a welcoming atmosphere where exceptional craft beer and genuine hospitality come together.
• Recruit, train, inspire, and develop a high-performing team through hands-on coaching, clear expectations, performance feedback, and a culture of collaboration, accountability, and exceptional hospitality.
• Drive financial performance by managing sales, labor costs, beverage costs, inventory, and operating expenses, using performance reports and sales trends to identify opportunities for improvement and profitability.
• Partner closely with brewery production and beverage leadership to coordinate beer availability, seasonal releases, product education, guest feedback, and an exceptional craft beer experience.
• Maintain high standards for beer quality and draft service, including proper pouring techniques, glassware, presentation, serving temperatures, product handling, and routine equipment and line-cleaning checks.
• Establish and maintain effective operating procedures, staffing plans, scheduling practices, purchasing, inventory controls, waste reduction, POS accuracy, cash management, security procedures, and daily opening and closing standards.
• Build the team's knowledge of craft beer, brewing fundamentals, and responsible alcohol service, empowering employees to make thoughtful recommendations and enhance the guest experience.
• Collaborate with events and marketing teams to successfully execute beer releases, private events, live entertainment, and community programming while ensuring proper staffing and service readiness.
• Drive sales and build lasting guest relationships through thoughtful hospitality, product recommendations, local engagement, and memorable experiences that encourage repeat visits.
• Lead by example with a visible, hands-on presence, resolve guest concerns, support team members, and maintain exceptional service standards throughout each shift.
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness, age verification, responsible alcohol service, incident documentation, workplace safety, facility maintenance, and regulatory compliance.

The Leader We're Looking For

• 4+ years of progressive experience in restaurant, bar, brewpub, brewery, or taproom operations, including demonstrated supervisory or management responsibility.
• Proven success leading hospitality teams, managing daily operations, and delivering exceptional guest experiences in a high-volume environment.
• Strong knowledge of craft beer, including beer styles, brewing fundamentals, draft service, quality standards, and product education.
• Demonstrated ability to recruit, train, coach, and develop high-performing teams while fostering a positive, accountable, and collaborative culture.
• Strong financial and operational acumen, including labor management, inventory controls, beverage costs, sales performance, and operating reports.
• A hands-on, engaging leadership style with a strong floor presence and genuine passion for hospitality, craft beer, and creating memorable guest experiences.
• Experience supporting the opening of a new brewery, taproom, restaurant, or hospitality concept is strongly preferred.
• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills, with sound judgment and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with POS, scheduling, and inventory management systems; GoTab experience is a plus.
• Experience coordinating special events, community programming, and guest engagement initiatives preferred.
• Responsible alcohol service certification or ability to obtain in accordance with company requirements; Cicerone Certified Beer Server certification preferred.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and special events based on business needs.

Supporting Your Success

• Medical coverage with employer contribution
• Generous employer-funded retirement plan
• Paid time off
• Employee dining and hospitality perks across The Park
• Opportunities for training, development, and growth within Table & Banter Hospitality

Emberside Brewery offers an opportunity to build something extraordinary from the start. We're looking for passionate people who bring energy, creativity, and genuine hospitality to everything they do. This is your chance to help shape a brand-new destination, build a strong team, and create memorable experiences that bring people together and keep them coming back. We look forward to hearing from you and learning more about how your leadership, experience, and passion for craft beer will help bring Emberside to life.

While we leverage technology to support our recruiting process, every application is personally reviewed by a member of our Human Resources team because we recognize that behind every résumé is a person, a career journey, and a genuine interest in joining our organization.