Bar Manager

Wild Life Distillery is hiring!
160-105 Bow Meadows Crescent
Canmore, AB, T1W2W8
403-678-2800

Position: Bar Manager

Location of Work: Canmore, Alberta
Hourly Wage: $25.64 per hour
(guaranteed wage; no commissions, bonuses, or profit-sharing form part of the base wage)
Language: English
Full Time, Permanent
40 hours per week


Role Description 

Overview

The Bar Manager is responsible for leading the tasting room team, overseeing daily operations, staffing, scheduling,  and elevating the guest experience through strong leadership, creativity, and ownership.

This role plays a key part in shaping both the team culture and the guest-facing expression of the brand, while contributing to broader business discussions and growth.

Core Responsibilities & Job Duties

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead the tasting room team by example, setting the standard for energy, professionalism, and hospitality.

• Support, coach, and develop team members in both service and product knowledge.

• Encourage creativity within the team, especially in cocktail development.

• Foster a positive, accountable, and collaborative team environment.

Guest Experience & Service

• Ensure every guest receives a high-quality, engaging, and consistent experience.

• Actively host guests through tastings and storytelling.

• Take ownership of the overall atmosphere and flow of the tasting room.

• Handle guest feedback and resolve issues when needed.

Tours & Brand Experience

• Take ownership of distillery tours, ensuring they are engaging, informative, and aligned with brand storytelling.

• Continuously improve the tour experience based on feedback and creativity.

• Monitor tour bookings and perform distillery tours for guests. Responsible for covering staffing for tours on shifts where the manager is away or has a conflicting schedule.
  

Operations & Scheduling

• Oversee day-to-day tasting room operations including planning, organizing, controlling and evaluating operations of the tasting room.

• Recruit team members, complete staff training, create and manage the bar schedule, ensuring proper coverage and efficiency. Publish schedule minimum 1 week prior to date.

• Monitor workflow and adjust staffing when needed.

• Be aware of seasonal shifts, stat holidays, tasting room events calendar and adjust staffing needs as required.

• Support inventory awareness and communication with the production/management team.

• Negotiate arrangements with food and liquor vendors and suppliers.

• Keep track of inventory and unique products needed for the menu

Financial Awareness & Performance Tracking

• Review tasting room financial performance on a weekly and monthly basis

• Track key metrics such as sales, and average spend

• Identify trends, patterns, and inconsistencies in performance

• Compare current results with previous months and previous years to understand growth or decline

• Use insights to suggest improvements in operations, staffing, and menu offerings

• Come prepared to traction meetings with observations, questions, and ideas based on the numbers

This position goes beyond managing shifts—it is about taking ownership of the tasting room as a key part of the business.

Employment requirements

• Completion of a college or other program related to hospitality or food and beverage service management is usually required.

• Responsible beverage service certification is usually required for managers of establishments serving alcoholic beverages.

• Valid AGLC Proserve Certification

• 3+ years of experience in the food service sector, including supervisory experience, are required.

• References relevant to the role will be requested to confirm experience stated.

Why you will want to join the Wild Life team…

• Paid vacation 

• Company Health and dental benefits.

• Fun and encouraging team to support your success.

• Monthly WLD gift card and discounts in the tasting room. 

• Opportunity to grow with an entrepreneurial company.

• Live the WLD lifestyle with staff events and get togethers.

• We welcome early-career hospitality professionals and young leaders ready to step into management — mentorship and on-the-job training are provided to support your growth into the role.
  

At Wild Life Distillery (WLD), we have made this approach to lifestyle and the craft distilling industry our personal commitment. By constant pursuit of personal betterment, we are on a path of continuous learning and growth in our industry. Extreme attention to detail is a result of this mentality, and we demonstrate this through all of our processes at the distillery. 

We are passionate about what we do, and look forward to sharing this passion with you.

If you want to learn more about joining the Wild Life team, please send your resume and cover letter letting us know a bit more about yourself to matt@wildlifedistillery.ca 

Wild Life Distillery is an Equal Opportunity Employer and we welcome your application. 

At Wild Life Distillery, we are committed to creating and maintaining a workplace that values equity, diversity, and inclusion. We believe that every individual has unique talents and perspectives, and we strive to create an environment where everyone feels welcome, respected, and valued.  Our commitment to equity means that we recognize and acknowledge the systemic barriers that exist for certain groups within our society. We actively work to reduce these barriers and promote equal access to opportunities for all individuals, regardless of their age, race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, or ability. We encourage open communication and feedback from our team members to ensure that we are always making progress in our efforts to create a more equitable and inclusive workplace.  

Should you require any accommodation in applying for this role, or throughout the interview process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to help meet your needs.

Smells like a fresh start