Italian Restaurant jobs in Dartmouth, NS

Why Work with Us

At Saffron Hill Hospitality Group, we build teams around hospitality, respect, accountability, and shared success. You’ll join a supportive workplace that values strong leadership, celebrates great service, and helps people do their best work. As part of our team, you can expect:

• Competitive compensation based on your experience and skill level.
• A consistent full-time schedule with guaranteed hours.
• Comprehensive health, vision, and dental benefits, including an Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP).
• Paid time off to support rest, balance, and well-being.
• Life, travel, and additional insurance coverage.
• Free 24/7 virtual healthcare through our group benefits plan.
• Free onsite parking.
• WorkPerks discounts on apparel, restaurants, technology, fitness, travel, sports, and entertainment.

About the Role

As Bar Manager, you will lead the bar team and shape a distinctive beverage program through creative cocktails, thoughtful purchasing, and disciplined inventory management. Wine will be central to your success in this role: you will share your knowledge with the team, guide guests through pairings and bottle selections, and present and serve wine at the table with warmth and confidence. Your visible leadership will make wine approachable, elevate the guest experience, and support a profitable, well-run operation.

What You’ll Do

Beverage Program & Creative Leadership

• Take ownership of the full beverage program across wine, cocktails, spirits, beer, cider, and alcohol-free offerings.
• Continue to build and update the wine list with a strong Italian foundation, complemented by thoughtful Nova Scotian and international selections. Consider food pairing, range of styles and prices, guest interest, and commercial performance.
• Create original cocktails that reflect Saffron Hill’s identity, drawing inspiration from Italian traditions, Nova Scotian ingredients, and the seasons.
• Develop, cost, document, and launch beverage menus. Establish clear recipes, preparation methods, garnishes, presentation standards, and quality checks so every drink is executed consistently.
• Partner with culinary and restaurant leaders on pairings, features, tastings, and events that give guests new ways to explore the menu.
• Build relationships with approved suppliers, agents, and local producers, and bring forward new products and ideas that strengthen the program.

Wine Service & Guest Experience

• Serve as the team’s lead resource for wine during service, supporting servers with recommendations, pairings, and confident answers to guest questions.
• Be present on the floor to help guests select wine by the bottle, present and open bottles at the table, and assist with wine service when needed.
• Make wine approachable and engaging, adapting recommendations to each guest’s tastes, meal, and occasion.
• Set the standard for warm, attentive beverage service across the bar and dining room, including thoughtful alcohol-free recommendations.
• Stay visible during busy periods, support the team in the moment, and resolve guest concerns with care.
• Listen to guest feedback and follow beverage trends to keep the program fresh, relevant, and distinctive.

Team Leadership & Education

• Build a practical, ongoing wine education program covering grapes, regions, styles, tasting, food pairing, bottle presentation, and service.
• Coach the team to speak about wine with confidence and curiosity, providing the tools to make recommendations in their own voice.
• Train team members on cocktail preparation, spirits, local products, responsible alcohol service, allergy awareness, sanitation, and equipment care.
• Establish clear standards for bar setup, recipe execution, guest engagement, and shift handovers, and reinforce them through hands-on coaching.
• Provide fair access to education, cross-training, and opportunities to grow.

Operations & Business Management

• Lead daily bar operations, including opening and closing, service readiness, cleanliness, equipment, glassware, cash controls, and consistent execution.
• Manage beverage purchasing, forecasts, par levels, inventory, and stock rotation through approved channels and within company authorization limits.
• Monitor beverage costs, margins, sales mix, waste, and menu performance. Recommend pricing and program changes in partnership with leadership.
• Verify deliveries and maintain accurate purchasing, inventory, and beverage records.
• Oversee POS accuracy, discounts and voids, cash reconciliation, tip procedures, and daily reporting.
• Ensure the bar operates in accordance with Nova Scotia liquor requirements, licence conditions, responsible-service standards, and company policies.

What You’ll Bring

• Five or more years of progressive bar or beverage operations experience, including leadership in a full-service, elevated, or high-volume hospitality environment.
• Extensive wine knowledge, including key regions, grape varieties, styles, vintages, storage, cellar practices, service, pairing, list development, and team education.
• WSET, CMS, CAPS, IWEG, or comparable wine education is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success developing beverage menus and leading bar operations, with sound judgment about both creativity and profitability.
• Substantial beverage purchasing and ordering experience, including forecasting, vendor and agent relations, NSLC licensee ordering, special orders, receiving, invoice review, inventory counts, and variance control.
• Working knowledge of Nova Scotia’s Liquor Control Act, Liquor Licensing Regulations, responsible-service obligations, and inspection readiness.
• Inclusive, accountable leadership with excellent communication, coaching, organization, judgement, and problem-solving skills.

How You’ll Work

Ability to work flexible schedules, including days, evenings, weekends, and holidays

• Ability to stand or walk for extended periods during a shift
• Ability to safely lift and carry items up to 50 lbs, with or without accommodation
• Tasks may involve bending, reaching, twisting, and working on uneven or slippery surfaces

This role reflects the physical demands common in a hospitality environment. Accommodations are available upon request to support team members in performing their role safely and confidently.

Commitment to Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility

Saffron Hill Hospitality Group is committed to building a workplace where people feel welcome, respected, and able to do their best work. We value diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences, and we support inclusive hiring and accessible employment practices.

Benefits:

• Discounted or free food
• Extended health care
• On-site parking

Experience:

• progressive bar/beverage operations : 5 years (required)
• wine: 5 years (required)

Work Location: In person