WineTalent Classifieds: Director of Winemaking Position in the Central Valley

WineTalent is working with our client, O’Neill Vintners and Distillers, on a Director of Winemaking position at their Parlier, CA location.  O’Neill is a family owned and operated company producing wines and spirits for customers throughout North America.  The company is a premier bulk wine producer with a state-of-the-art production facility and a team of winemakers dedicated to quality production.  This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing company. 

Roles and Responsibilities: 

• Oversee all aspects of wine production.
• Hire, direct and manage winemaking staff.
• Direct winemaking and wine blending to satisfy bulk and bottling programs according to volume, specification and style.
• Develop and maintain consistent wine styles for key customers using sales and production data.
• Interact with Grower Relations team on grape schedules and picking decisions.
• Ensure safe and efficient cellar operations.
• Interact with the Operations team on new equipment and infrastructure needs.
• Work with the sales team to ensure availability of wines for various programs and plan for long-term inventory.
• Ensure strong commitment to customer relationships an involvement in routine customer meetings.
• Winemaking department budgeting, planning, and forecasting. 

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Viticulture and Enology, Food Science, Fermentation Science, Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering or related. 
• At least 7 years of winemaking experience in a winemaking facility.
• Personnel management experience. 
• Proven palate with the ability to evaluate wines with confidence and clarity.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving and analytical skills. 
• Ability to work within a dynamic organization with changing priorities and workflow.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects concurrently. 
• Prior budgeting and P&L management experience.

WineTalent is an executive search firm focused on the wine industry.  If you are interested in applying for this position, please email your resume to amy@winetalent.net.  All communications will be kept strictly confidential. 

WineTalent Classifieds: Restaurant Front of House Manager

WineTalent is working on a Restaurant Front of House Manager role for Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch located in St. Helena, the heart of the Napa Valley.

Description:  Long Meadow Ranch is a family-owned and operated producer and purveyor of world-class wine and food that is economically successful and socially responsible using diversified, sustainable, and organic farming methods.

Long Meadow Ranch’s restaurant at Farmstead showcases the seasonal, ingredient-driven American farmhouse cooking of executive chef Stephen Barber.  Housed in a former nursery barn, our 110-seat restaurant features an authentic farm-to-table menu.  The ingredients are foraged from local sources and feature Long Meadow Ranch’s award-winning wines, handcrafted extra virgin olive oils, grass-fed beef, eggs, and heirloom fruits and vegetables.

Long Meadow Ranch has an exciting opportunity for a Restaurant Front of House Manager to manage the delivery of a consistent, customer focused experience.  The Front of House Manager will provide oversight of the staff and will address customer service issues. 

Responsibilities

Direct Service and Staff on the Floor

• Manage a team of front of house staff including scheduling, training, general supervision.
• Actively engage in service for the majority of working hours.
• Directly perform hands-on work on an ongoing basis to manage employee performance, provide feedback and coaching, and otherwise role model appropriate behaviors in the restaurant. 
• Lead by example and maintain a strong floor presence.  Support staff throughout the day- get your hands dirty.
• Maintain procedures and standards for team service. Correct and coach employees as needed.
• Ensure positive guest experience in all areas. Respond promptly to complaints and take action to resolve guest issues.  Maintain guest satisfaction by monitoring and auditing food, beverage and service offerings.
• Build relationships with preferred patrons, recognize special occasions and PX guests.
• Ensure that all food safety, food quality standards, workplace safety standards, customer service standards and company policies are met. Comply with all Department of Environmental Health food safety regulations.
• Maintain a facility that is safe, secure and healthy as well as consistently “inspection ready” in all areas including front of house and back of house. Following systems established by the General Manager, maintain facilities as needed including mechanical systems, equipment, operation of lights, music and decor.
• Maintain standard operating procedures as established by the General Manager
• Lead daily pre-shift meetings and communicate menu features, service points and beverage training.
• Develop weekly focus topics for service points.
• Open and close the restaurant as needed. Support the management team when someone on the team is out on leave or sick.
• Keep the Service Manager and General Manager fully informed of all issues and take prompt corrective action when necessary or suggest alternate courses of action.
• Maintain a favorable working relationship with all company employees to foster and promote a cooperative, positive and respectful workplace culture.

Administrative and General

• Collaborate with the General Manager to develop an effective plan for training including food & wine education, one-on-one training, communication of company standards & policies and Long Meadow Ranch brand training.
• Manage the weekly distribution of the front of house schedule.
• Conduct regular staff performance reviews and provide growth opportunities.

Qualifications and Requirements

• A minimum of 2 years of experience in a fast paced restaurant.
• Proven experience managing and coaching service staff in a fast paced restaurant setting.
• Strong organizational and communication skills to manage staff, interact with management and resolve customer service issues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Valid driver’s license and maintain a safe driving record.
• A pre-employment background check is required.
• Able to lift 40+ lbs.

Compensation and Benefits

• This is a full-time, salaried position. Competitive compensation depending on experience plus benefits including medical/dental insurance, paid vacation and 401(k).

WineTalent Classifieds: Current WineTalent Openings

WineTalent is working with several different companies in Northern California to find exceptional talent. We are confidentially searching for top wine talent for the following roles:

Metro NY Sales Representative: WineTalent is working with Long Meadow Ranch to find a salesperson to represent LMR wine brands in the greater metropolitan New York area. Reporting to the Eastern Sales Manager, this person will be working in conjunction with LMR's distributor partners in the New York market, with additional sales support responsibilities in NJ, New England, PA, MD and DC. This role will work with the distributors’ sales teams to sell, establish and maintain relationships with on and off premise accounts in these markets. This position requires prior sales experience in the Metro NY area in the broad market.  

Director of Finance: WineTalent is working with Long Meadow Ranch to find a Director of Finance. The Director of Finance will contribute to the overall success of LMR by effectively managing the financial affairs of the wine estate. The Director of Finance will be a member of the executive team. This role will be responsible for all financial reporting and will be accountable for analyzing the current business and planning for future business needs. Requirements include a Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting or related with at least 5 years of finance and accounting experience in the wine industry. A CPA is highly desirable.  

Safety Manager: WineTalent is working with a well established and well respected family run winery in the Central Valley to find a Safety Manager to continue to foster a safe work environment. The Safety Manager will be interacting closely with many departments and will be providing routine training and safety oversight. Requirements: 5 plus years of safety work experience. Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience. Bilingual highly desirable.

Member Relations Manager: WineTalent is working with a Napa Valley based nonprofit to find a Member Relations Manager who will handle outreach to vineyard owners throughout the county. This position will represent the nonprofit in a highly professional manner at all times and exhibit a commitment to the agriculture, vineyards and vineyard owners of the Napa Valley. Strong communication skills, both written and conversational are required. Excellent MS Excel experience required as well as the ability to use various office productivity tools including email, MS Office and online software tools.  

WineTalent provides complete confidentiality to any interested candidates. All conversations and interactions will be kept completely confidential.  

For more information about WineTalent, please visit www.winetalent.net