Group Beverage Director & Head Sommelier
About Us
Bottega Group is a collection of hospitality venues in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato, each with its own identity but a shared focus on great food, drinks and genuine hospitality.
We are looking to strengthen the beverage culture across our group and are searching for an experienced beverage professional who can help us take the next step.
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and passionate Group Beverage Director & Head Sommelier.
This is a unique hands-on role combining approximately 20–25 hours per week working on the floor at Clarence Tauranga with approximately 20 hours dedicated to developing the beverage programmes across our wider group.
At Clarence, you will be an active part of the restaurant team — running services, looking after guests, selling wine, supporting the FOH team and leading by example.
Across the wider group, you will take responsibility for developing our wine, spirits and cocktail programmes, improving commercial performance and, most importantly, building beverage knowledge and enthusiasm within our teams.
We don't want someone who simply writes great wine lists. We want an industry professional who loves hospitality, enjoys being on the floor and has the ability to get other people excited about what they are serving.
Key Responsibilities
Lead and develop the beverage direction across all group venues
Develop and maintain wine lists appropriate to each restaurant
Develop spirits, cocktail and non-alcoholic beverage programmes
Work closely with our chefs on wine matching, new menus and special events
Regularly review beverage pricing, margins, product mix and performance
Build strong relationships with wineries, distributors and suppliers
Identify new producers, products and opportunities
Organise and deliver regular wine, spirits and cocktail training
Develop practical beverage knowledge and confidence within our FOH teams
Improve beverage sales and spend per head through better knowledge and service
Monitor beverage costs, stock performance, wastage and slow-moving products
Develop commercially successful by-the-glass programmes
Create and review seasonal cocktail offerings
Develop beverage champions within individual venues
Your Role at Clarence
Approximately 20–25 hours each week will be spent actively working on the floor at Clarence, predominantly during key services.
This is not simply a supervisory role.
You will:
Run and lead restaurant services
Be highly visible and customer-facing
Look after guests and manage sections when required
Act as host and build relationships with regular and new guests
Provide exceptional wine and beverage service
Help guests with wine selection and food matching
Drive beverage sales through genuine, knowledgeable recommendations
Support and lead the FOH team throughout service
Coach staff in real time and lead by example
Work alongside the restaurant management team to deliver an exceptional overall dining experience
We believe staying actively involved in service is important. It keeps the role connected to our guests, our teams and what is actually happening inside our restaurants.
Group Beverage Development
Approximately 20 hours each week will be protected for group beverage development, including:
Venue visits and beverage reviews
Wine list development
Cocktail and spirits development
Product sourcing and tastings
Costing and performance analysis
Staff training
Chef meetings and wine matching
Supplier meetings and negotiations
Planning and monthly reporting
These hours are an important part of the position and will not simply become additional floor shifts.
What We're Looking For
You will ideally have:
Exceptional practical wine knowledge
Strong knowledge of spirits and cocktails
Significant experience as a sommelier, beverage professional or senior hospitality operator
Experience developing successful wine and beverage programmes
Strong commercial understanding of beverage costing, margins and stock control
The confidence and ability to run a busy restaurant service
A natural ability to communicate with and look after guests
The ability to train, motivate and inspire hospitality teams
Strong relationships within the wine and beverage industry
Excellent organisational and communication skills
A genuine passion for hospitality and the guest experience
WSET, Court of Master Sommeliers or equivalent qualifications are highly regarded, but practical experience, knowledge and the ability to lead and inspire people are equally important to us.
What Success Looks Like
Success in this position isn't simply measured by having better wine lists.
We want to see measurable improvement in:
Beverage spend per head
Beverage profitability and margins
Wine and cocktail sales
Stock control and wastage
Staff beverage knowledge
Quality and consistency of beverage service
Guest experience
Most importantly, we want you to help create a culture where our teams understand what they are serving, take pride in it and continuously want to learn more.
What We Offer
This is an opportunity to have genuine influence over the beverage direction of a growing hospitality group while remaining connected to the part of the industry that matters most — our restaurants, our teams and our guests.
You will have considerable freedom to shape and develop our beverage programmes, work with great producers and suppliers, and build a strong beverage culture across the group.
We offer a competitive salary based on experience, performance incentives, staff benefits and opportunities for ongoing professional development.
Apply
If you are an experienced beverage professional who loves great wine, great restaurants and developing people, we would love to hear from you.
Please send us your CV and a short introduction telling us about your experience and what excites you about the opportunity.