Job Title: Guest Experience Team Lead
Department: Tasting Room
Location: Southern Distilling Company, 211 Jennings Road, Statesville, NC
Reports to: Tasting Room Manager
Category: Non-Exempt, 10-20 hours per week, dedicated weekend hours.

Job Summary:

Southern Distilling Company seeks enthusiastic and personable individuals to join our team as Tasting Room Associates and Tasting Room Team Leads. This versatile role encompasses retail sales, guided tours, and bar service, providing a comprehensive experience to our guests. Ideal candidates will have a passion for bourbon, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to delivering exceptional customer service.​

Key Responsibilities:

Retail Sales:
● Serve as the first point of contact, providing a warm and welcoming environment for all guests.​
● Assist customers with product selections and process transactions.
● Accurately maintain and close cash drawers at the end of each shift, ensuring proper cash handling and reconciliation procedures are followed.
● Maintain cleanliness and organization of the retail space.​

Distillery Tours:
● Lead engaging and informative tours, educating guests on our bourbon-making process and company history. Able to follow tour script and stay on-point.
● Answer questions accurately, ensuring a memorable experience for all visitors.​
● Adhere to safety protocols during all tour activities.​

Bar Service:
● Provide tastings and beverage service, sharing knowledge of our products.
● Accurately follow cocktail recipes, guidelines, and standards provided by Southern Distilling Company to ensure consistency and quality in every pour.
● Assist with small events, ensuring guests have a positive experience.​
● Accurately maintain and close cash drawers and customer tabs, ensuring all transactions are properly recorded and balanced.

Cross-Training:
● Undergo training in all three areas—retail, tours, and bar—to ensure flexibility and comprehensive knowledge.​

Qualifications:
Required:
● Strong public speaking and interpersonal skills.​
● Exceptional customer service abilities.​
● Ability to learn and adapt quickly to different roles.​
● Willingness to work weekends, holidays, and evenings.
● Become knowledgeable on North Carolina spirit sales and pour guidelines, and follow all established Standard Operating Procedures for the Tasting Room to ensure customer safety and maintain SDC’s legal compliance.
● Required to get NC ABC Server/Seller Training within 90 days of start date.
● Willingness to become a Stave & Thief Bourbon Steward within 90 days

Preferred:
● Experience in hospitality, retail, or bar settings.​
● Familiarity with Toast POS software.​
● Interest in bourbon and craft spirits.​

Schedule & Availability:
● Open availability is essential, with a strong emphasis on weekend shifts.​
● Part-time positions are preferred; however, full-time opportunities may be available for exceptional candidates.​

Physical and Mental Requirements:
Southern Distilling Company is committed to providing a means for applicants who have a disability to identify areas in which they may request a reasonable accommodation. The following is a description of the physical and mental abilities which are customarily required to perform the essential job functions of this position:

● Capability to walk through production areas and navigate stairs.​
● Ability to count and perform basic math functions.
● Speak and hear sufficiently to communicate clearly and understandably in person and over the telephone.
● Stand, sit, walk, stoop, and bend.
● Manual dexterity to use hands, arms, shoulders, repetitively to operate keyboard, write, lift items, etc.
● Lift and transfer at least 50 lbs.
● Vision sufficient to read standard text, read a computer monitor, and to drive safely.
● Interact professionally with persons from a variety of backgrounds in a high stress environment.

Southern Distilling Company is committed to equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment. It is the policy of Southern Distilling Company to provide full and equal employment opportunities to all employees and potential employees without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, veteran status, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, physical, or mental disability or any other legally protected status.

Email jobs@southerndistilling.com to apply today!