Beverage Director of Training & Development at IMI Agency

Position Type: Full-time | Hybrid w/ 75% Travel | USA

Office Days: Monday – Thursday (when not traveling)

*Must have mixology training experience

IMI’s Mission:

IMI Agency specializes in Building Better Beverage Business for our Hospitality Clients with innovative marketing programs and promotions, interactive beverage merchandising, beverage operations tools, staff training, and recognition/reward programs for all channels in the Hospitality industry. IMI programs create brand value and opportunities with consumers while beverage sales and profits for our Hospitality Operator clients.

Job Description:

We have an opening for a people-centric, sophisticated professional, and methodical Beverage Director of Training & Development to work for IMI and within one of our leading hotel clients. This person will work with IMI’s Director of Accounts and the Client’s teams to revitalize the Client's renowned bar program, assessing each of the client locations from ambiance and vibe to glassware, ice menus, features, promotions, design, and more. This Beverage Director of Training and Development will lead unit team ideation, development, training, and implementation. Coordinate program components, training, and launches with unit leaders while following up with success metrics and analysis.

Responsibilities will include:

• Compile and present relevant beverage trends and consumer data.
• Coordinate program new feature and promotion projects from ideation through implementation, acting as Client’s agent with multiple participating stakeholders and unit leaders.
• Track property metrics suggesting innovation ideas to assist with an ROI.
• Visit and retrofit beverage operations at North America Hotels, including but not limited to glassware, ice, menus, etc.
• Implement and train unit leaders and staff on bar guidelines and instruction.
• Ideate and support restaurant and bar activations for Grand Openings, Conferences, and Industry events.
• Manage administrative marketing projects with IMI Director of Accounts as directed.
• Develop Instagram and industry-award-worthy beverage programs and initiatives at the hotels.
• Creation and update of (online) bar standards handbook.
• Creation of bar/drinks photography guidelines.
• Creation and upkeep of bar guidelines on internal social media accounts.
• Costing and pricing guidelines.
• Training of bar teams on property and, at times, re-training remotely.
• Advise and assist on relevant awards submissions.
• Assist with developing tactics to re-purpose and re-use ingredients.
• Assist with advisement on tactics to reduce packaging.
• Required travel of 75%+

Education & Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• Expert in training – Bartending skills and F&B operations and services
• A bachelor’s degree in marketing, Communication, Hospitality, or related field
• Advanced knowledge and experience in developing, deploying, and assessing national marketing programs (preferably food and beverage-oriented)
• Proven working history of on-site bartending or working as a mixologist
• Proven working experience in beverage trend spotting, and beverage data analyses staying current with present and future trends.
• Solid understanding of developing programs for working midscale to luxury restaurants and bars
• Expertise in cocktails, spirits, and a variety of beverages (e.g. spirits, beer, wine, non-alcoholic beverages)
• Experience creating and presenting presentations to groups of all sizes in-person and virtually
• Experience deploying large-scale materials to personnel of all levels
• Proficient in Excel, PPT, Teams, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, and other Microsoft tools
• Experience running promotions & activations at the unit level
• Strong presentation, interpersonal, organizational, and writing skills
• Exudes a passion for cocktail and mixology
• Ability to effectively manage multiple projects and balance priorities
• Works well under pressure and with tight deadlines
• Flexible and able to work with different management styles.
• Takes initiative and is a part of the solution to issues and problems.
• High-energy people skills and a professional demeanor
• Hospitable, with a service-prone, client-first mentality
• Follow-up and follow-through must be your mantra!
• Ability to work from the client’s headquarters in Chicago, IL
• Ability to travel as needed (75%+)

Salary: Commensurate based on experience and demonstrated successes

If this describes you and you can work in a macro-managed environment and complete tasks with spot-on accuracy, we want to hear from you!

IMI Agency is an equal opportunity employer.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to an inclusive environment for all employees.