Director of Hospitality Operations
Full Time • Journeyman Valparaiso
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Company parties
- Competitive salary
- Dental insurance
- Employee discounts
- Health insurance
- Opportunity for advancement
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
- Wellness resources
Do you thrive in the controlled chaos of full-service restaurants? Do you know how to keep standards tight, teams motivated, and guests happy—even across multiple locations? Are you the kind of operator who isn’t afraid to roll up your sleeves and get down and dirty when the moment calls for it?
At Journeyman Distillery, we’re looking for a Director of Hospitality Operations who can bring steady hands and sharp instincts to a growing, multi-venue operation. From bustling dining rooms to high-volume bars to large-scale event spaces, you’ll be the person who makes sure everything runs the way it should—smooth, consistent, and always with quality and authenticity.
This role isn’t about sitting in an office and sending emails. It’s about walking the floor, developing teams, shaping systems, and elevating the experience at every touchpoint. If you’re ready to lead with grit, coach with purpose, and help steer the guest experience across several restaurant concepts and locations, this might be your next adventure.
YOUR PURPOSE: Lead and manage all hospitality related departments to achieve set metrics and service standards.
At Journeyman Distillery, we believe hard work and dedication deserve to be rewarded. To that end, we provide a comprehensive benefits and incentives package.
YOUR PURPOSE: Lead and manage all hospitality related departments to achieve set metrics and service standards.
At Journeyman Distillery, we believe hard work and dedication deserve to be rewarded. To that end, we provide a comprehensive benefits and incentives package.
Here’s a peek at what you will receive as a Journeyman employee:
- Outstanding Growth Opportunity!
- Paid Time Off
- 401(k) with Employer Match available
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Supplemental Insurance options
- Free Quarterly Bottle of Spirit (21+)
- Loyalty Incentives (ask about our 5-Year Bottle Reward!)
- Employee Discounts
- Monthly Founders' Day event with Bill Welter
- Annual Employee Putting Competition
- Annual Employee Party
All team members must uphold and embody Journeyman’s Core Values which represent the culture, attitude, and immediate priorities ensuring our cohesion and success.
YOUR CORE VALUES:
GRIT MAKES GREAT
- Having a positive attitude that no challenge is too great
- Understanding that goals worth pursuing are never easy; that perseverance, grit, and determination are essential to success
- There is no substitute for grit and putting in the time and effort. Good things will come from those efforts
- 10,000-hour rule. Malcolm Gladwell: it takes 10,000 hours of intensive practice to be great
ALWAYS A JOURNEYMAN , NEVER A MASTER
- Excellence is a lifelong pursuit and mastery is an illusion
- The joy is in the daily work and pursuit of excellence, not in the final destination
- A focus on continual improvement and doing our best
1st CUSTOMER
- Treating every customer with the mindset that they are the business’s 1st ever customer
- Treating customers with authenticity, kindness, warmth, care, friendliness; engaging, helpful and willing to offer a magical experience
- Clean facilities
- Being available to the customer and timely responses in any capacity
- This mindset extends to our vendors, suppliers, partners, and especially our fellow employees
- Never take the customer or employee for granted
- 362 and 59:59+ We are open to our customers 362 days a year and we set an unwavering standard of serving our customers up till the last closing second 59:59+ and beyond if needed.
AMBASSADOR
- Taking pride and ownership in your work
- Engagement and active participation in your work and company activities
- Being a positive force in the workplace; creating a culture of positivity
- Extending common courtesy to self, employees, vendors, and guests
- Being an evangelist and promoter of the company and brand
YOUR TRAITS:
- Excellent leadership & management skills
- Highly detail orientated and organized
- Executor and excellent operator
- Problem solver
- Disciplined, results driven & outcome focused
- Strong organization of time & resources
- Systems orientated
- Commercial thinker
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES:
LEADERSHIP
LEADERSHIP
- Direct and manage the team to follow processes and achieve outcomes.
- Conduct the Journeyman Distillery employee experience as per the process with every direct report.
- Manage the resourcing of roles within the department, with a focus on cultural fit.
- Coach team members to effectively complete tasks, communicate effectively with other stakeholders and grow their skills.
- Oversee performance management of direct reports including terminations ensuring positive and respectful relationships are maintained.
- Undertake effective delegation and conduct informal on-the-job training for members to increase skills.
CURRENT OPERATIONS
- Manage all hospitality operations.
- Understand and implement systems.
- Implement, manage, and oversee all processes to meet company standards,
- Provide accurate reporting on all operations monthly.
- Collaborate with Sales & Marketing to produce launch communication and new operations branding.
NEW OPERATIONS
- Collaborate with the CEO/Founder and key leadership to plan the layout of all new operations.
- Collaborate with the CEO/Founder and Finance Department to create the operations budgets.
- Project manage all the new operations.
- Work with Department heads to manage the resourcing of equipment and hiring and training of all staff.
- Collaborate with Sales & Marketing to produce launch communication and new operations branding.
YOUR EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
- Equivalent experience in high-volume hospitality operations can be considered in place of formal education
- 7–10+ years of progressive leadership experience in hospitality operations, with at least 3–5 years at a senior or multi-unit leadership level
- Proven background overseeing full-service restaurants, bars, and/or multi-concept hospitality venues
- Experience leading operations across multiple locations or managing large-scale, distributed teams
- Strong track record of building systems, implementing SOPs, and improving operational performance in fast-paced environments
- Demonstrated success in developing and mentoring high-performing management teams
- Hands-on experience with guest experience standards, food & beverage operations, labor management, ordering/inventory systems, safety/sanitation compliance, and financial performance
- Experience collaborating with culinary, events, facilities, and marketing teams to keep operations aligned and moving
- Comfort working in a growth environment—opening new concepts, scaling systems, or expanding footprint is a plus
- Distillery, brewery, or craft beverage experience is a bonus but not required
- Familiarity with EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) is a plus
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
CAREERS AT JOURNEYMAN
Are you ready to embark on a rewarding adventure with a rapidly growing, dynamic and energetic team? Take the next step in your career, by joining our guest-focused hospitality team. We are always looking for the best and the brightest. Find our open positions below and select one that speaks to you. Let’s get the conversation started.
(if you already have a resume on Indeed)
Or apply here.
Outstanding Growth Opportunity!
Paid Time Off – begins accruing on Day 1
401(k) with Employer Match available
Medical Insurance – 30+ hours/week
Free Monthly Bottle of Spirit (21+)
25% Employee Discount
Annual Employee Putting Competition
Unlimited $300 Referral Bonuses