General Manager

Role Summary: The General Manager (GM) is the front-of-house leader of Strong Rope Brewery, responsible for bringing the brewery’s vision and values to life through exceptional hospitality, strong team leadership, and thoughtful execution. This role oversees the daily operations of our Taproom, events, and guest experiences while partnering closely with the ownership, production, and sales teams. The GM is responsible for building the systems, developing the team, and creating the structure necessary for Strong Rope to operate effectively and continue growing. This will be done while remaining committed to our 4 Ps Philosophy: People, Planet, Pint, and Profit, and embracing our mission of using 100% New York ingredients. The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader who thrives in a fast-paced hospitality environment, enjoys developing teams, cares deeply about guest experiences, and understands that great breweries are created through great people, consistent processes, and meaningful connections within the community.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day operations of our Taproom and The Hall, ensuring every guest experiences the warm, welcoming hospitality that Strong Rope is known for.
• Create, implement, and improve operational systems, SOPs, and workflows that increase efficiency, consistency, and accountability.
• Recruit, train, mentor, and develop leaders and team members for the Taproom and Event departments to build a knowledgeable, engaged, and high-performing hospitality team.
• Establish clear expectations, provide regular feedback, and create a culture rooted in ownership, collaboration, professionalism, and continuous improvement.
• Create a supportive and challenging environment where staff feel excited to grow with the company. Foster a workplace culture that connects employees to Strong Rope’s mission, values, and community.
• Champion an exceptional guest experience by ensuring service standards, hospitality practices, beer knowledge, and Taproom presentation consistently reflect the Strong Rope brand. Act as a visible presence in the brewery, building relationships with guests, staff, and community members.
• Maintain high standards for draft quality and cleanliness across the Taproom, patio, and staff/storage areas.
• Manage the Events and Taproom teams to deliver memorable private events, community gatherings, and special programming. Assist with the planning and execution of special projects, operational improvements, and growth initiatives.
• Support sustainability and financial initiatives by reducing waste, improving purchasing practices, maintaining recycling and composting efforts, and encouraging responsible operations.
• Review financial reports and operational data with ownership to identify trends, opportunities, and areas for improvement based on key operational metrics, including labor, scheduling, inventory, costs, and departmental performance.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and strategic initiatives that strengthen long-term business performance.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable health, safety, employment, and New York State alcohol regulations.
• Maintain a safe, professional, and welcoming workplace environment.
• Represent Strong Rope Brewery with professionalism and a strong connection to our local community.

Qualifications

Required:

• 3+ years of hospitality, brewery, restaurant, or multi-unit operations management experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading teams, managing labor, and improving operational performance.
• Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to balance hands-on floor leadership with strategic planning and administrative responsibilities.
• Experience building systems, training teams, and creating accountability within an organization.
• Familiarity with New York State alcohol regulations and hospitality compliance.

Preferred:

• Experience working in a brewery, brewpub, craft beverage company, or community-focused hospitality business.
• Passion for craft beer, local businesses, and creating memorable guest experiences.
• Experience with POS systems, scheduling platforms, inventory systems, and spreadsheets, including but not limited to Google Workspace, Slack, Square, and Tripleseat.
• Ability to use operational data to make informed business decisions.

Work Environment & Schedule

• Requires flexibility, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and peak business periods.
• Combination of administrative responsibilities, team leadership, and active floor presence.
• Must be comfortable working in a dynamic environment where priorities shift and hands-on leadership is essential.

Physical Requirements

• Standing for long periods of time (up to 10 hours), bending, and constant movement.
• Ability to safely lift, carry, and/or push up to 25 pounds without assistance.
• Ability to safely lift, push, pull, maneuver, or move items weighing up to 100 pounds with team and/or mechanical assistance.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $85,000–$110,000, based on experience. This range represents the company’s good-faith estimate of compensation at the time of posting.
• This position may also be eligible for performance-based bonuses.
• Health stipend.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Paid time off.
• Strong Rope merchandise and beer discounts.