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About Cacao Cellars
Cacao Cellars is a 1,450 sq ft wine and chocolate bar opening in downtown Durham. We pair house-made chocolate with a thoughtfully curated wine, fortified, and spirits program in a warm, modern organic space. Our menu is chocolate-first: every house-made chocolate is presented with curated pairings, and the wine list is built to make those pairings sing.
This is a founding-team role. We are looking for a beverage and hospitality leader who wants to build something from the ground up — own the wine program, set the service standard, develop the team, and share in the upside as the business grows.
The Opportunity
This is not a role for a shift-running bar lead. We are hiring a beverage program owner and hospitality leader who will:
- Build and run our wine program — by-the-glass list, bottle list, distributor relationships, pricing, and our quarterly bottle list booklet.
- Lead the chocolate-pairing experience, working with our chocolate production lead to develop staff training and guest-facing pairing language.
- Hire, train, and develop the bar and service team — from opening day.
- Own daily operations: scheduling, inventory, COGS, POS administration, NC ABC compliance, and the guest experience.
- Help shape strategic decisions — private events, chocolate classes, brunch program evolution, and eventual program expansions.
- Come on during the construction/build-out process to help with specific designs.
What we offer in return: competitive base salary, performance bonus tied to clear targets, and a real equity pathway for the right person. We are looking for a partner, not just an employee.
Compensation
Base salary is set based on experience. Every role at this level includes a performance bonus.
At a glance
Base salary range: $55,000 to $85,000 annually, determined by experience.
Annual performance bonus: based on experience.
Equity stake in the business expected as it grows.
Performance bonus: Tied to net profit above a defined threshold, paid annually. Specific structure finalized in offer.
Equity vesting: To be determined.
Benefits: Paid time off, professional development budget (sommelier certifications, industry events).
Who We Are Looking For
Required
- Real wine fluency — Court of Master Sommeliers Certified (or actively pursuing), WSET Level 2+, or equivalent depth of working knowledge.
- 4+ years in wine-led hospitality — wine bar, fine dining, sommelier, beverage director, or similar. Opening experience is a strong plus.
- Operational experience — you have run a beverage program: ordering, COGS management, scheduling, inventory, POS, and ABC compliance.
- Hospitality leadership — you have hired, trained, and developed staff. References will speak to your ability to make people better at their jobs.
- Builder temperament — you are comfortable with ambiguity, willing to wear multiple hats in year one, and do whatever it takes to make a business successful.
Strongly preferred
- Curiosity about chocolate and pairing logic — you do not need to be a chocolatier, but you need to want to learn and teach to wait staff.
- Existing distributor relationships in North Carolina (Tryon, Empire, Mutual, or similar).
- Experience designing wine lists and bottle programs from scratch.
Not a fit if
- You want full creative authorship over the brand — Cacao Cellars has a defined point of view and we are looking for a partner to execute and refine it, not redirect it.
- You need a heavy management layer above you. This is a founding role — you will report directly to the owner, have significant autonomy, and need a “we’ll figure it out” attitude.
- You are looking for a 9-to-5. Hours align with the business: Tuesday through Saturday 5pm to 12pm, Sunday brunch service, with prep and admin time during the week.
Schedule
The bar operates Tuesday through Saturday from 5 PM to midnight, with Sunday brunch service from 8 AM to 2 PM. The GM/Beverage Director schedule is full-time and salaried, with the expectation of being on the floor for peak service nights and managing prep, ordering, and admin work during off-peak hours. Mondays and Tuesdays during the day are typically used for production, planning, and private events.
How to Apply
Send the following to [your email] with the subject line “GM / Beverage Director — [Your Name]”:
- A resume or CV.
- A short cover note (one page max) telling us: (a) why this concept appeals to you, (b) one wine program decision you are proud of, and (c) what you would want the equity conversation to look like.
- Three references, including at least one person who reported to you.
Process: Initial coffee conversation, then a paid wine tasting and program review session, then a paid working session on a real open question for the business, then reference calls and offer. Total time investment for finalists is roughly 6–8 hours, all paid.
We aim to make a hire 3–4 months before opening, with a part-time runway period for the right candidate to begin building distributor relationships and the bottle list before going full-time at construction completion.
A note on this role
We are being transparent about the equity and bonus structure upfront because we want candidates who are evaluating this opportunity the same way we are evaluating them. If you are currently employed and reasonably compensated, we know you do not need a job — you need a reason. The reason here is the chance to build a wine program from scratch in a differentiated concept, with real economic upside if we get it right.
Cacao Cellars is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a team that reflects the diversity of the community we serve.
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