Head Bartender

OUR PURPOSE AND CULTURE

At Rosewood Hotel Group, we are driven to create a future where people and place enrich one another. We are wholly committed to rooting ourselves more deeply in every destination while setting new benchmarks for positive impact.

As a pioneering collective with a shared purpose, we curate extraordinary moments and honour the soul of every place along our journey. At Rosewood, we answer The Calling. Together, we Make the Place.

Rosewood Blue Palace will open in Crete, Greece, in April 2027, and we are now seeking talented individuals to help bring the re-imagining of this stunning property to life.

The Head Bartender will be based on-site at Rosewood Blue Palace in Elounda, Crete.

THE ROLE

As Head Bartender, you will lead the bartending team and take ownership of the quality, consistency and presentation of every drink served. Combining strong technical expertise with a passion for hospitality, you will set the standards behind the bar, inspire and develop your team, and ensure every guest receives warm, genuine and memorable service.

HOW YOU’LL MAKE THE PLACE

Guest Experience & Service Excellence

• Inspire the team to deliver exceptional, personalised service, setting the example through your own interactions with guests.
• Build genuine connections with guests, getting to know their preferences and creating memorable experiences through thoughtful recognition.
• Guide and support associates in their guest interactions, helping them deliver warm, attentive and engaging service.
• Take ownership of guest concerns and complaints, ensuring they are addressed promptly and professionally while maintaining positive relationships.

Drinks Quality & Beverage Excellence

• Set the standard for beverage quality and consistency, ensuring every drink meets the bar's recipes, specifications and portion-control requirements.
• Keep the drinks recipe and specification book up to date, ensuring consistency in ingredients, garnishes, glassware and presentation.
• Collaborate with the Director of Beverage to develop and enhance the cocktail and drinks menus, bringing seasonal offerings and signature creations to life.
• Oversee the preparation of syrups, infusions, juices and garnishes, ensuring everything is properly labelled, dated and prepared in line with hygiene standards.

Bar Operations & Business Performance

• Take the lead in daily bar operations, coordinating the bartending and bar support team while remaining actively involved in service, particularly during busy periods.
• Keep the bar, equipment and tools in excellent condition, ensuring a clean, organised and well-maintained working environment.
• Oversee stock levels and agreed PAR requirements, ensuring requisitions are accurately completed and supplies are collected from the cellars at the appropriate time.

COULD THIS BE YOU?

• Previous experience as a Senior Bartender or Head Bartender in a luxury hotel or high-end cocktail bar.
• Proven leadership capabilities, with the ability to motivate, guide and develop a bartending team.
• Strong knowledge of spirits, cocktails and professional bar techniques, including Greek and Cretan spirits.
• Experience in cocktail and recipe development, as well as bar preparation and organisation.
• A sound understanding of beverage operations, stock management, inventory procedures and cost control.
• Strong communication, presentation and relationship-management skills.
• A commercial mindset, with initiative, sound judgement and the ability to identify opportunities for improvement.
• A genuine passion for hospitality, strong guest-centred thinking and the ability to lead by example.
• A WSET Spirits qualification and previous industry competition experience would be considered an advantage.

BENEFITS & CAREER DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

• The opportunity to join an internationally recognised luxury hospitality group and become part of the Rosewood family.
• Competitive remuneration package.
• Complimentary meals during working hours in our team restaurant.
• Transportation to and from the hotel.
• Monthly Benefits Card
• Ongoing training and professional development opportunities.
• A supportive, inclusive and collaborative working environment.
• Accommodation support may be available for associates relocating to Crete, subject to company policy.

OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU

At Rosewood Hotel Group, your voice is heard and valued. We're a community that encourages associates to be themselves, not fit into a fixed culture, and this philosophy shines through in our commitments to reflect and honour the history, culture and geography of our destinations. We're not only committed to building and nurturing genuine, long-lasting relationships but to transforming them. Our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) strategy helps put these principles into practice.