Georgia Winery – Shift Lead (Manager on Duty)
Ringgold, GA | Full-Time
Average Earnings: $22–26+/hour
$14/hour Base Pay + Tips (Average $8–10/hour)
Georgia Winery is looking for a motivated, hospitality-driven Shift Lead to help lead daily operations at our tasting room in Ringgold, Georgia.
This is a leadership position for someone who enjoys serving guests, leading a team, making decisions, and creating outstanding customer experiences.
Training begins as a Sales Associate. Candidates must successfully complete the Georgia Winery Sales Associate Certification Program before beginning Shift Lead training and certification.
When the Tasting Room Manager or Assistant Manager is not present, the Shift Lead serves as the Manager on Duty and is expected to independently operate the winery, lead employees, resolve routine customer concerns, make sound operational decisions, and ensure Georgia Winery's standards for hospitality, sales, safety, and operations are maintained throughout the shift.
About the Role
This is a hands-on leadership position.
Our Shift Leads work alongside the team and perform all Sales Associate responsibilities while also leading daily winery operations.
This position frequently serves as the closing Manager on Duty and is expected to confidently operate the winery during evening shifts and slower operating days without routine management supervision.
Shift Leads are expected to independently lead assigned shifts, including many evenings, slower Saturdays, Sundays, and other operating shifts when senior management is not present.
What Success Looks Like
A successful Shift Lead is a highly capable Certified Sales Associate who leads by example, confidently operates the winery during assigned shifts, supports fellow employees, resolves routine customer concerns, and creates an exceptional guest experience while maintaining Georgia Winery's operational standards.
Responsibilities
Leadership
- Lead the team during assigned shifts
- Delegate responsibilities and keep employees productive
- Coach employees and provide constructive feedback
- Support new employee training
- Ensure company procedures and SOPs are followed
- Inspect completed work and maintain quality standards
- Communicate clearly and professionally with employees and guests
- Recognize operational issues before they impact the guest experience
- Confidently make routine operational decisions while knowing when situations require escalation to the Tasting Room Manager or Assistant Manager
Customer Experience
- Host wine tastings
- Build relationships with guests
- Handle customer concerns professionally
- Resolve most customer concerns without management assistance
- Explain winery policies with confidence, consistency, and hospitality
- Protect the guest experience while supporting company policies
Sales
- Lead by example through exceptional hospitality and salesmanship
- Host wine tastings
- Sell wine, wine flights, wine by the glass, pizza, and merchandise
- Encourage bottle sales and Wine Club memberships
- Upsell throughout the guest experience
- Support winery events and promotions
Operations
- Open and close the winery
- Serve as Manager on Duty during assigned shifts
- Cash handling and deposits
- Inventory support
- Food safety
- Cleaning and organization
- Complete daily operational checklists
- Maintain building security
- Complete shift reports and incident documentation as needed
This Position Is For Someone Who...
- Enjoys leading people
- Loves hospitality
- Is confident making decisions
- Can stay calm under pressure
- Takes ownership
- Solves problems instead of waiting for someone else
- Leads by example
- Enjoys coaching and developing others
- Communicates clearly and professionally
- Notices problems before guests do
- Takes pride in organization, details, and follow-through
Qualifications
We're looking for someone who naturally demonstrates:
- Leadership
- Initiative
- Ownership
- Sound judgment
- Professional communication
- Accountability
- Calm under pressure
- Strong work ethic
- Excellent customer service skills
- Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment
- Ability to make sound decisions independently
Previous leadership, restaurant, winery, retail, or hospitality experience is preferred but not required.
Schedule & Physical Requirements
- Must be at least 21 years old
- Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. (cases of wine)
- Ability to stand and work on your feet for up to 8 hours
- Reliable transportation required
- Professional appearance and demeanor
- Flexible schedule required
- Saturdays, evenings, holidays, and special events are expected as part of this leadership position
Pay & Benefits
Sales Associate Training
- $14.00/hour during Sales Associate training
- Training begins as a Sales Associate
- Tip pool begins after successful completion of Sales Associate Certification
Certified Shift Lead
- $14.00/hour + tips during Shift Lead training
- Upon successful Shift Lead Certification, employees become eligible for the Shift Lead hourly wage
- Average tips currently range from $8–10/hour
- Typical earnings: $22–24+/hour
Full-Time Benefits
- Medical & Dental Insurance (company pays 50% of employee premiums)
- SIMPLE IRA with up to 3% company match (after 2 years full-time)
- Paid Time Off
- 50% Employee Discount on Wine & Pizza
- Three-Month Performance Evaluation with eligibility for up to a 5% hourly wage increase based on demonstrated performance
Why Georgia Winery?
We're more than a winery—we're a destination.
Every day is different. One hour you may be hosting a wine tasting, the next helping a guest celebrate an anniversary, leading your team through a busy Saturday, or ensuring every detail is ready for a sold-out event.
We're looking for someone who takes pride in leading by example, creating memorable guest experiences, supporting their team, and taking ownership of the winery during their shift.
Successful Shift Leads are developed through training and certification. We are looking for individuals with leadership potential who are eager to learn, grow, and take ownership—not simply applicants with previous management experience.
Additional Information
The foregoing job description is not designed to cover or contain all aspects of the job or a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, tasks, or responsibilities that are or may be required. Duties, responsibilities, tasks, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time based on the needs of the business.
Employment is contingent upon successfully completing all pre-employment requirements, including a background check, drug screen, and physical, if applicable.
Pay: $22.00 - $24.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Application Question(s):
- 1. What is your ongoing availability for this position (days and times)?
- 2. Are you available to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and most Saturdays?
- 3. Approximately how many hours are you looking to work each week?
- 4. Why are you interested in becoming a Shift Lead instead of a Sales Associate?
- 5. Describe a time you solved a difficult customer problem without asking your manager to step in.
- 6. Tell us about a time you held a coworker accountable or helped improve a team's performance.
- 7. This position frequently serves as the closing Manager on Duty and independently operates the winery during slower shifts. Are you comfortable making decisions and leading a team without routine supervision?
- 8. Describe your leadership style in a few sentences.
Work Location: In person
