Description:
General Manager — William Chris Vineyards
FLSA Classification / Pay Type: Exempt / Salary
Reports To: Chief Operating Officer
Location: William Chris Vineyards Estate, Texas Hill Country
Date Created: 06/25/2026
Last Revised: 07/02/2026
POSITION SUMMARY
As General Manager of William Chris Vineyards, this role owns the full guest-experience operation across the estate — leading the tasting room and culinary teams while partnering with events, concierge, membership, and grounds teams to deliver a world-class experience that reflects the brand's winemaking philosophy. The General Manager is accountable for revenue performance, team development, and operational excellence across all on-premises touchpoints.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Leadership & Culture
- Lead the tasting room and culinary teams, and partner closely with events, concierge, membership, and grounds/maintenance teams.
- Understand and effectively communicate company vision, mission, values, goals, culture, and news.
- Foster a positive, high-energy culture in which team members feel supported, developed, and motivated to perform at their best.
People Management
- Own full-cycle people management across the tasting room and culinary teams: recruiting, hiring, onboarding, scheduling, coaching, performance management, and separations.
- Partner with the Director of Education to ensure staff are trained on wine knowledge and continue their wine education.
Guest Experience & Operations
- Ensure a world-class guest experience across the property.
- Respond to guest and member requests, suggestions, and complaints as necessary.
- Ensure effective use of all spaces on property, including tasting rooms, storage, outdoor areas, and shared production spaces.
- Manage on-site inventory, including wine, merchandise, and supplies.
- Ensure full compliance with TABC regulations, health and sanitation codes, and all applicable local, state, and federal requirements.
Revenue & Sales
- Meet and exceed sales expectations, including sales per taster, data capture, and wine club sign-ups.
- Develop tasting menus and sales strategies that ensure effective use of all wines, in partnership with the Director of Sales/Operations.
- Build and execute sales strategies and staff training programs to drive KPI achievement.
- Partner with the Events Manager to deliver effective, profitable events, collaborating across departments as needed.
- Partner with the Director of Culinary to ensure effective collaboration with the tasting room and events teams.
Financial Accountability & Reporting
- Manage location-level P&L, including labor cost, cost of goods sold (COGS), and departmental expense budgets.
- Develop and own location KPIs (sales per taster, data capture, club acquisition) and ensure consistent reporting on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual cadence.
- Ensure accurate reconciliation of daily and weekly sales, cash, and KPI data.
Requirements:
CORE COMPETENCIES
- Demonstrates a consistent sense of urgency, positivity, and team-first attitude.
- Available to work peak business periods, including Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and select holidays.
- Creative, outgoing, and skilled in clear, professional communication and leadership.
- Able to multitask and complete duties, tasks, and projects despite frequent interruptions.
- Self-starter capable of completing duties, tasks, and projects with minimal supervision.
- Driven to meet or exceed company goals and to lead a team toward shared results.
- Ability to lift up to 45 lbs. repeatedly.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Prior hospitality and/or business leadership experience in a customer-facing, revenue-driving role.
- Demonstrated experience managing a P&L, including labor cost and COGS oversight.
- Proven track record building and leading high-performing teams.
- Working knowledge of wine service, hospitality systems, and inventory practices.
REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- High school diploma or GED equivalent.
- Safe Food Manager Certification (Company-provided course available).
- TABC Server Certification (Company-provided course available).
PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
- WSET Level 2, CMS Certified Sommelier, or equivalent credential.
- Upscale wine program experience.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
- Climate-controlled indoor tasting rooms.
- Outdoor events and estate grounds, subject to weather and varying conditions.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
- Ability to lift up to 45 lbs. repeatedly.
Reasonable accommodations may be made, consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Texas law, to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this role.
TRAVEL AND REMOTE WORK
- Occasional travel to other WCWC properties may be required.
- This position is not eligible for remote work and requires regular on-site presence.
- Availability required during peak business periods, including Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and select holidays.
WORK AUTHORIZATION
This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.
LEGAL AND POLICY DISCLAIMERS
Equal Employment Opportunity
William Chris Wine Company provides equal employment opportunity to all applicants and employees and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age (40 and over), disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code, and other applicable federal, state, and local law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, compensation, and termination.
Reasonable Accommodation (ADA / Texas Labor Code Ch. 21)
William Chris Wine Company complies with the ADA Amendments Act and the Texas Commission on Human Rights Act. The Company will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and to employees with sincerely held religious beliefs, absent undue hardship on Company operations. Applicants or employees who require an accommodation to perform the essential functions of this role should contact Human Resources to initiate the interactive process.
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Classification
This position is classified as Exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) (executive/administrative exemption, as applicable) and the Texas Payday Law. Exempt employees are paid a predetermined salary and are not eligible for overtime compensation, provided the applicable duties and salary-basis tests continue to be met. Classification is reviewed periodically to confirm continued compliance with FLSA and Texas Workforce Commission rules.
At-Will Employment
Employment with William Chris Wine Company is at-will, consistent with Texas law. Either the employee or the Company may terminate the employment relationship at any time, for any lawful reason, with or without cause or advance notice. Nothing in this job description creates an express or implied contract of employment, a promise of continued employment, or a guarantee of any specific term or condition of employment. No supervisor, manager, or Company representative has authority to modify the at-will relationship except in a written agreement signed by an authorized officer of the Company.
Work Authorization and Form I-9
All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory proof of identity and authorization to work in the United States, as required by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, and completion of Form I-9. Unless otherwise noted, this position is not eligible for employment-based visa sponsorship.
Job Description Disclaimer
This job description describes the general nature and level of work expected of the position and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, qualifications, or skills required. Duties, responsibilities, and reporting relationships may change at any time, with or without notice, at the sole discretion of the Company. This document does not constitute a contract of employment.
