The Vault by Stone Tower Winery - General Manager Opportunity Stone Tower Winery is a family-owned, 1000-acre estate winery on Hogback Mountain in Leesburg and one of Virginia’s leading wine producers, known for premium estate wines and thoughtful hospitality across our tasting rooms, experiences, and private events. In early 2027, we will open The Vault by Stone Tower Winery, a new 120-seat wine tasting lounge in a beautifully restored historic bank building in downtown Leesburg, just five miles north of our vineyard estate. The Vault is more than another tasting room. It is a standalone hospitality concept designed to bring the Stone Tower experience downtown: compelling wine, thoughtful food, warm and polished service, private gatherings, special programming, and a highly curated wine collection from Stone Tower and around the world. This marriage between a traditional winery tasting room and fine dining will create a dynamic destination for first-time visitors and locals alike. We are seeking a General Manager to lead The Vault from opening through ongoing operations. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who combines exceptional hospitality instincts with strong business judgment, wine knowledge, operational discipline, and an entrepreneurial mindset.
Key Responsibilities:
Help develop and execute the vision, standards, and goals for The Vault by delivering on guest experience, revenue, and profitability.
Lead daily operations and uphold SOPs, brand standards, and a world-class hospitality experience.
Recruit, train, schedule, mentor, and hold accountable a high-performing, cross-trained team; run effective pre-shifts and regular meetings.
Be a highly visible leader on the floor—welcoming guests, coaching the team in real time, resolving issues, developing regulars, and building lasting relationships.
Model and coach impeccable hospitality, ensuring every interaction meets (or exceeds) Stone Tower’s standards.
Maintain exceptional standards throughout the physical environment, including cleanliness, ambiance, music, lighting, presentation, organization, and overall readiness.
Ensure seamless coordination across all aspects of the business (door, bar, floor, kitchen, retail sales, and events) via clear delegation and communication.
Lead The Vault’s wine program, including assortment, purchasing, allocations, vendor relationships, pricing, by-the-glass and tasting offerings, inventory integrity, and staff wine education.
Bring genuine wine fluency and curiosity to the role, helping make The Vault an exciting destination for both casual wine drinkers and serious collectors.
Build traffic and loyalty through thoughtful programming, tastings, special events, community relationships, memberships, and repeat visitation.
Drive private-event revenue from inquiry to execution.
Partner closely with Stone Tower’s Culinary team on seasonal menu development, ordering, and food standards while leading flawless onsite execution.
Partner with Stone Tower leadership across hospitality, marketing, events, culinary, winemaking, and operations to ensure The Vault remains aligned with the broader Stone Tower brand.
Deliver financial and operating results against The Vault’s established business plan, including sales, labor, COGS, inventory, and weekly performance reporting.
Identify opportunities to improve revenue, efficiency, guest satisfaction, and team performance—and take initiative to act on them.
Maintain a safe, organized, and compliant operation, including Virginia ABC, health and safety standards, cash and comp controls, inventory controls, and inspection readiness.
Qualifications:
5+ years of progressive hospitality experience, including 2+ years in a leadership role within an upscale restaurant, wine bar, tasting room, boutique hotel, or premium lounge; opening experience strongly preferred. Prior GM experience is welcome but not required; we are equally interested in high-performing senior managers ready to take the next step. Confident, highly visible floor leadership and a demonstrated ability to create a strong service culture. Proficiency with POS, reservations, CRM, and spreadsheets; excellent written and verbal communication. Ability to learn quickly and train others on systems and technology. Natural attention to detail and the judgment to recognize what distinguishes a good guest experience from an exceptional one. Strong financial acumen and working knowledge of P&L management, forecasting, labor modeling, COGS, and inventory control. Strong wine knowledge and meaningful experience with beverage program management, including some combination of purchasing, costing, pricing, inventory, vendor relationships, or staff education. Private event sales experience preferred. Certifications preferred: WSET/CMS; ServSafe/recognized alcohol-service certification (or ability to obtain promptly).Availability for evenings, weekends, holidays, and occasional off-site or winery events. Ability to stand and walk for extended periods; regularly lift and carry up to 30 pounds and occasionally up to 50 pounds; safely navigate stairs and a busy hospitality environment.
