Bartender (Heirloom Dining Room)/Seasonal Employment

The Heirloom Restaurant is our flagship restaurant, featuring formal dining and lakeside comfort in the dining room of the historic Athenaeum Hotel. The culinary experience is managed by the Executive Chef. During the nine-week summer season, the Heirloom Restaurant is open every day, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. During the pre-season (May) and post-season (September), the restaurant is open Thursday to Sunday for lunch and dinner.

Compensation for this position is $10.70/hour plus tipped earnings. Employees who are scheduled to perform work in a non-tipped capacity for 20%+ or more of their shift, attend required events like orientation or training, or do not average minimum wage with their combined tipped income each week will be paid a minimum wage of $16.00/hour.

You will be required to have a working knowledge of wine, beer, and spirits, as well as a foundation in classic cocktail building. You will work as part of a small team either in The Lobby Lounge located in the Athenaeum Hotel, or as part of a special events team either on site or at one of several other venues at The Chautauqua Institution. Your day to day will consist of setting up and maintaining your bar, checking and maintaining inventory levels, executing food and drink service for guests at the bar or on the porch, providing drinks as needed for servers in The Heirloom Dining Room, as well as assorted other duties typically associated with a bartender position.

The ideal candidate is an independent worker capable of performing with a team, one who is experienced in fine dining, well versed in classic cocktails, and has the ability to memorise recipes. You may be called upon to provide suggestions to guests or coworkers based on your knowledge of food and beverage. Ours is a fast-paced environment with a heavy emphasis on exceptional customer service and the delivery of an excellent product.

Chautauqua Institution and Chautauqua Hotel Company offer flexible schedules, full and part-time, for seasonal employment during summer operations starting annually each June and concluding in August. Seasonal employment may be available earlier (pre-season) and beyond season (post-season) based on business needs and candidate availability. Schedules typically include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays as a requirement. While you will confirm your final schedule with management at the time of an interview and offer of employment, you should generally anticipate the following schedule options for this position: Candidates should expect to discuss personal availability at the time of interview but still have enough information from the job posting to determine if their availability coincides with the requirements of the position. Typically work a six or eight-hour shift with a start time that varies between 5 am to 5 pm.

No employer-provided housing is available for this position. Applicants should plan to secure independent housing or reside within a commutable distance.

Chautauqua Institution is a not-for-profit global convener of dialogue on the most significant issues of the day through engagement across four pillars of the arts, education, religion, and recreation. The Chautauqua community is located on the shores of Chautauqua Lake in southwestern New York State and comes alive each summer with a unique mix of visual and performing arts, lectures, interfaith worship/programs, and recreational activities.