Commis Sommelier

Join us as a Commis Sommelier at Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, recently recognised as one of ‘The Sunday Times Top 10 Best Places to Work for’ in 2024 and ‘Hotel of the year – London’ at the 2024 AA Hospitality Awards. We continually strive to build and nurture a culture where inclusiveness is part of our DNA, reflected in our values of passion, personality, respect, working together, and creativity. We believe that a variety of perspectives enriches our culture and drives our success. We care about your career and are proud to have the absolute best people in the industry.

When you join us as a Commis Sommelier at Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, you will have a unique opportunity to excel in your field. You will learn from your fellow Legends and our award-winning learning academy to achieve the highest standards in craft, service, and leadership.

What You’ll Do

• You will be responsible for the setup and maintenance of the beverage station throughout the day, including receiving and organising beverage deliveries, checking inventory, storing items in the correct places, and ensuring everything is prepared before service.
• You will set up glassware and other necessary equipment for service before the restaurant opens, ensuring that everything is clean and in place.
• During the service, you will focus on delivering beverages quickly and efficiently to ensure that guests are served in a timely manner.
• You may receive specific timeframes for delivery, and it’s important to communicate any delays to the team.
• Occasionally, guests may have special requests such as preferences for certain wines, dietary requirements, or requests for special celebrations, which are typically fulfilled by our Commis Sommelier.

The operational hours of work are shift-based and may be subject to change. These currently set as:

• Tuesday to Saturday: 14:30 - close
• Sunday and Monday: Off

What You’ll Bring

Essential Skills and Experience

• Attention to Detail: Ability to accurately follow wine service procedures, monitor stock levels, and ensure proper storage.
• Communication Skills: Clear verbal communication for effectively interacting with guests and team members.
• Team Collaboration: Willingness to work closely with senior sommeliers, kitchen staff, and waitstaff to provide seamless service.
• Customer Service: Ability to create a positive experience for guests by responding to their needs, answering questions about wine, and offering recommendations.
• Basic Organizational Skills: Capacity to keep wine areas organized and assist with the setup and breakdown of service.
• Willingness to Learn: Openness to developing wine knowledge and skills through training and on-the-job learning.
• Manual Handling: Ability to handle wine bottles and glassware carefully and safely.

Preferred Skills

• Basic Wine Knowledge: Some understanding of wine varieties, regions, or service techniques, though training will be provided.
• Experience in Upscale Dining or Hospitality: Previous experience in a fine dining or luxury hospitality environment is beneficial.
• Language Skills: Additional languages beyond English can be helpful for communicating with an international clientele.
• Knowledge of Food and Wine Pairing: Basic understanding of pairing principles, with a willingness to learn more.

What You’ll Get

• Complimentary Stays: Enjoy complimentary stays with breakfast at Dorchester Collection Hotels every year.
• Discounts: Get 50% off food and beverages at selected bars and restaurants within the Dorchester Collection; enjoy Friends & Family stay discounts at our hotels; benefit from discounts at various high street and online shops.
• Employee Perks: Enrol from day 1 into the Aviva Private Pension scheme (we contribute 8% towards your pension); benefit from seasonal ticket loan, rental deposit scheme, private financial advice, and eye care vouchers.
• Training and Development: Advance in your career by accessing various apprenticeships from Level 2 to Hospitality Degree Level 5. We partner with outstanding nationally recognised Apprenticeship providers.
• Social Events: Participate in vibrant social events, including a summer party, winter ball, pub quizzes, and cultural and milestone recognition celebrations.
• Referral Bonus: Earn a £1000 bonus when you recommend a friend.
• Well-being Support: Access immediate well-being advice because we care about our employees.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants. If you need us to do anything to support you during the recruitment process (such as adjustments to how you apply, alternative formats of information, or adjustments to the assessment process itself), please do call the People & Culture team on 02073197011 or email PeopleAndCultureLondon.UK@dorchestercollection.com so that we can discuss how we can support you through this process.