Head Sommelier Jobs
Head Sommelier jobs are open across fine dining restaurants, luxury hotels, private clubs, and wine bars, from cellar manager and floor sommelier roles to master-level program directors, with specializations in wine list curation, staff training, and beverage program development. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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The Willcox | Aiken, South Carolina
Position: Full-Time | Management
About The Willcox
The Willcox is a historic luxury boutique hotel and award-winning restaurant located in the heart of Aiken, South Carolina. Known for our exceptional hospitality, refined dining, and extensive wine program, we take pride in creating memorable experiences for every guest.
We are seeking an experienced, passionate, and hands-on Restaurant Manager / Sommelier to join our leadership team. The ideal candidate has a strong background in fine dining, extensive wine knowledge, and a genuine passion for hospitality.
Key Responsibilities
Restaurant Management
Oversee daily restaurant operations, ensuring exceptional service and guest satisfaction.
Lead, train, and motivate front-of-house staff to maintain the highest hospitality standards.
Manage dining room operations, reservations, staffing, and service execution.
Work closely with the Executive Chef and management team to deliver a seamless dining experience.
Address guest concerns professionally and ensure prompt resolution.
Monitor labor costs, beverage costs, inventory, and overall operational efficiency.
Maintain a polished, welcoming, and professional dining environment.
Wine & Beverage Program
Oversee and continuously develop The Willcox's award-winning wine program.
Manage wine purchasing, inventory, pricing, and cost controls.
Provide knowledgeable wine recommendations and pairings to guests.
Train and educate service staff on wine knowledge, proper service, and suggestive selling.
Help organize and host wine tastings, wine dinners, and other beverage-focused experiences.
Maintain relationships with wine distributors and suppliers.
Identify opportunities to increase wine sales while maintaining profitability.
Qualifications
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Minimum 3 years of restaurant management experience, preferably in fine dining or luxury hospitality.
Strong wine knowledge and experience managing a wine program.
Sommelier certification through the Court of Master Sommeliers, WSET, or equivalent training is strongly preferred.
Proven leadership, communication, and staff development skills.
Strong understanding of restaurant financials, inventory management, and beverage cost controls.
Exceptional attention to detail and a genuine commitment to guest service.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.
What We're Looking For
We're looking for more than someone who knows wine. We want a hospitality professional who enjoys being on the floor, building relationships with guests, developing their team, and taking ownership of the dining experience.
The right candidate will combine the knowledge and sophistication of a sommelier with the leadership, accountability, and hands-on approach of an outstanding restaurant manager.
Why Join The Willcox?
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Work in one of the Southeast's most recognized historic boutique hotels.
Help lead an established, award-winning restaurant and wine program.
Join a dedicated team that values hospitality, professionalism, and attention to detail.
Opportunity to make a meaningful impact on our guest experience and continued success.
How to Apply
Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their résumé along with a brief introduction highlighting their restaurant management experience and wine background to:
Matthew Sayer
msayer@thewillcox.com
The Willcox
100 Colleton Avenue SW
Aiken, SC 29801
www.thewillcox.com
The Willcox is an equal opportunity employer.
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Who's Hiring
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in head sommelier jobs.
- Advanced sommelier certification from an accredited organization such as CMS, WSET, or SWE
- Minimum three to five years of floor sommelier or wine program management experience
- Demonstrated experience building, pricing, and maintaining a large wine list
- Proven ability to train front-of-house staff on wine service and food pairing
- Experience working within food and beverage cost targets and inventory controls
- Strong knowledge of classic and emerging wine regions across Europe and the New World
Tips for Your Head Sommelier Job Search
Tailor your resume to program scope
Head sommelier hiring managers want to see the size and type of wine program you've managed, not just titles. Quantify your list by number of SKUs, regions covered, or annual beverage revenue to show the scale of your work.
Lead with your certification tier
Put your Court of Master Sommeliers, Wine & Spirit Education Trust, or Society of Wine Educators credential immediately below your name. Many beverage directors filter candidates by certification level before reading anything else on a resume.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists head sommelier openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match your experience and apply directly to each listing.
Target postings by service style
A tasting-menu restaurant and a resort hotel wine program require very different skillsets. Read each job description for clues like 'table-side decanting,' 'by-the-glass program,' or 'cellar management' to confirm the role matches your actual day-to-day strengths.
Prepare a blind tasting walkthrough
Most head sommelier interviews include a practical component. Practice narrating your deductive process out loud, covering structure, climate, variety, and vintage, so you can demonstrate methodology even when your final identification is off.
Negotiate beyond base compensation
Head sommeliers often have leverage on education allowances, annual tasting trip budgets, and staff meal policies that go unmentioned in the initial offer. Ask specifically about professional development support before accepting any position.
Head Sommelier Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most head sommeliers?
The most active employers for head sommeliers right now are Marriott International, Sonesta, and Don Artemio, and the most openings are in Texas, Oklahoma, and South Carolina, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Luxury hotel groups and independent fine dining concepts consistently account for the largest share of open roles.
How many head sommelier jobs are remote?
About 0% of head sommelier openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the guest-facing nature of most wine director roles. The sub-areas most likely to offer remote or flexible arrangements include corporate beverage consulting, wine education program development, and digital content creation for hospitality brands.
How do you become a head sommelier?
Start by earning a foundational certification, such as the Certified Sommelier credential from the Court of Master Sommeliers or a WSET Level Three Award. Build floor experience across different service environments, from casual wine bars to tasting-menu restaurants, then pursue an advanced certification. Take on assistant sommelier or cellar management responsibilities to demonstrate you can run a program, not just recommend wine.
Can you get hired as a head sommelier without much experience?
Candidates with limited experience can be competitive at smaller independent restaurants or wine bars that are building their first formal program. Emphasize your certification level, your knowledge of inventory and ordering, and any experience training colleagues on wine. Boutique hotels and new openings often hire junior sommeliers into head roles when the program is being built from scratch.
What does the head sommelier interview process look like?
Most employers start with a phone or video screen focused on your background and certification history, followed by an in-person interview with the food and beverage director or general manager. A practical tasting component is common at this stage. Final-round candidates are often asked to present a sample wine list or propose changes to an existing program, demonstrating both palate and business acumen.
Where can I find and apply to head sommelier jobs?
You can find and apply to head sommelier jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Find roles that match your experience level, service style, and location, then apply directly to each listing that fits.
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