Floor Sommelier – Hai Si

Job Type: Location Type: Not Specified

 

HAI SI is hiring for a FLOOR SOMMELIER

This position receives wine sales commission

Projected start date: Early June / Dinner service only – closed Monday & Tuesday

New Waterloo, in partnership with Infinite Hospitality, is bringing Underground Izakaya by Yoshi Okai of Otoko to Aspen, CO. Opening Summer 2025, this intimate, high-energy space will offer a bold take on Japanese dining, combining tradition with creative execution.

Job Overview

The Floor Sommelier is responsible for delivering elevated guest experiences through a combination of refined table service and expert wine guidance. This role actively works the dining room floor, providing full-service hospitality while serving as a key resource for wine pairings, education, and sales. The position blends traditional server responsibilities with the specialized knowledge and service standards of a sommelier.

What you’ll do:

• Guide guests through their dining experience with attentive, personalized service, including taking food and beverage orders, delivering courses, and anticipating guest needs
• Provide expert wine recommendations based on food pairings, guest preferences, and current offerings
• Execute proper wine service techniques, including presentation, opening, decanting, and pouring
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the wine list, including vintages, regions, varietals, and featured selections
• Serve as the on-floor point of contact for wine-related inquiries during service
• Engage with guests to share stories, offer insights, and enhance the overall wine experience
• Collaborate with the kitchen and bar teams to ensure smooth and timely service
• Support inventory upkeep, including restocking and organizing wine storage areas
• Support training and mentorship of service team members on wine knowledge and best practices
• Maintain strong relationships with purveyors and distributors, and participate in occasional tastings to support product selection and quality assurance.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of service areas, wine stations, and glassware
• Ensure proper attention is given to all guests, including additional care towards VIPS, employees, investors, and frequent diners
• Adhere to state liquor laws and regulations; verify minimum age requirements for consumption of alcoholic beverages
• Be available to fill in as needed to ensure the efficient operation of the outlet as directed by the outlet manager and attend relevant meetings as directed

Who you are:

• You thrive on real connection-the kind that makes a guest feel seen, cared for, and excited to come back.
• You know that great service lives in the details, and you deliver with warmth, ease, and intention.
• You anticipate needs before they’re spoken, and there’s nothing better than that “you read my mind” moment.
• You bring the hustle. Elevated, fast-paced environments energize you.
• You’re thoughtful, resourceful, and determined-with 1+ years in a high-touch setting and 2+ years in upscale dining to back it up.
• You’ve got the credentials (state food/beverage certs, plus ideally CMS Level 2 or WSET Level 3)-and a deep love for wine, pairing, and sharing that knowledge without pretense.

BENEFITS

We are proud to offer competitive wages and the following benefits for full-time employees:

• Up to 3 weeks paid time off annually
• Research/culinary travel opportunities for senior staff
• Discounted ski-passes
• 50% off discount at most New Waterloo restaurants
• Health, vision + dental benefits
• 401K matching
• Paid holidays
• Volunteer pay
• Tuition reimbursement
• Referral bonuses
• Discounts at our shops, hotels + local partnerships

ABOUT NEW WATERLOO

New Waterloo is a community-centric independent hospitality company based in Austin, Texas. We use our platform to intentionally empower and get behind the choices of our people and communities – creating environments that sustain lasting social impact. Our team of hospitality experts provides the resources, talent, passion, and collaboration necessary to foster thoughtful places and thriving businesses.

New Waterloo is an equal-opportunity employer and values diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

We will be accepting applications on an ongoing basis until a candidate is selected for this role.

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.
For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.