Vice President, Restaurants, Bars + EventsTHE ROLEEvery Aparium food and beverage venue is designed to endure-relevant and resonant 20 years from now, not just today. Our restaurants, bars, and event spaces serve as true community catalysts: neighborhood favorites for locals and destination-worthy experiences that draw guests from beyond the market. We are built on service, attitude, and culture-not ego. Our work is rooted in authenticity, hospitality, and a deep respect for place.
Our approach is grounded in translocal hospitality-creating food and beverage experiences that are deeply connected to their neighborhood while upholding shared standards of service, craft, and hospitality across the portfolio. Each venue is singular in identity, yet unified by a common commitment to quality, culture, and care. With more than 20 independent restaurants, bars, and event venues, the Vice President of Restaurants, Bars & Events provides strategic leadership across the portfolio. This role drives revenue performance, elevates guest experience, and ensures operational excellence while protecting the individuality and sense of place of each concept.
The VP partners closely with field leadership and cross-functional teams to build a strong bench of talent, implement meaningful training and development programs, and deliver practical tools that help operators succeed. This leader fosters trust through transparency, collaboration, humility, and an ego-free mindset.
WHO YOU AREYou bring broad, hands-on experience in all aspects of food and beverage operations across hotels and independent restaurants. You have a passion for both front-of-house and heart-of-house operations and have worked alongside some of the best chefs and service professionals.
Your approach is defined by thoughtful organization, attention to detail, and the ability to build systems, standards, and training programs that stand the test of time. You navigate complexity with sound judgment, disciplined execution, and a clear sense of priorities.
Curious and adventurous by nature, you stay closely connected to local and global food culture. You are constantly learning, networking, and scouting extraordinary talent, while believing the strongest growth often comes from developing people from within.
WHAT YOU WILL DO- Lead and model Aparium's principles of People, Place, and Character, fostering, intuitive service, collaboration, and translocal hospitality.
- Develop and execute the food, beverage, and events strategy, driving revenue, operational excellence, and concept integrity across all venues.
- Oversee openings and ongoing operations, ensuring concepts deliver on brand DNA, guest experience, and quality standards.
- Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing, mobile bench of talent through coaching, training, and succession planning.
- Partner with HQ, field leaders, and Sales to align strategies, optimize resources, and elevate catering, banquet, and overall F&B performance.
- Stay attuned to industry trends, emerging concepts, and best practices, applying insights to strengthen operations and attract top-tier talent.
This list represents the core of the role; additional initiatives will evolve as the portfolio and organization continue to grow.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS- Willingness to travel 60%+.
- Minimum of five (5) years in a senior, multi-unit leadership role within upscale hospitality.
- Experience in organizations known for best-in-class service and training cultures.
- Demonstrated success building and implementing scalable programs and operational solutions.
- Based in Chicago's West Loop; comfortable working in a communal, open-space HQ.
- Professional proficiency in English (reading, writing, verbal).
HOW YOU LEAD- Passionate about driving results and influencing others to execute strategy through clear, tactical direction.
- Builds rapport quickly and adapts communication style to engage diverse stakeholders.
- Approaches challenges collaboratively, identifying root causes and removing barriers to success.
- Balances strategic thinking ("architect") with hands-on execution ("builder").
- Highly organized and adaptable in a fast-growing, dynamic environment.
- Leads with integrity and discretion, maintaining confidentiality when appropriate.
Pay rate: $200K to $235K
Benefits: Aparium offers a variety of benefits to include medical, dental, vision 401(k), short term disability, long term disability, life insurance, commuter benefits, discounted parking, travel benefits and more.
