Managing Partner – Cocktail Bar – Saint-Étienne, …

Opened in June 2023, Devine is a cocktail bar located in the heart of Saint-Étienne, with a strong positioning built around creative cocktails, Art Deco-inspired design and customer experience.

The venue is fully fitted out and professionally equipped, with approximately 160 sqm of commercial space, several distinct areas, and outdoor terraces.

Devine also features an upstairs private room suitable for private and corporate events. The concept can be developed beyond the venue itself through off-site services such as weddings, corporate events, private cocktail receptions and other bespoke events.

As the current operating manager is due to leave, we are looking for a Managing Partner to take full responsibility for the venue and contribute to its long-term development.

We are looking for someone with a true owner-operator mindset: hands-on, commercially driven, capable of creating a strong atmosphere, building customer loyalty, managing a team and running the business with a clear focus on performance.

Your role

You will be responsible for the day-to-day management of Devine, including team leadership and organisation, customer experience, sales development, purchasing and supplier management, cost control, revenue growth and profitability.

You will also have significant freedom to develop the venue’s different growth opportunities, including private hire, events, partnerships, off-site services, programming and communication.

The aim is not simply to recruit a venue manager, but to build a long-term partnership with someone who genuinely wants to become an entrepreneur in the bar and hospitality industry.

The profile we are looking for

You have ideally already worked as a general manager, venue manager, restaurant manager or operator within a bar, restaurant, hotel or nightlife venue.

You are comfortable both with people and with numbers, and you know how to lead and motivate a team.

You have a strong commercial and entrepreneurial mindset, plenty of energy, and the willingness to become personally involved in the development of the venue.

Previous experience in cocktails would be a plus, but is not essential. We will place greater emphasis on personality, management ability and entrepreneurial drive.

A genuine opportunity to become a partner

The position comes with the opportunity to acquire equity in Devine, either immediately or progressively, depending on the candidate and the project agreed together.

The compensation package may include a fixed salary, performance-based remuneration and an equity incentive mechanism.

The idea is simple: to give someone who wants to run their own venue the opportunity to do so without having to finance the full creation or acquisition of a bar from scratch.

A fully operational venue

Devine currently offers:

an established venue operating since June 2023;
a clear cocktail / Art Deco positioning;
approximately 160 sqm of commercial space;
outdoor terraces;
fully completed fit-out;
professional bar and hospitality equipment;
an upstairs room suitable for private events;
further potential to grow private events and off-site services.

The future Managing Partner will therefore be able to focus on operations, commercial development and growing the concept, rather than starting a venue from zero.

The position is based in Saint-Étienne, France.

Target start date: late 2026 / early 2027, with a handover period alongside the current operating manager.

Applications will be treated confidentially.

If interested, please send us a few lines about your background, your experience in the industry and, above all, what attracts you to the opportunity to take over the management and development of a venue like Devine.