Shift Lead - Dog Bar & Hospitality

About Barkside

Founded in 2023, Barkside is metro Detroit's first dog bar — an off-leash dog park, bar, and coffeehouse where people and their dogs come together. What started as a single location has grown into two: Detroit and Southfield, with more on the horizon as we continue to expand.

But Barkside is more than drinks and an off-leash yard. It's a community. Regulars know each other by name (their dogs, too), first-timers get welcomed in fast, and the whole space is built around the idea that a great night out gets even better with your dog next to you. We're looking for a Shift Lead who can help carry that community feel forward on the floor, every shift.

The Role

As Shift Lead, you'll run the floor during your shift: leading the team, keeping guests and dogs safe and happy, and making the real-time calls that keep Barkside feeling like Barkside no matter how busy it gets. You'll be trusted to make decisions independently, coach your team in the moment, and keep the whole shift running smoothly from open to close.

This is a hands-on leadership role. You'll pour drinks, greet dogs, keep the play yard running smoothly, and coach a teammate through a rush — sometimes all in the same ten minutes.

What You'll Do

Lead the Floor

• Run daily operations across the bar, indoor space, and outdoor play yard, staying visible and engaged rather than stationed behind the bar or in the back office.
• Delegate and reprioritize tasks in real time based on what the shift actually needs
• Open and close the space, and give (and receive) clear, honest shift handovers
• Monitor staffing against real-time traffic and adjust the team's workflow as needed
• Spot and report maintenance or inventory issues before they become problems

Keep Dogs Safe

• Actively supervise off-leash play at all times, ensuring every dog and guest has a safe, well-monitored environment
• Read dog body language and know how to redirect play or step in before things get too rowdy
• Enforce play yard and vaccination policies consistently, with every guest, every time
• Keep the physical environment — fencing, gates, water stations, waste stations — safe and well-maintained throughout the shift

Deliver Hospitality

• Greet every guest — human and dog — warmly, learning names whenever you can
• Build community: introduce regulars, remember details, make Barkside feel like a place people belong
• Resolve complaints calmly and generously, using good judgment on when a situation needs extra support

Lead the Team

• Coach in the moment with specific, immediate feedback — not a conversation days later
• Give team members a clear point of leadership and support during every shift
• Handle team concerns objectively, gathering the full picture before drawing conclusions
• Keep communication flowing with your team and with leadership so nothing gets discovered secondhand

What We're Looking For

• Professional experience working with dogs required — day care facilities, boarding, grooming, veterinary settings, or similar environments all count
• Prior experience in a bar, restaurant, hospitality, or customer-facing leadership role
• Comfort making independent decisions under pressure, without waiting for permission on routine calls
• Genuine ease around dogs, including reading dog body language and comfort stepping into a play-yard situation
• A calm, steady presence — someone whose composure holds even when the floor is packed and things get chaotic
• Strong communication skills and sound judgment
• Integrity and consistency: someone who applies the rules the same way for every guest and every teammate
• Availability for evenings, weekends, and variable hospitality hours
• Must be 21+ (role includes serving alcohol)

What We Offer

• A genuinely fun, dog-filled workplace at metro Detroit's first dog bar
• Real leadership responsibility and autonomy from day one
• A growing company with two locations and more on the horizon

At Barkside, we're not just a bar – we're a unique destination that celebrates the bond between people and their dogs. Our vibrant atmosphere welcomes dog lovers of every kind to safely socialize, enjoy
both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and create lasting memories with their furry friends. We're currently seeking passionate and enthusiastic individuals to join our pack as we build a haven for dogs and their parents.