Full Time - Alcohol Compliance and Licensing Manager

Salary: $87,000 - $105,000. This represents the good faith estimate of the annual salary range we reasonably expect to pay for this position upon hire, based on the selected candidate’s experience, education, skills, internal alignment, and overall business needs. In select cases, and depending on market conditions or exceptional candidate qualifications, compensation may exceed this range, provided it aligns with applicable law and our compensation policies.

About the role

Under the direction of the Director of Contracts, Risk Management, and Facilities, the Alcohol Compliance Manager leads and administers the Aztec Shops alcohol compliance program across all owned, operated, managed, and leased locations. The position serves as the primary authority on alcohol licensing, regulatory compliance, training, audits, investigations, and policy administration, ensuring compliance with California Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) requirements and all applicable federal, state, local, California State University (CSU), San Diego State University (SDSU), and Aztec Shops regulations and policies.

Responsibilities

• Alcohol Compliance & Licensing Administration
  • Manage all Aztec Shops alcohol licenses and permits across Viejas Arena, Snapdragon Stadium, Tony Gwynn Stadium, Catering operations, and other locations.
  • Serve as the primary liaison with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC).
  • Coordinate license applications, renewals, transfers, modifications, fee payments, inspections, enforcement actions, and regulatory communications.
  • Monitor changes in alcohol-related laws, regulations, and licensing requirements and communicate impacts to leadership.
• Training, Policy & Program Management
  • Develop, maintain, and update alcohol compliance policies, procedures, operational guidelines, and employee reference materials.
  • Create compliance cheat sheets and operational guidance for licensed locations.
  • Provide and document alcohol compliance training, including Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) requirements in partnership with Human Resources.
  • Track training completion in coordination with Human Resources and report deficiencies to management.
  • Monitor and verify that employees responsible for alcohol-related compliance functions maintain appropriate training, certifications, and operational procedures consistent with applicable laws, licensing requirements, and Aztec Shops policies.
• Audits, Monitoring & Investigations
  • Conduct alcohol compliance observations, audits, inspections, and operational reviews at locations serving alcohol at various events.
  • Perform alcohol inventory audits and reconciliation reviews at Aztec Shops locations such as Snapdragon Stadium, Viejas Arena, and others.
  • Support the Senior Manager of Loss Prevention on secret shopper activities related to alcohol and compliance monitoring programs.
  • Observe, document, and investigate alcohol-related incidents, complaints, and violations.
  • Prepare findings and management reports.
  • Provide assistance to management when they need to perform alcohol cut-off and alcohol service intervention when necessary.
• Leased Operations Oversight
  • Maintain familiarity with leased operations agreements involving alcohol service.
  • Conduct compliance reviews of leased operators.
  • Verify that leased operators maintain required licenses and permits.
  • Monitor license status and notify the Director of Contracts, Risk Management and Facilities of suspensions, revocations, violations, or enforcement actions.
  • Recommend appropriate measures to address identified deficiencies.
• Contracts, Sponsorships & Event Support
  • Review alcohol distributor agreements and contracts for compliance considerations.
  • Review sponsorship and beverage agreements to ensure alignment with licensing requirements.
  • Coordinate one-day permits and special event approvals with SDSU Catering.
  • Review proposed changes to alcohol offerings, promotions, and service methods for compliance.
  • Review contracts and operational practices of third-party vendors, staffing agencies, and security providers performing alcohol compliance functions to ensure contractual compliance with training, age-verification, identification screening, and alcohol service requirements.
  • Monitor and verify that third-party contractors, staffing agencies, and security providers responsible for alcohol-related compliance functions maintain appropriate training, certifications, and operational procedures consistent with applicable laws, licensing requirements, and Aztec Shops policies.
• Compliance Technology & Systems Support
  • Evaluate, recommend, implement, and administer alcohol compliance technologies, including ID scanners, age-verification systems, and related software and hardware.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact with technology vendors, manufacturers, and service providers regarding implementation, maintenance, troubleshooting, warranties, upgrades, and service agreements.
  • Coordinate installation, testing, deployment, and ongoing operation of alcohol compliance technology across all licensed locations.
  • Develop and deliver employee training related to alcohol compliance technologies and ensure users are properly trained on system functionality and operational requirements.
  • Monitor system performance and utilization to ensure devices and software are functioning effectively and supporting compliance objectives.
  • Coordinate software updates, hardware replacements, warranty claims, repairs, and lifecycle management activities.
  • Evaluate and recommend process improvements and technology enhancements to strengthen alcohol compliance controls and operational effectiveness.
• Operational Responsibilities
  • Ensure responsible service of alcohol at all locations and events.
  • Provide support and guidance to operational teams regarding alcohol compliance matters.
  • Work collaboratively with venue staff and service departments.
• Other
  • Maintain compliance with all applicable federal, state, local, CSU, SDSU, and Aztec Shops requirements including RBS and ABC requirements.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

The minimum requirement for applicants is a bachelor’s degree in Business, Public Administration, Risk Management, Criminal Justice, or a related field and/or at least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in alcohol compliance, licensing administration, hospitality operations, regulatory compliance, risk management, auditing, investigations, or a related field. Equivalent combinations of education, training, and experience may be substituted.

• Experience with California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) licensing and regulations is preferred.
• Knowledge of Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) requirements, alcohol service best practices, and applicable laws, regulations, licenses, contracts, and policies.
• Experience conducting compliance reviews, inspections, audits, and investigations is preferred.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace applications and able to operate standard office equipment.
• Strong organizational, communication, interpersonal, documentation, training, and presentation skills.
• Dependable, detail-oriented, capable of working independently, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• This position may involve operating a company vehicle and/or golf cart on university or company property. Candidates must possess a valid driver’s license and must not have been issued more than three moving violations, been responsible for more than three accidents, or any combination thereof during the preceding twelve (12) months.
• Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and will be required to provide proof of driving eligibility upon hire.

Qualifications

• Language Skills
  • Must be able to read, write, and understand English.
  • Ability to follow verbal and written instructions, guidelines, and objectives.
  • Ability to read and comprehend a variety of informational documentation, procedures, and correspondence.
  • Ability to write correspondence with proper format, punctuation, spelling, and grammar.
  • Ability to communicate effectively using electronic media and in written and verbal forms.
  • Ability to effectively communicate with customers and employees.
• Mathematical Skills
  • Ability to apply common-sense understanding to carry out general written or oral instructions.
  • Ability to multitask, prioritize work, and pay attention to detail.
  • Good analytical and quantitative skills, and the ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Reasoning Ability
  • Ability to apply common-sense understanding to carry out general written or oral instructions.
  • Ability to multitask, prioritize work, and pay attention to detail.
  • Good analytical, quantitative, and organizational skills.
• Manual Dexterity
  • Ability to utilize a computer.
  • Ability to use a variety of office machines and equipment.
• Physical Communication
  • Ability to talk/expressing and/or exchanging ideas and hear/perceiving sounds.
• Physical Demands
  • Physical demand requirements are at levels for moderately active work.
  • Ability to use body members to sit, move, and lift or carry objects or materials weighing up to 10 pounds.
  • Regular standing, and/or walking/moving is required.
  • Specific visual abilities required by this job include close vision and peripheral vision.
  • Ability to operate computers, copy machines, fax machines, and other general office equipment.
  • Extensive use of computer monitors is required.

Working Conditions

• When working on Campus, Imperial Valley, or at Snapdragon Stadium, the working environment is typically outdoors walking on concrete; exposure to varying weather conditions such as hot sun and cold rain, and dust, allergens, work temperatures, and noise.
• The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts as well as cleaning chemicals.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Events at Snapdragon could have fireworks, flashing lights, loud announcements, cheering, and music.
• While working at stadium venues may need to ascend/descend stairs.

The person holding this position is considered a ‘mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act pursuant to California Penal Code Section 11166.5. Candidates must be available to work a flexible schedule based on operational needs, including opening, mid-day, and closing shifts, as well