Bartender - Kress Cocktail Bar

Position Summary

The Kress embodies the culture, spirit, and traditions of downtown El Paso while offering a work environment focused on the overall employee experience. This Bartender position supports our Kress Cocktail Bar or 1^st Floor Bar. Team members have the opportunity to be part of a unique downtown destination while enjoying growth opportunities across our family of businesses.
 
 The Bartender is responsible for delivering warm, attentive, and professional hospitality while preparing and serving beverages according to established recipes, presentation standards, and responsible alcohol-service guidelines. This role supports both guest-facing and service-bar operations while maintaining a clean, organized, and well-stocked bar environment.

Key Responsibilities

Guest Service & Beverage Preparation

• Provide warm, attentive, and professional hospitality that reflects the market’s atmosphere and service standards
 • Prepare and serve cocktails, beer, wine, spirits, zero-proof beverages, and other menu offerings according to approved recipes and presentation standards
 • Guide guests through beverage selections by explaining ingredients, flavor profiles, preparation methods, wine varietals, beer styles, and spirits
 • Anticipate guest needs, offer thoughtful recommendations, and responsibly promote menu items, specials, and events
 • Fulfill guest-facing and service-bar orders accurately and efficiently while maintaining quality and consistency

Bar Operations

• Operate the point-of-sale system accurately, including entering orders, managing tabs, processing payments, handling cash, and following accountability procedures
 • Set up, stock, organize, clean, and break down bar stations before, during, and after service
 • Maintain glassware, ice, garnishes, syrups, juices, mixers, tools, and backup products at established par levels
 • Maintain high standards for beverage quality, cocktail consistency, batching, garnish preparation, cleanliness, sanitation, timing, and bar presentation
 • Assist with receiving deliveries, rotating stock, restocking, controlling waste, and reporting shortages or product-quality concerns

Safety & Teamwork

• Follow responsible alcohol-service guidelines, verify identification when required, recognize signs of intoxication, and promptly involve management when concerns arise
 • Comply with food-safety, sanitation, chemical-safety, spill-response, and workplace-safety procedures
 • Communicate effectively with servers, hosts, barbacks, kitchen staff, and management to support smooth operations and exceptional service
 • Complete opening, shift-change, and closing duties while contributing to a positive, professional team culture

Service Standards & Guest Experience

• Maintain a welcoming and professional bar presence throughout each shift
 • Support a positive guest experience by responding promptly, communicating clearly, and resolving routine service needs appropriately
 • Represent The Kress brand through consistency, professionalism, and attention to detail
 • Escalate guest concerns, service issues, safety matters, or operational needs to management when appropriate

Experience & Certifications

• Support event, private party, and high-volume service needs as business demands require
 • Assist with maintaining organized bar storage areas and proper product rotation
 • Work collaboratively with the broader Kress Market team to support efficient operations and strong guest service

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• One to two years of professional bartending or comparable high-volume beverage-service experience preferred
 • Working knowledge of classic cocktails, spirits, beer, wine, bar tools, preparation methods, glassware, garnishes, and ticket flow; craft-cocktail knowledge is a plus
 • Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission certification required
 • Food Handler certification required

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to read and follow menus and recipes, enter orders, use a computerized register, calculate change, and settle checks accurately
 • Strong communication, guest-service, interpersonal, organization, and time-management skills
 • Ability to multitask, maintain composure, and work efficiently in a fast-paced, high-volume environment
 • Ability to communicate effectively in English with guests and team members and use suggestive-selling techniques
 • Reliable attendance and flexible availability for evenings, late nights, weekends, holidays, private events, and changing business needs
 • Ability to stand, walk, bend, lift, and carry up to 50 pounds throughout a shift

Success Factors

• Delivers consistent, high-quality beverage service and positive guest interactions
 • Maintains a clean, organized, stocked, and guest-ready bar environment
 • Follows responsible alcohol-service, safety, sanitation, and cash-handling procedures
 • Works collaboratively with management and team members to support smooth operations

Compliance Statement

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. The employee may perform other related duties as required to meet business needs.
 
 Let’s bring people back to the heart of El Paso through great food, new friendships, and a strong sense of community.