Bartender in Boone, Iowa at Seven Oaks Recreation, Inc.

Department: Food & Beverage / Bar
Reports To: Food & Beverage Manager
Employment Type: Seasonal (Winter Ski Season with Event Season Opportunities)
Schedule: Full-Time or Part-Time; must be available evenings, weekends, holidays, and rotating shifts

Position Summary

The Bartender is responsible for providing exceptional guest service while preparing and serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in a fast-paced ski area environment. This seasonal position primarily supports winter ski operations from November through March, or the duration of the ski season. Opportunities may be available to continue employment during the event season following winter operations. Preference will be given to candidates who are available and interested in working both the winter ski season and the event season.

In addition to beverage service duties, this position supports winter guest services by issuing lift tickets to season passholders and verifying passholder identity in accordance with ski area policies. Any pass or ticketing issues beyond routine ticket issuance must be referred to the Ticket Office for resolution.

This position supports daily beverage service operations, maintains a clean, safe, and welcoming bar environment, and ensures compliance with all alcohol service laws and company policies. The ideal candidate is reliable, attentive, guest-focused, and comfortable enforcing age-verification, responsible alcohol service requirements, and season pass verification procedures.

This position requires regular face-to-face interaction with guests and a commitment to creating a positive guest experience.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Guest Service & Beverage Preparation

• Provide outstanding guest service in a professional, friendly, and courteous manner.
• Prepare and serve alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages according to established recipes, presentation standards, and responsible alcohol service guidelines.
• Prepare and serve draft beer, specialty drinks, cocktails, and other beverages.
• Verify guest identification and strictly enforce all legal age requirements and alcohol service regulations.
• Respond to guest questions, requests, and concerns promptly and professionally.
• Maintain a welcoming atmosphere while delivering efficient service during busy periods.

Lift Ticket & Season Pass Verification (Winter Operations)

• Issue lift tickets to season passholders in accordance with established ski area procedures.
• Verify the validity of season passes by confirming that the photograph associated with the pass matches the guest presenting the pass.
• Require guests to briefly remove face coverings, goggles, helmets, sunglasses, or other items as necessary to clearly verify identity.
• Ensure the guest presenting the pass is the authorized passholder before issuing a lift ticket.
• Maintain a courteous and professional approach while enforcing season pass verification requirements.
• Direct guests to the Ticket Office for assistance with pass discrepancies, account issues, eligibility questions, lost or forgotten passes, missing photos, or any other ticketing concerns.
• Refrain from making exceptions to established ticketing and pass verification policies without management authorization.

Point-of-Sale Operations

• Accurately operate the POS system to process orders, payments, sales, gratuities, lift ticket transactions, and refunds in accordance with company policies.
• Maintain accurate cash handling and drawer reconciliation procedures.
• Balance multiple guest transactions while ensuring accuracy and attention to detail.

Bar Operations & Inventory

• Prepare, stock, and maintain the bar with beverages, mixers, garnishes, glassware, equipment, and supplies.
• Assist with inventory counts, product rotation, ordering, and restocking as assigned.
• Complete all opening and closing duties, including securing alcohol, cleaning equipment, and properly storing products.
• Maintain organization and cleanliness of service areas and storage locations.

Safety, Sanitation & Compliance

• Follow all health, sanitation, safety, and food handling standards.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and sanitary work environment at all times.
• Adhere to responsible alcohol service practices and company policies.
• Report safety concerns, equipment issues, or incidents to management promptly.

Team Support

• Assist other departments when needed to support overall ski area and event operations.

Perform additional duties and responsibilities as assigned

Qualifications

Required

• Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of hire.
• Valid driver's license and authorization to work in the United States.
• Reliable transportation to and from the ski area.
• Must successfully pass a pre-employment background check and meet company hiring requirements.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Strong customer service skills with a commitment to responsible alcohol service, ID verification, and policy enforcement.
• Ability to remain calm, professional, and organized while managing multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision-making skills.
• Availability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and rotating shifts throughout the ski season.

Preferred

• Previous bartending experience.
• General knowledge of beverage preparation, drink recipes, and responsible alcohol service practices.
• I-PACT (Iowa Pledge Alcohol Compliance Training) certification or willingness to obtain certification.
• Previous customer service, ticketing, cash handling, or ski resort operations experience.
• Availability to continue employment during the event season following the winter ski season.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills.
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy, and patience.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to handle challenging situations professionally and enforce policies respectfully.
• Ability to confidently verify guest identity and enforce season pass and ticketing policies.
• Ability to perform basic math functions, calculate totals, make change, and manage tabs accurately.
• Dependable, trustworthy, and punctual.

Physical Demands

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
• Frequent bending, twisting, reaching, and lifting.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 40 pounds, including cases, supplies, and beverage inventory.
• Ability to work in varying temperatures, including refrigerated and outdoor environments.
• Ability to visually identify guests and compare guest appearance to season pass photographs.

Work Environment

• Fast-paced bar and hospitality environment with moderate to high noise levels during peak periods.
• Frequent interaction with guests, coworkers, and vendors.
• Exposure to beverage preparation equipment, cleaning products, cold storage areas, and seasonal weather conditions associated with ski area operations and outdoor events.
• Frequent face-to-face guest interaction requiring customer service, policy enforcement, and identity verification.

Disclaimer:

This job description is intended to describe the general duties and responsibilities of the position and is not an exhaustive list. Employees may be required to perform additional duties outside of their normal responsibilities as business needs dictate. Management reserves the right to modify or assign other duties as necessary. Employment is contingent upon successfully passing a background check and meeting all company hiring requirements.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Seven Oaks Recreation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Seven Oaks Recreation is committed to providing equal employment opportunities in all aspects of employment.