This role has been filled. Please feel free to read over the description and send in your interest for any future openings we may have, but at this time are not hiring more people for this role.
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We're looking for a barback to help support our bartenders and keep everything moving behind the scenes at Doundrins Distilling.
This is not a bartending position. You won't be responsible for making or serving alcoholic drinks, and this role has much less customer interaction than our bartender position.
Instead, your job is basically to make sure the bartenders and other staff have what they need to keep doing their jobs.
There are a lot of different things happening throughout the tasting room, especially when we're busy. We're looking for someone who can learn how everything works, pay attention to what's going on around them, and figure out where they're needed without constantly having to ask what they should do next.
Pay & Schedule
- $10/hour + tips — our tipped staff have historically averaged around $26–$27/hour total
- Tips are pooled each day based on hours worked, and barbacks receive the same hourly share as bartenders
- Part-time, with the number of shifts varying based on our needs and your availability
- Shifts will primarily be during busier days and special events
- Event dates are known in advance
- Must be at least 14 years old
- Applicants under 18 must be able to work the scheduled hours and duties permitted for their age
What the Job Actually Looks Like
The biggest part of this job is paying attention to what's happening around you.
There isn't necessarily going to be one station where you stand for your entire shift or a list of tasks that you work through in order. What needs the most help can change pretty quickly, especially during a busy event.
You might be washing dishes and notice the bar is running low on ice. Once that's taken care of, you might see dirty tables that need to be cleared, food waiting in the kitchen that needs to be run, a syrup that's almost empty, or a bathroom that needs to be restocked.
We don't expect you to know all of that on your first shift. We'll teach you where things are, what needs to stay stocked, and how everything works.
Once you learn the job, though, we're looking for someone who can see what needs to be done and go do it.
You'll be responsible for things like:
- Keeping the bar stocked with the supplies bartenders need
- Refilling ice throughout service
- Restocking syrups and other cocktail supplies
- Restocking bottles and other supplies as needed
- Washing and putting away glasses and dishes
- Bussing tables and collecting dirty glassware and dishes throughout the facility
- Wiping down and resetting tables
- Running food from the kitchen to the service/pickup area
- Helping keep food service moving when needed
- Restocking bathrooms and making sure they stay clean and supplied
- Taking out trash and replacing liners
- Helping with general cleaning and organization throughout the tasting room
- Jumping in to support bartenders, kitchen staff, door staff or other event staff wherever help is needed
You will not be responsible for making or serving alcoholic drinks.
What We're Looking For
This is probably the most important part of the job:
We need someone who can work independently and recognize what needs attention without constantly waiting to be given another task.
We're not looking for someone who finishes washing the dishes and then stands there until a bartender tells them what to do next.
We're looking for someone who finishes the dishes, looks around, realizes the ice is getting low, fills it, notices a table full of empty glasses on the way back, grabs those, and then sees what else needs attention.
You'd probably be a good fit if you:
- Are good at noticing what needs to be done and taking care of it
- Can prioritize what's most important when several things need attention at once
- Like staying busy and are comfortable being on the move throughout your shift
- Can switch between different tasks quickly as priorities change
- Don't need constant direction once you've learned how things work
- Are willing to jump in wherever you're most useful at that moment
- Can keep track of what's getting low and restock it before it becomes a problem
- Communicate with bartenders and other staff without needing them to manage your entire workload
- Can stay organized when things get busy
- Are dependable and show up when you're scheduled
Previous restaurant, bar, event or food-service experience is helpful, but it isn't required for this position. We're much more concerned with finding someone who has the right work style.
We can teach you where everything goes and how we do things. What we're really looking for is someone who naturally pays attention, takes initiative and likes staying busy.
A Good First Job, Too
Because this position does not involve making or serving alcoholic drinks, applicants can be as young as 14.
This could be a great first job for someone younger who is responsible, wants to work, and is comfortable being on their feet and staying busy.
You don't need to already know how a bar or restaurant works. We'll teach you the actual tasks. What we need from you is a willingness to learn and, once you know what needs to be done, the ability to take some ownership of it without waiting for someone to tell you every single thing to do.
What This Job Isn't
Just to be clear, this isn't a bartender position without experience.
You won't be expected to learn our cocktail recipes, make alcoholic drinks or spend your shift taking customer orders at the bar.
Your role is to support the people doing those things so they don't have to stop what they're doing to fill an ice bin, find supplies, wash a rack of glasses, run food, clear a table or take out the trash.
When this position is working well, our bartenders can stay behind the bar taking care of customers because you're helping take care of everything else that keeps the bar running.
Interested?
Send your resume along with your general availability to admin@doundrins.com.
If this would be your first job and you don't have a resume yet, that's completely fine. Just send us an email with a little bit about yourself, your general availability, and why you're interested in the position.