Dishwasher / Prep

Dishwasher / Prep

Department: Back of House / Kitchen Operations
 Reports To: Kitchen Manager / Chef / Food & Beverage Manager
 FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
 Location: Kress Food Market, Downtown El Paso

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. The Dishwasher / Prep Person supports the back-of-house team by keeping dishware, cookware, utensils, kitchen equipment, and service supplies clean, organized, stocked, and ready for use.
 
 This role is essential to maintaining sanitation standards, supporting timely service, and helping the kitchen stay prepared during regular service, high-volume rushes, private events, and game-day business. The ideal team member is dependable, hardworking, organized, safety-minded, and willing to assist wherever needed to keep operations moving smoothly.

Key Responsibilities

Dishwashing, Sanitation & Station Readiness

• Wash, rinse, sanitize, dry, and organize dishes, glassware, utensils, cookware, sheet pans, cutting boards, smallwares, and kitchen tools according to sanitation standards
 • Operate dishwashing equipment safely and correctly, including proper loading, unloading, chemical use, temperature awareness, and routine cleaning of the machine and dish area
 • Maintain a clean, safe, and organized dish station throughout the shift, including floors, drains, shelving, dish return areas, trash areas, and chemical storage
 • Keep plates, baskets, trays, utensils, pans, and smallwares stocked and available to support service flow
 • Respond quickly to dish and equipment needs during rush periods, late-night service, private events, and changing business volume

Food Preparation & Kitchen Support

• Assist cooks and kitchen leadership with basic prep tasks such as washing produce, portioning ingredients, preparing sauces, labeling containers, stocking stations, and organizing mise en place
 • Follow prep lists, recipes, portioning expectations, storage procedures, and management direction accurately
 • Support first-in, first-out rotation, date marking, allergen awareness, and cross-contamination prevention procedures
 • Assist with receiving deliveries, putting away products, rotating stock, and notifying management of low supplies, damaged products, or equipment concerns
 • Help reset and restock work areas quickly so the kitchen remains prepared for continued service

Cleanliness, Safety & Side Work

• Sweep, mop, clean spills, sanitize surfaces, and maintain clean floors, work areas, storage spaces, and back-of-house pathways
 • Remove trash, recycling, boxes, and food waste as directed while keeping dumpster, storage, and disposal areas clean and orderly
 • Follow food-safety, sanitation, chemical-safety, spill-response, personal hygiene, and workplace-safety procedures consistently
 • Complete opening, closing, cleaning, and side-work duties according to company standards and shift expectations
 • Report equipment issues, safety concerns, broken items, shortages, or sanitation concerns to management promptly

Teamwork & Operational Support

• Communicate respectfully and effectively with cooks, servers, bartenders, barbacks, dish staff, and managers to support smooth service
 • Maintain a steady pace and sense of urgency while balancing cleanliness, safety, and accuracy
 • Assist with kitchen, service, or cleaning needs as directed during peak business periods and staffing changes
 • Maintain professional conduct, teamwork, and a positive attitude in a fast-paced hospitality environment
 • Take ownership of support tasks that help the kitchen and service teams remain guest-ready

Schedule, Flexibility & Business Needs

• Maintain reliable attendance, punctuality, and readiness to work assigned shifts
 • Work morning, afternoon, evening, late-night, weekend, holiday, game-day, event, and flexible schedules based on business needs
 • Adapt to changing business volume, televised events, private parties, staffing levels, and seasonal demand
 • Remain calm, productive, and team-focused during high-volume rushes and fast-changing service needs
 • Perform other related duties as assigned to support restaurant operations and guest experience

Qualifications

Education, Experience & Certifications

• Previous dishwasher, prep cook, kitchen helper, restaurant, or hospitality experience preferred but not required
 • Basic understanding of food safety, dish sanitation, chemical safety, cross-contamination prevention, and proper storage practices preferred
 • Ability to follow instructions, prep lists, recipes, sanitation procedures, safety standards, and management direction accurately
 • Food Handler certification required where applicable by law, regulation, or company policy
 • Reliable attendance, punctuality, teamwork, and flexible availability required

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to work quickly and steadily in a fast-paced kitchen while maintaining cleanliness, organization, and safe work habits
 • Ability to communicate effectively in English with coworkers and management
 • Strong sense of urgency, teamwork, dependability, attention to detail, and willingness to help where needed
 • Ability to complete basic prep tasks accurately, including washing produce, portioning, labeling, stocking, and rotating ingredients
 • Ability to use commercial dish machines, three-compartment sinks, sanitizer buckets, mop stations, and kitchen cleaning tools safely
 • Ability to stand and walk for extended periods, bend, reach, twist, squat, scrub, wash, mop, sweep, carry dish racks, and perform repetitive hand and arm movements throughout the shift
 • Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull items up to 50 pounds with proper technique or assistance when needed

Success Factors

• Keeps dishware, cookware, utensils, and kitchen tools clean, organized, and ready for use
 • Maintains a clean, safe, and efficient dish station throughout each shift
 • Supports cooks and kitchen leadership with accurate, timely prep work
 • Follows food-safety, sanitation, chemical-safety, and workplace-safety procedures consistently
 • Responds quickly to changing service needs, rush periods, private events, and game-day volume
 • Communicates respectfully and works well with back-of-house and front-of-house teammates
 • Takes ownership of cleanliness, readiness, and overall support of restaurant 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.