Wine Steward Jobs for OPT Students
Wine Steward jobs on OPT are available at fine dining restaurants, hotels, wine bars, and specialty retailers. Your 12-month OPT window starts the moment you begin working, so timing your job search around your program end date matters. STEM extension does not apply to this role.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Create an outstanding customer experience through exceptional service. Establish and maintain a safe and clean environment that encourages our customers to return. Assist the department manager in reaching sales and profit goals established for the department, and monitor all established quality assurance standards. Embrace the Customer 1st strategy and encourage associates to deliver excellent customer service. Demonstrate the company's core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety of others. From one tiny Cincinnati grocery store more than a century ago, we've grown into what today is the nation's largest grocer with nearly 2,800 stores in 35 states operating under 28 different names. As America's grocer, we take pride in bringing diverse teams with a passion for food and people together with one common purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit. With a history of innovation, we work tirelessly to create amazing experiences for our customers, communities AND each other, with food at the heart of it all. Here, people matter. That's why we strive to provide the ingredients you need to create your own recipe for success at work and in life. We help feed your future by providing the value and care you need to grow. If you're caring, purpose-driven and hungry to learn, your potential is unlimited. Whether you're seeking a part-time position or a new career path, we've got a fresh opportunity for you. Apply today to become part of our Kroger family!
WHAT YOU'LL RECEIVE FROM US:
The Kroger Family of Companies offers comprehensive benefits to support your Associate Well-Being, including Physical, Emotional, Financial and more. We'll help you thrive, with access to:
- A wide range of healthcare coverage, including affordable, comprehensive medical, dental, vision and prescription coverage, through company plans or collective bargaining agreement plans.
- Flexible scheduling in full- and part-time roles with paid time off, including holiday and sick pay based on eligibility and length of service.
- Emotional and financial support with free counseling through our Employee Assistance Program and free, confidential financial tools and coaching with Goldman Sachs Ayco.
- Valuable associate discounts on purchases, including food, travel, technology and so much more.
- Up to $21,000 in tuition reimbursement over your career, through our industry-leading Continuing Education program.
- Vast potential for growth, through an abundance of industry-leading training programs and diverse career pathways.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Second language (speaking, reading and/or writing)
- Knowledge of imported and domestic varieties, the flavor profiles and how they are made
- Knowledge of industry trends in specialty wines and beers as they relate to the consumer
- Experience working with wine and beer
- Retail experience
- High school education or equivalent
- Must be 21 years of age
- Ability to handle stressful situations
- Effective communication skills
- Knowledge of basic math
- Pass wine test once employed
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Promote trust and respect among associates
- Create an environment that enables customers to feel welcome, important and appreciated by answering questions regarding products sold within the department and throughout the store
- Gain and maintain knowledge of products sold within the department and be able to respond to questions and make suggestions about products
- Offer product samples, consistent with company guidelines and applicable laws, to help customers discover new items or products inquire about
- Inform customers of wine specials
- Provide customers with products that they have requested
- Recommend wine items to customers to ensure they get the products they want and need
- Assist customers with pairing of wine and other items such as meat, cheeses, desserts
- Collaborate with store chef for wine tastings and other programs featuring wines
- Stay current with present, future, seasonal and special ads
- Ensure proper temperatures in cases and coolers are maintained and temperature logs are maintained
- Reinforce safety programs by complying with safety procedures and identify unsafe conditions and notify store management
- Practice preventive maintenance by properly inspecting equipment and notify appropriate department or store manager of any items in need of repair
- Notify management of customer or employee accidents
- Report all safety risk, or issues, and illegal activity, including: robbery, theft or fraud
- Must be able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation
For more information about benefits and eligibility, please visit our Benefits Page!
INTRODUCTION
Create an outstanding customer experience through exceptional service. Establish and maintain a safe and clean environment that encourages our customers to return. Assist the department manager in reaching sales and profit goals established for the department, and monitor all established quality assurance standards. Embrace the Customer 1st strategy and encourage associates to deliver excellent customer service. Demonstrate the company's core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety of others. From one tiny Cincinnati grocery store more than a century ago, we've grown into what today is the nation's largest grocer with nearly 2,800 stores in 35 states operating under 28 different names. As America's grocer, we take pride in bringing diverse teams with a passion for food and people together with one common purpose: To Feed the Human Spirit. With a history of innovation, we work tirelessly to create amazing experiences for our customers, communities AND each other, with food at the heart of it all. Here, people matter. That's why we strive to provide the ingredients you need to create your own recipe for success at work and in life. We help feed your future by providing the value and care you need to grow. If you're caring, purpose-driven and hungry to learn, your potential is unlimited. Whether you're seeking a part-time position or a new career path, we've got a fresh opportunity for you. Apply today to become part of our Kroger family!
WHAT YOU'LL RECEIVE FROM US:
The Kroger Family of Companies offers comprehensive benefits to support your Associate Well-Being, including Physical, Emotional, Financial and more. We'll help you thrive, with access to:
- A wide range of healthcare coverage, including affordable, comprehensive medical, dental, vision and prescription coverage, through company plans or collective bargaining agreement plans.
- Flexible scheduling in full- and part-time roles with paid time off, including holiday and sick pay based on eligibility and length of service.
- Emotional and financial support with free counseling through our Employee Assistance Program and free, confidential financial tools and coaching with Goldman Sachs Ayco.
- Valuable associate discounts on purchases, including food, travel, technology and so much more.
- Up to $21,000 in tuition reimbursement over your career, through our industry-leading Continuing Education program.
- Vast potential for growth, through an abundance of industry-leading training programs and diverse career pathways.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Second language (speaking, reading and/or writing)
- Knowledge of imported and domestic varieties, the flavor profiles and how they are made
- Knowledge of industry trends in specialty wines and beers as they relate to the consumer
- Experience working with wine and beer
- Retail experience
- High school education or equivalent
- Must be 21 years of age
- Ability to handle stressful situations
- Effective communication skills
- Knowledge of basic math
- Pass wine test once employed
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Promote trust and respect among associates
- Create an environment that enables customers to feel welcome, important and appreciated by answering questions regarding products sold within the department and throughout the store
- Gain and maintain knowledge of products sold within the department and be able to respond to questions and make suggestions about products
- Offer product samples, consistent with company guidelines and applicable laws, to help customers discover new items or products inquire about
- Inform customers of wine specials
- Provide customers with products that they have requested
- Recommend wine items to customers to ensure they get the products they want and need
- Assist customers with pairing of wine and other items such as meat, cheeses, desserts
- Collaborate with store chef for wine tastings and other programs featuring wines
- Stay current with present, future, seasonal and special ads
- Ensure proper temperatures in cases and coolers are maintained and temperature logs are maintained
- Reinforce safety programs by complying with safety procedures and identify unsafe conditions and notify store management
- Practice preventive maintenance by properly inspecting equipment and notify appropriate department or store manager of any items in need of repair
- Notify management of customer or employee accidents
- Report all safety risk, or issues, and illegal activity, including: robbery, theft or fraud
- Must be able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation
For more information about benefits and eligibility, please visit our Benefits Page!
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Wine Steward
Target employers with international staff
Fine dining restaurants, luxury hotel groups, and wine importers regularly hire internationally. These employers are more familiar with OPT work authorization and less likely to be discouraged by the 12-month time limit or future sponsorship conversations.
Lead with your authorization status upfront
Wine Steward roles involve close-knit teams and long hiring cycles. Clarify your OPT status early so employers can plan around your authorization window. Avoiding this conversation until late wastes everyone's time and damages trust.
Highlight sommelier certifications and wine credentials
Court of Master Sommeliers certifications, WSET diplomas, or comparable credentials signal professional seriousness. Employers weighing OPT paperwork complexity are more likely to proceed when your qualifications are clearly documented and industry-recognized.
Research H-2B and H-1B sponsorship history
Hospitality groups that have previously sponsored work visas are your strongest prospects. Employers already familiar with petition filing processes face far less friction when considering sponsorship for a skilled, proven Wine Steward on OPT.
Apply before your OPT start date
You can interview and receive an offer before your OPT begins, but you cannot start working until your EAD is issued and your OPT period officially starts. Build this buffer into your timeline so your first day aligns correctly.
Frame the 12-month window as a trial period
Employers hesitant about long-term commitment respond well to framing OPT as a structured evaluation period. Position your 12 months as proof of performance before any sponsorship discussion, reducing perceived risk for the hiring manager.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Wine Steward on F-1 OPT?
Yes. Wine Steward roles qualify for F-1 OPT as long as the position is directly related to your field of study. Hospitality management, culinary arts, food science, and related programs all have clear connections to this role. Your EAD card must be in hand before your first day of work.
Does the Wine Steward role qualify for a STEM OPT extension?
No. Wine Steward positions are not classified under STEM-designated CIP codes, so the 24-month STEM OPT extension does not apply. Your OPT authorization is limited to the standard 12 months. If you want to continue working after that period, your employer would need to sponsor an H-2B, H-1B, or other qualifying visa.
How do I find Wine Steward employers open to OPT students?
Migrate Mate is the best starting point. The platform surfaces Wine Steward listings from employers with a track record of hiring international candidates, which saves you from applying to roles where OPT is an automatic disqualifier. Filtering by visa-friendliness early makes your 12-month window count for more.
What happens to my OPT status if my Wine Steward contract ends early?
You have a 60-day grace period after losing employment during your OPT period. During those 60 days you can search for a new qualifying role. However, you cannot work during the grace period. If you exceed 90 days of total unemployment across your OPT period, USCIS considers your OPT violated and your status at risk.
Can a Wine Steward role lead to long-term visa sponsorship?
It depends on the employer. Wine Stewards at large hotel groups, fine dining chains, or wine importers with established HR infrastructure are more likely to have sponsored visas before. H-2B is common in seasonal hospitality; H-1B is less typical for this role unless it involves significant management or specialized expertise. Start the sponsorship conversation early.
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