Barista - Temporary

Barnes & Noble•Hickory, NC

18d•Onsite

About The Position

The Barista is an integral member of the Barnes & Noble Café team, welcoming customers, answering questions, and helping them choose beverages and café items. The role supports efficient café operations and an attractive presentation by stocking deliveries, maintaining the bake case and dining area, operating registers, and providing quick, friendly service. Baristas are expected to demonstrate reliable attendance, flexibility where possible, a positive and energetic approach, consideration for colleagues, cheerful customer service, willingness to learn, and enjoyment of the work. Baristas learn and perform café operational tasks, including using registers and other technology, merchandising café and retail fixtures, preparing food and drinks accurately, receiving and stocking deliveries, completing cleaning tasks, following FIFO and product-dating practices, and supporting the bookfloor team when needed. They are also expected to understand loss prevention procedures and de-escalation techniques, and to follow company policies and procedures. As their knowledge develops, Baristas build familiarity with beverage, bakery, savory, and gifting products; maintain appealing displays; communicate promotions and sales objectives; recommend customizations; use café training tools; and uphold café safety, hygiene, and sanitation standards. The role may involve working at other stores when needed and as the employee is able. Physical activity includes prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and extensive walking. With demonstrated mastery, Baristas are expected to advance to Senior Barista.

Requirements

Reliable and punctual attendance for scheduled shifts.
Flexibility and responsiveness to store scheduling needs, including filling scheduling gaps when able.
A positive, energetic, hardworking, and reliable approach to assigned tasks.
A supportive and considerate approach to colleagues.
Cheerful, helpful customer service.
Aptitude and willingness to learn new skills and knowledge.
Comfortable and efficient use of registers, computers, tablets, programs, and other tools.
Ability to perform physical activity including prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and extensive walking.

Responsibilities

Welcome customers, answer questions, and help them select beverages and café items.
Maintain an attractive café presentation, including the bake case, dining area, counter, and retail fixtures.
Operate registers quickly, reliably, and professionally.
Receive, unpack, and accurately stock deliveries.
Prepare food and drinks accurately using product knowledge, colleagues’ knowledge, and available recipe guides and product information.
Complete daily and weekly café cleaning tasks and maintain cleanliness.
Follow First In First Out (FIFO) practices and date products correctly.
Support the bookfloor team when needed.
Understand and follow loss prevention procedures and de-escalation techniques; identify theft or problematic behavior and seek support.
Build product knowledge across beverage, bakery, savory, and gifting options, and use it to maintain appealing displays and assist customers.
Communicate café promotions and sales objectives to customers and colleagues, and recommend food and beverage customizations.
Use café training tools and follow café safety, hygiene, and sanitation procedures.
Comply with company policies and procedures.
Work at other stores when able and needed to support the wider Cluster.

Benefits

Employee discount
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Sick pay
Paid time off, including paid maternity and parental leave (for eligible scheduled hours)
Company-paid holidays (for eligible scheduled hours)
Transit benefits (for eligible scheduled hours)
401(k) with company match (for eligible scheduled hours)
Medical, dental, and vision benefits (for employees scheduled 30 or more hours)
Healthcare and dependent care spending accounts (for employees scheduled 30 or more hours)
Disability benefits (for employees scheduled 30 or more hours)
Life insurance (for employees scheduled 30 or more hours)
Tuition reimbursement (for employees scheduled 30 or more hours)