Barista - Temporary

Barnes & Noble • Akron, OH

6d

About The Position

A 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 through customer service, register work, delivery receiving and stocking, maintaining the bakes case and dining area, food and drink preparation, merchandising, and cleaning. Baristas are expected to learn operational competencies, work cooperatively with colleagues, and uphold company policies and café safety, hygiene, and sanitation standards.

The position requires reliable attendance, a positive and helpful attitude, flexibility to support store scheduling needs, and willingness to learn. Store hours can extend from early mornings to late evenings, including weekends and most holidays. Physical work includes prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and frequent walking. Baristas may support other stores when able and needed. With experience, they develop product and café knowledge, contribute to sales and promotions, and may advance to Senior Barista.

Requirements

• Maintain reliable and punctual attendance for scheduled shifts.
• Be flexible and responsive to store needs, including filling scheduling gaps when able.
• Approach work positively and perform assigned tasks purposefully, energetically, and reliably.
• Be supportive and considerate of colleagues and helpful to customers.
• Show aptitude and willingness to learn new skills and knowledge.
• Use registers, computers, tablets, programs, and other tools comfortably and efficiently.
• Perform physical work that includes prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and frequent walking.

Responsibilities

• Welcome customers cheerfully, answer questions, and help them choose beverages and café items.
• Operate registers quickly, reliably, and professionally.
• Maintain attractive café presentation, including the bakes case, dining area, counter, and floor retail fixtures.
• Receive, unpack, and accurately stock deliveries.
• Prepare food and drinks accurately using product knowledge, recipe guides, product specification sheets, and other tools.
• Complete daily and weekly cleaning tasks and maintain café cleanliness.
• Follow First In First Out (FIFO) practices and date products correctly.
• Support the bookfloor team when needed.
• Follow loss prevention procedures and de-escalation techniques; identify theft and seek support for problematic behavior or issues.
• Develop product knowledge across beverage, bakery, savory, gifting, and café retail options.
• Support sales objectives, new limited-time-offer items, and café promotions by sharing product knowledge with customers and colleagues.
• Recommend food and beverage customizations to customers.
• Use café training tools and apply café safety, hygiene, and sanitation procedures.
• Comply with company policies and procedures.

Benefits

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

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed