Barista - Temporary

Barnes & Noble • Waterloo, IA

5d • Onsite

About The Position

A Barnes & Noble Barista is an integral member of the Café team, welcoming customers, answering questions, and helping them choose beverages and café items. The role supports the attractive presentation and efficient operation of the Café by stocking deliveries, tidying the bake case and dining area, preparing food and drinks, and serving customers at the register in a quick, friendly, and professional manner.

Baristas are expected to maintain reliable attendance, be positive and considerate teammates, help customers cheerfully, learn new skills, and respond flexibly to store needs. The position involves learning Barnes & Noble’s operational competencies, including using registers and other technology, merchandising, receiving and stocking deliveries, preparing products accurately, completing cleaning tasks, applying FIFO and product-dating practices, and following loss-prevention procedures. Baristas may also support the bookfloor team and other stores in the wider Cluster when able and needed.

As their experience grows, Baristas build product knowledge across beverages, bakery, savory items, and gifting; maintain appealing displays; support sales objectives and promotions; make customization recommendations; use café training tools; and follow café safety, hygiene, and sanitation procedures. The position offers a development path toward Senior Barista as skills are mastered. Employees must comply with company policies and procedures.

The work requires prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and considerable walking. Benefits vary according to scheduled hours and location. The posting lists employee discounts, EAP, and sick pay for employees scheduled under 20 hours per week; additional paid time off and other benefits for employees scheduled 20–29.99 hours per week; and comprehensive health benefits, spending accounts, disability benefits, life insurance, transit, and tuition reimbursement, among other benefits, for employees scheduled 30 or more hours per week. Benefits are subject to plan terms and may vary by location or state regulations.

Requirements

• Maintain reliable and punctual attendance for scheduled shifts.
• Be flexible and responsive to store needs, including filling scheduling gaps when able; stores are open from early mornings to late evenings, including weekends and most holidays.
• Approach work positively and willingly, completing assigned tasks with purpose, energy, and reliability.
• Be considerate and supportive of colleagues and consistently helpful and cheerful with customers.
• Show aptitude and willingness to learn new skills and acquire knowledge.
• Be willing to learn and demonstrate the operational competencies of a Barnes & Noble Barista.
• Be able to perform physical work involving prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and considerable walking.
• Comply with company policies and procedures.

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 the register quickly, competently, and reliably while providing professional customer service.
• Unpack and receive deliveries, then stock products efficiently and accurately.
• Prepare food and drinks accurately using product knowledge, recipe guides, product specification sheets, and other available resources.
• Complete daily and weekly café cleaning tasks and maintain café cleanliness.
• Apply First In First Out (FIFO) practices and date products consistently and correctly.
• Support the bookfloor team and, when able and needed, other stores in the wider Cluster.
• Follow loss-prevention procedures and de-escalation techniques; identify theft or problematic behavior and seek support when needed.
• Build knowledge of beverage, bakery, savory, and gifting products and use it to maintain appealing displays.
• Support sales objectives, limited-time offers, café promotions, and retail options by sharing product knowledge with customers and colleagues.
• Recommend effective food and beverage customizations to customers.
• Use café training tools and follow café safety, hygiene, and sanitation procedures.
• Maintain reliable and punctual attendance, respond flexibly to store scheduling needs, and work supportively with colleagues.

Benefits

• Employee discount
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Sick pay
• Paid time off, including paid maternity and parental leave, for employees scheduled 20 or more hours per week
• Company-paid holidays for employees scheduled 20 or more hours per week
• 401(k) with company match for employees scheduled 20 or more hours per week
• Transit benefits for employees scheduled 20 or more hours per week
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits for employees scheduled 30 or more hours per week
• Healthcare and dependent care spending accounts for employees scheduled 30 or more hours per week
• Disability benefits for employees scheduled 30 or more hours per week
• Life insurance for employees scheduled 30 or more hours per week
• Tuition reimbursement for employees scheduled 30 or more hours per week

What This Job Offers

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