Barista - Temporary

Barnes & Noble•McLean, VA

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 efficient café operations by maintaining an attractive, clean presentation; stocking deliveries; tending the bakery case and dining area; and serving customers quickly and professionally at the register. Baristas learn and perform the operational skills needed to run the Café, including using registers and other technology, merchandising, preparing food and beverages accurately, receiving and stocking deliveries, carrying out cleaning tasks, following FIFO and product-dating practices, and applying loss-prevention and de-escalation procedures. The position involves physical activity such as prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and extensive walking. Baristas may also support other stores in the wider Cluster when able and needed. As their knowledge develops, Baristas build expertise in café products, presentation, promotions, customization recommendations, training tools, and food safety, hygiene, and sanitation. The role offers a career path toward Senior Barista as skills are mastered. The employee must comply with company policies and procedures. This is a temporary position. The stated starting hourly rate is $15.00, with the actual rate dependent on experience, seniority, geographic location, and other factors permitted by law. Benefits vary according to scheduled weekly hours and location; stated offerings include an employee discount, EAP, sick pay, and, at qualifying hours, paid time off, paid maternity and parental leave, company-paid holidays, transit benefits, 401(k) with company match, health benefits, spending accounts, disability benefits, life insurance, and tuition reimbursement.

Requirements

Maintain reliable and punctual attendance for scheduled shifts.
Be flexible and responsive to store scheduling needs, including filling schedule gaps when able; stores are open early mornings through late evenings, every day, including weekends and most holidays.
Approach work positively and energetically, completing assigned tasks purposefully, diligently, and reliably.
Be supportive and considerate of colleagues and helpful to customers.
Show willingness and aptitude to learn new skills and knowledge.
Enjoy working as a barista.
Use registers, computers, tablets, programs, and other tools comfortably and efficiently.
Develop and demonstrate merchandising, visual merchandising, register operation, food and beverage preparation, stocking, cleaning, FIFO, product dating, and loss-prevention competencies.
Meet the physical demands of prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and extensive walking.

Responsibilities

Welcome customers cheerfully, answer questions, and help them select beverages and café items.
Maintain attractive café presentation and cleanliness, including the bakery case, dining area, counter, and retail fixtures.
Operate registers quickly, competently, and professionally.
Receive, unpack, and accurately stock deliveries.
Prepare food and beverages accurately using product knowledge, colleagues, recipe guides, product specification sheets, and other tools.
Complete daily and weekly cleaning tasks and follow café safety, hygiene, and sanitation procedures.
Apply First In First Out (FIFO) practices and date products consistently and correctly.
Support the bookfloor team when needed and support other stores in the wider Cluster when able and needed.
Follow loss-prevention procedures and de-escalation techniques; identify theft and seek support for problematic behavior or issues.
Build product knowledge across beverages, bakery, savory options, and gifting; use it to maintain appealing presentation and recommend customizations.
Communicate café promotions and limited-time offers to customers and colleagues and support sales objectives.
Use café training tools appropriately and comply with company policies and procedures.