Barista - Temporary

Barnes & Noble • Buffalo, NY

26d • Onsite

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 by maintaining attractive presentation and cleanliness, stocking deliveries, keeping the bake case and dining area tidy, preparing food and drinks, and serving customers at the register.

The position requires reliable attendance, a positive and helpful approach to customers and colleagues, flexibility to support store scheduling needs, and a willingness to learn. Baristas are trained in café operations, merchandising, register use, receiving and stocking deliveries, food and drink preparation, cleaning, FIFO and product dating, loss prevention, and de-escalation. They may also support the bookfloor team or other stores in the wider Cluster when needed and able.

As their skills develop, Baristas build knowledge of café products, promotions, customization options, retail offerings, training resources, and safety, hygiene, and sanitation procedures. They are expected to comply with company policies and may advance to Senior Barista as they master the role.

Requirements

• Reliable and punctual attendance for scheduled shifts.
• A positive, energetic, and dependable approach to assigned work.
• A supportive and considerate attitude toward colleagues.
• A cheerful, helpful approach to customers.
• Aptitude and willingness to learn new skills and knowledge.
• Comfortable and efficient use of technology, including registers, computers, tablets, programs, and other tools.
• Ability to perform physical work involving prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and extensive walking.
• Enjoyment of working as a barista.

Responsibilities

• Welcome customers cheerfully, answer questions, and help them select beverages and café items.
• Maintain an attractive café presentation, including the counter, retail fixtures, bake case, and dining area.
• Use registers to serve customers quickly, reliably, and professionally.
• Receive, unpack, and accurately stock deliveries.
• Prepare food and drinks accurately using product information and recipe guides as needed.
• Complete daily and weekly café cleaning tasks and maintain cleanliness.
• Follow FIFO practices and date products consistently and correctly.
• Support the bookfloor team and, when able and needed, other stores in the wider Cluster.
• Build knowledge of beverage, bakery, savory, gifting, and café retail products.
• Share knowledge of promotions and key sales objectives with customers and colleagues.
• Recommend food and beverage customizations to customers.
• Follow café safety, hygiene, and sanitation procedures.
• Understand loss prevention and de-escalation procedures, identify theft or problematic behavior, and seek support when appropriate.
• Maintain reliable attendance and punctuality, and fill scheduling gaps when able.

Benefits

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

What This Job Offers

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