Barista

Barnes & Noble•Sterling, VA

4d•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 an attractive, clean café and its efficient operation by stocking deliveries, maintaining food and retail displays, and serving customers quickly and professionally at the register. Baristas are expected to be reliable, punctual, positive, flexible when able to help fill scheduling gaps, considerate of colleagues, cheerful with customers, and willing to learn. They work as part of a busy team and must learn café operations, including preparing food and drinks, maintaining cleanliness and merchandising, following FIFO and product-dating practices, and using registers and other technology. They may also support the bookfloor team and, when needed and able, work in other stores within the wider Cluster. As their experience grows, Baristas build knowledge of café products, promotions, customizations, retail options, training tools, and safety, hygiene, and sanitation procedures. Employees who master the role’s skills are expected to advance to Senior Barista. The position involves prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and extensive walking.

Requirements

Maintain reliable and punctual attendance for scheduled shifts.
Be flexible and responsive to store needs, including filling scheduling gaps when able; the store operates from early mornings to late evenings every day, including weekends and most holidays.
Approach work positively and willingly, completing assigned tasks purposefully, energetically, and reliably.
Be supportive and considerate of colleagues and consistently helpful and cheerful with customers.
Show aptitude and willingness to learn new skills and knowledge.
Be willing to master café operational competencies, including use of registers, computers, tablets, programs, and other tools.
Perform physical activities including prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and extensive walking.

Responsibilities

Welcome customers cheerfully, answer questions, and help them choose beverages and café items.
Maintain the attractive presentation and cleanliness of the café, including the bakes 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 items efficiently and accurately.
Prepare food and drinks accurately using product knowledge, recipe guides, product specification sheets, and colleague support.
Complete daily and weekly cleaning tasks and follow café safety, hygiene, sanitation, FIFO, and product-dating procedures.
Learn and use café products, promotions, sales objectives, and customization options to support customers, colleagues, and café sales.
Support the bookfloor team when needed and, when able, support other stores in the wider Cluster.
Follow loss-prevention procedures, identify theft or problematic behavior, and seek support or use de-escalation techniques as appropriate.
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 employees scheduled 20 or more hours per week)
Company-paid holidays (for employees scheduled 20 or more hours per week)
Transit benefits (for employees scheduled 20 or more hours per week)
401(k) with company match (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)