Barista - Temporary

Barnes & Noble•Springfield, VA

About The Position

The Barista is an integral member of a Barnes & Noble Café team, welcoming customers, answering questions, and helping them choose beverages and café items. The role supports efficient café operations and attractive presentation by stocking deliveries, maintaining the bake case and dining area, preparing food and drinks, and serving customers at the register in a friendly and professional manner. Baristas are expected to maintain reliable attendance, be positive and supportive colleagues, help customers, learn new skills, and respond flexibly to store scheduling needs. They must become proficient in café operations, including using technology and registers, merchandising, receiving and stocking deliveries, preparing products accurately, cleaning, following FIFO and product-dating practices, and applying loss-prevention and de-escalation procedures. They may also support the bookfloor team and, when needed and able, other stores in the wider Cluster. As their experience develops, Baristas build knowledge of café products, promotions, customization options, retail offerings, training tools, and food safety, hygiene, and sanitation procedures. The role offers a career path toward Senior Barista as skills and mastery develop. The position requires prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and extensive walking. Starting hourly pay is $15.00, depending on experience, seniority, geographic location, and other factors permitted by law. Benefits vary according to scheduled weekly hours and location; listed benefits include employee discounts, EAP, sick pay, paid time off, paid maternity and parental leave, company-paid holidays, transit, 401(k) with company match, health benefits, spending accounts, disability benefits, life insurance, and tuition reimbursement, subject to eligibility and plan terms.

Requirements

Maintain reliable and punctual attendance for scheduled shifts.
Be flexible and responsive to store scheduling needs, including filling scheduling gaps when able.
Work positively, purposefully, energetically, and reliably on assigned tasks.
Be supportive and considerate of colleagues and helpful to customers.
Show willingness and aptitude to learn new skills and knowledge.
Use registers, computers, tablets, programs, and other tools comfortably and efficiently.
Develop and apply merchandising and visual merchandising skills.
Make food and drinks accurately using available product information and recipe guides.
Perform café cleaning tasks reliably and accurately.
Follow FIFO practices and date products consistently and correctly.
Understand and follow loss-prevention procedures and de-escalation techniques.
Perform 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, including the bake case and dining area.
Operate registers quickly, accurately, and professionally.
Unpack deliveries and stock products efficiently and accurately.
Prepare food and drinks properly and accurately, using product information and recipe guides as needed.
Maintain café cleanliness by completing daily and weekly cleaning tasks during shifts.
Follow FIFO practices and consistently date products correctly.
Maintain counter, floor fixtures, and café merchandising and visual presentation.
Support the bookfloor team when needed and support other stores in the Cluster when able and needed.
Understand loss-prevention procedures and de-escalation techniques; identify theft and seek support for problematic behaviors or issues.
Build knowledge of beverage, bakery, savory, gifting, and café retail products and use it to maintain appealing presentation.
Share knowledge of new limited-time-offer items and café promotions with customers and colleagues.
Recommend food and beverage customizations to customers.
Use café training tools and apply food safety, hygiene, and sanitation guidelines and procedures.
Comply with company policies and procedures.