Cafe Team Expert

Barnes & Noble•Burlington, NC

About The Position

The Café Team Expert (CTE) is an integral leader of the Barnes & Noble café team, developing team knowledge and helping create a welcoming customer environment. The role uses business data to influence sales, trends, waste, and inventory, and collaborates with the Store Manager to develop and implement café action plans that support expected results and profitability. The CTE is expected to master the operational competencies of a Barnes & Noble Barista, including drink preparation, food and beverage presentation, visual merchandising, register operation, customer service, bookselling support, loss prevention, inventory ordering, and accurate monthly inventory and waste reporting. As experience grows, the CTE contributes greater café expertise, coaches and supports colleagues, reviews performance and product information, and helps maintain café safety, hygiene, and sanitation standards. The role involves physical activity such as prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and frequent walking. The CTE may also work in other stores when able and needed to support the wider Cluster. The position must comply with company policies and procedures.

Requirements

Reliable and punctual attendance for scheduled shifts.
Flexibility to fill scheduling gaps when able; the store operates from early mornings to late evenings every day, including weekends and most holidays.
Positive, proactive, reliable approach and ability to lead by example with purpose and energy.
Kindness, fairness, encouragement, and respect toward the store team.
Cheerful, helpful customer service and willingness to model it for colleagues.
Initiative in personal development, enthusiasm for learning, and willingness to use feedback to improve.
Active listening and clear communication to support company initiatives and goals.
Ability to prioritize resources and barista support appropriately.
Enjoyment of working as a barista.
Ability to master Barnes & Noble Barista operational competencies, including drink making, food and beverage presentation, merchandising, register operation, bookselling support, loss prevention, inventory ordering, and reporting.
Physical ability to perform prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and frequent walking.

Responsibilities

Lead by example and develop café team knowledge to provide a welcoming customer environment.
Use data to influence café sales, trends, waste, inventory, and profitability; present viable business strategies and collaborate with the Store Manager on café action plans.
Maintain punctual attendance and, when able, fill scheduling gaps in response to store needs.
Prioritize resources and barista support to keep shifts on track.
Prepare drinks and maintain food and beverage presentation standards; adjust displays and model and coach effective practices.
Maintain counter and floor retail fixtures using visual merchandising skills.
Operate the register efficiently, take customer orders, and coach others on efficient order taking and speed of service.
Support the bookfloor team with bookselling when available.
Coach the team on loss prevention procedures and help maintain a safe, secure bookstore by recognizing theft and de-escalating challenging situations and problematic behaviors.
Manage inventory through effective food and beverage orders, and complete and submit accurate monthly inventory and waste logs on time.
Make food and beverage recommendations using expert knowledge and model this for the team.
Review category sales, inventory quantities, and product waste reports, and act on the information to maximize sales and profitability.
Meet regularly with the Store Manager to review café sales performance, profitability, training, and opportunities.
Maintain café safety, hygiene, and sanitation standards.
Support colleagues and the wider Cluster, including working in other stores when able and needed.
Comply with all company policies and procedures.