Cafe Team Expert

Barnes & Noble•Columbia, MD

10d

About The Position

The Café Team Expert (CTE) is an integral leader for the 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 demonstrate positive, proactive, supportive, customer-focused leadership; maintain reliable attendance; communicate effectively; prioritize barista support; and take initiative in their own development. The position requires mastery of Barnes & Noble Barista operational competencies, followed by continued development of expertise to support the café team, bookstore, and wider Cluster. The position involves physical activity, including prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and frequent walking. The employee may work in other stores when able and needed to support the wider Cluster, and must comply with company policies and procedures.

Requirements

Previous experience as a Lead Barista.
Ability to master Barnes & Noble Barista operational competencies, including drink making, food and beverage presentation, register operation, and customer service.
Ability to use data and reports to assess café sales, inventory, trends, waste, and profitability.
Strong visual merchandising skills.
Ability to coach and support team members, prioritize barista resources, and keep a shift on track.
Effective listening and communication skills.
Ability to identify theft and de-escalate challenging situations and problematic behaviors.
Ability to maintain café safety, hygiene, and sanitation standards.
Reliable, punctual attendance and flexibility to fill scheduling gaps when able.
Physical ability to perform prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and frequent walking.
Enjoyment of working as a barista.

Responsibilities

Lead and develop café team members by modeling standards, coaching their work, and supporting their development.
Use business data to assess sales, trends, waste, inventory, and profitability, and recommend and implement café action plans collaboratively with the Store Manager.
Prepare drinks and maintain food and beverage presentation standards; adjust displays and coach others in effective presentation.
Maintain counter and floor retail fixtures using visual merchandising skills.
Operate the register efficiently, take orders, and coach team members on order-taking and speed of service.
Support the bookfloor team using bookselling skills when available.
Coach the team to follow loss prevention procedures, maintain a safe and secure bookstore, identify theft, and de-escalate challenging situations and problematic behaviors.
Manage inventory by placing effective food and beverage orders.
Complete and submit accurate monthly inventory and waste logs on time.
Make effective food and beverage recommendations to customers and model this expertise for the team.
Review category sales, inventory quantities, and product waste reports, then 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 and procedures.
Maintain reliable, punctual attendance and fill scheduling gaps when able; demonstrate flexibility for store operating needs, including early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and most holidays.
Support the wider Cluster and other stores when able and needed.
Comply with company policies and procedures.