Lead Barista - FT

Barnes & Noble•Strongsville, OH

About The Position

The Lead Barista is an integral member of a Barnes & Noble café team, providing hands-on leadership and helping oversee the efficient operation of the Café. The role models strong operational practices, coaches and supports baristas, maintains compelling product presentations, and fosters a welcoming environment where colleagues feel comfortable raising questions or concerns. The Lead Barista also supports bookstore presentation and safety standards and may assist other stores in the wider Cluster when able and needed. The position requires proficiency in drink making, food preparation, merchandising, register service, receiving and stocking deliveries, cleaning, inventory and waste logging, ordering, customer recommendations, and café safety and sanitation. The Lead Barista helps the team meet sales objectives and develops café colleagues through coaching and use of training resources. The role is part of a career path with opportunities to take on further challenges as skills develop.

Requirements

Demonstrated proficiency in drink making, food preparation, and café operational tools and processes.
Strong merchandising skills and ability to maintain presentation and cleanliness standards.
Ability to coach colleagues in customer service, register speed and accuracy, stocking, cleaning, and café operations.
Ability to support loss prevention, recognize theft, and de-escalate challenging situations.
Reliable and punctual attendance, with flexibility to fill scheduling gaps when able.
Positive, proactive, supportive, and considerate approach to work and colleagues.
Cheerful, helpful customer service.
Willingness and aptitude to learn new skills and knowledge, take initiative, and support others’ development.
Ability to perform prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and extensive walking.
Enjoyment of working as a barista.

Nice To Haves

Interest and ambition in developing a bookselling or café career.
Ability to work in other stores in the wider Cluster when needed.

Responsibilities

Model and coach best practices in drink making, food preparation, and café tools and processes.
Coach the café team in merchandising and maintaining a full, vibrant bake case and attractive, clean displays.
Guide baristas in visual merchandising and maintaining counter and floor retail fixtures and a neat Café.
Coach baristas on customer conversations, register speed, and transaction accuracy.
Support baristas in receiving and unpacking deliveries and stocking accurately and efficiently using First In First Out (FIFO) practices.
Support execution of daily and weekly café cleaning tasks and maintain cleanliness standards.
Support the bookfloor team in maintaining presentation standards.
Coach the team on loss prevention procedures and help maintain a safe, secure bookstore, including spotting theft and de-escalating challenging situations and problematic behaviors.
Place food and beverage orders accurately and promptly, using tools and resources to keep the Café in stock.
Complete and submit accurate monthly inventory and waste logs on time.
Coach the team in making effective food and beverage recommendations to customers.
Lead and support the Café’s focus on sales objectives, including new limited-time offers, café promotions, and Membership, and share relevant information with customers and colleagues.
Use café training tools and resources to help baristas broaden their experience.
Apply knowledge of café safety, hygiene, and sanitation guidelines and procedures.
Act as a resource for baristas and booksellers, address and resolve concerns, and raise issues to leadership.
Prioritize resources and barista support to keep the shift on track.
Maintain reliable, punctual attendance and fill scheduling gaps when able.
Support other stores in the wider Cluster when able and needed.
Comply with company policies and procedures.