Lead Barista

Rice University • Houston, TX

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Barista is responsible for overseeing daily coffee shop operations within Rice Retail Dining while delivering an elevated hospitality experience aligned with Rice Hospitality standards. This role leads by example in beverage execution, guest engagement, and team development, ensuring consistency in product quality, service standards, and operational efficiency.

The Lead Barista supports multiple retail café locations and is responsible for training, coaching, and guiding student workers and barista teams alongside management. This position plays a critical role in maintaining brand standards, driving beverage-focused sales, and ensuring all food safety, sanitation, and cash handling procedures are executed with precision.

This role requires cross-training and operational support across at least two coffee shop locations within the Rice campus and works closely with the Retail Dining Manager, Culinary Leadership, and Hospitality team.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent required
• Three or more (3+) years of barista experience in a coffee shop or café setting
• Demonstrated experience leading or supervising baristas and/or cashiers
• Experience training staff on: Beverage preparation and recipe standards, Food safety and sanitation procedures, POS/cash handling systems
• Valid Food Handler Certification (ServSafe or equivalent)
• Knowledge of cleaning chemicals, sanitation standards, and safety procedures
• Ability to speak and understand basic English
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively in a team
• Ability to follow directions and complete assigned tasks with minimal supervision

Nice To Haves

• Experience in high-volume or campus dining environments
• Knowledge of specialty coffee, espresso calibration, and beverage development
• Familiarity with inventory systems, ordering processes, and waste control
• Strong understanding of hospitality-driven service models

Responsibilities

• Prepare and serve high-quality coffee, espresso, and specialty beverages according to standardized recipes
• Ensure consistency in product quality, presentation, and service execution
• Maintain a clean, organized, and guest-ready café environment at all times
• Support daily opening and closing procedures
• Lead and support a team of baristas and student workers during shifts
• Train new and existing team members on beverage standards, safety, sanitation, and customer service
• Reinforce proper procedures and hold team accountable to Rice Hospitality standards
• Provide real-time coaching and feedback to improve performance
• Deliver exceptional, hospitality-driven service to all guests
• Actively engage with customers to enhance their experience and build community
• Resolve guest concerns professionally and efficiently
• Assist with inventory tracking, ordering, and product management
• Monitor product levels and minimize waste through proper handling and rotation
• Operate POS systems accurately and ensure proper cash handling procedures
• Cross-train and provide operational support across multiple Rice Retail Dining café locations
• Adapt to different service styles, teams, and volumes while maintaining consistency
• Ensure adherence to all food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety standards
• Maintain cleanliness of equipment, counters, storage areas, and service stations
• Identify and report maintenance or operational issues
• Support catering or special event beverage service as needed
• Assist with merchandising, product displays, and promotional initiatives
• Perform other duties as assigned by Retail Dining leadership

Benefits

• Eligible for overtime

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED