LEAD BARISTA - CoCo, Gimme! Coffee

Gimme Coffee, Inc. • Ithaca, NY

5d • $18 - $18 • Onsite

About The Position

Gimme! Coffee is seeking an awesome Lead Barista for their CoCo cafe. This position is responsible for creating an outstanding experience for all Gimme customers. Lead Baristas work individually and as part of a team to provide excellent customer service, prepare high quality beverages, carry out store operations, maintain a clean and pleasant store environment, and constantly seek to further their coffee knowledge and improve their skills. The Lead Barista also serves as a store leader, helping to coordinate store operations and acting as a role model for customer service, drink preparation, store cleanliness and organization, teamwork, and respect. This role assists with staff coaching and training, coffee quality feedback, inventory and admin tasks, initiatives to improve store performance, carrying out managerial duties when the Store Manager is unavailable, and other tasks as assigned.

Requirements

• Exceptional interpersonal and customer service skills: active listening, social perceptiveness, and service orientation (actively looking for ways to help people).
• Strong speaking skills; ability to speak clearly and communicate information effectively.
• Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions and request clarification.
• Ability to work without direction and solve problems appropriately and independently.
• Ability to work individually and as part of a team.
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, adapt, and and work efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to add, subtract , and count money accurately.
• Appreciation for coffee and ability to accurately distinguish different coffee tastes and aromas.
• Ability to hear and see close detail in order to monitor beverage quality.
• Experience coaching, training, and developing others’ skills.
• Ability to independently problem-solve, demonstrating sound judgement.
• Effective time management and delegation skills.
• A minimum of one year of specialty coffee Barista experience
• Supervisory and/or training experience strongly preferred
• (NYC only) Food Handler’s Certificate or ability to secure it within first 60 days of employment

Responsibilities

• Acts as a role model for customer service, drink preparation, store cleanliness and organization, teamwork and respect.
• Acts as an on-the-floor leader, delegating tasks and ensuring efficient and effective operations.
• Carries out managerial duties when Store Manager is unavailable, and holds staff accountable for all tasks and job responsibilities.
• Helps facilitate and direct barista in-store training on store operations and drink preparation; provides on-going coaching to all staff as needed or requested by Store Manager and Regional Trainer.
• Continues to learn and share coffee knowledge and actively tastes coffees with staff; consistently tastes fellow baristas’ drinks and gives clear and specific feedback, including tips to improve where needed.
• Actively posts on Trello with weekly updates on all staff, including new hire training progress on a shift by shift basis.
• Provides regular coffee quality feedback as requested by the Coffee Department.
• Attends regular management team meetings and communicates proactively with Store Manager about issues and opportunities.
• Helps keep labor within budget by assessing daily labor needs and instructing staff to stay late or leave early as needed.
• Demonstrates the ability to take inventory and pull weekly sales reports.
• Understands store COGS and places orders appropriately.
• Does deposits and bank runs as requested by Store Manager.
• Assists in monthly promo rollout tasks as requested by Store Manager, including point of sale software updates and button management.
• Checks email daily, quickly responds to calls and texts from co-workers and Store Manager.
• Assists Store Manager with other tasks as requested, including projects and initiatives to improve store performance.
• Provides excellent customer service; anticipates and responds to customer needs; proactively resolves customer concerns.
• Smiles at and makes appropriate eye contact with customers.
• Maintains a welcoming and pleasant cafe atmosphere.
• Expedites customer orders and line movement; takes orders and marks cups accurately; sets up drinks appropriately.
• Shows interest in coffee: asks questions, seeks further knowledge, and shares coffee knowledge with customers appropriately and articulately.
• Demonstrates knowledge of merchandise and pastries.
• Prepares and serves all beverages and supply recipes to standard, including espresso, bulk brew, manual brew, specialty drinks, and tea.
• Prepares consistent and delicious espresso and communicates parameters to co-workers and QC team.
• Serves milk at proper temperature and texture; pours latte art to standard.
• Practices efficient workflow; keeps up bar and service speed.
• Maintains a clean working environment.
• Remains calm and productive under pressure.
• Attends labs and cuppings with enthusiasm; participates, accomplishes learning objectives, and applies knowledge on bar.
• Stays familiar with coffee tasting notes; tastes coffee frequently and maintains knowledge.
• Works in a sanitary manner; practices personal cleanliness, proper handwashing and hand care, correct food handling, adherence to work attire policies, avoiding unsanitary habits and actions, and notifying supervisors of health issues and illness.
• Correctly and accurately handles cash, records paid-outs, and completes opening and closing cash drawer tasks.
• Carries out maintenance and cleaning procedures according to standards; seeks to organize, neaten, and beautify at all times. Shows initiative in seeking out and completing side-work tasks.
• Adheres to FIFO and follows company standards for stocking, rotating, storing, and merchandising products. Helps maintain a clean and organized back-stock/store-room.
• Prepares for shift change-over to ensure smooth and efficient transition; sets up next shift for success; completes shift checklists.
• Contributes to store sales goals.
• Communicates scheduling requests to SM in a timely fashion and follows request protocol.
• Actively communicates in the daily shift planner and reads all store memos in a timely fashion.
• Upholds the values and mission of Gimme! Coffee.
• Follows all policies and procedures set by Gimme! Coffee.
• Performs other duties as requested by supervisor.

Benefits

• Comprehensive compensation and benefits package
• Starting Barista wage is $16.50 per hour + tips, then $17 + tips after certification.
• Lead Baristas are paid a premium of $1.00 an hour on top of their Barista wage.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed