Barista - Temporary

About the role

A Barnes & Noble bookstore is a gathering place for readers and the community. As a Barista, you are an integral member of the team at the heart of our Cafés. You welcome customers in a cheerful and helpful way by saying hello, answering questions and consistently going out of your way to connect readers with the right beverages and café items. Equally, you are an essential part of the café team in maintaining the attractive presentation and ensuring the efficient running of the Café. You help unpack and stock deliveries and to tidy our bakes case and dining area. You work our registers in a quick and friendly manner, ensuring our customers receive a highly professional service.

Responsibilities

• Greet and assist customers with beverage and café item selections
• Operate registers quickly and reliably to serve customers
• Maintain café presentation, cleanliness, and visual merchandising of counter and floor retail fixtures
• Unpack and stock deliveries accurately and efficiently
• Prepare food and drinks properly using recipe guides, product spec sheets, and available tools
• Execute daily and weekly cleaning tasks during shifts
• Follow First In First Out (FIFO) practices and date product consistently
• Support the bookfloor team when needed
• Apply loss prevention procedures and de-escalation techniques; identify theft and problematic behaviors
• Collaborate with the wider cluster and work in other stores as needed

Requirements

• Maintain reliable and punctual attendance for scheduled shifts
• Fill scheduling gaps when able; be flexible and responsive to store needs (open early mornings to late evenings daily, including weekends and most holidays)
• Demonstrate a positive, willing approach to work with purpose and energy
• Be supportive and considerate of colleagues; help others and show kindness
• Remain cheerful with customers and consistently go out of your way to help them
• Show aptitude and willingness to learn new skills and acquire new knowledge
• Enjoy being a barista
• Perform physical activity including prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and extensive walking
• Comply with all company policies and procedures

Qualifications

• Proficiency using varied technology: registers, computers, tablets, programs, and other tools
• Strong merchandising skills to maintain café presentation and cleanliness
• Effective visual merchandising skills for counter and floor retail fixtures
• Competent register operation for quick, reliable customer service
• Ability to support receiving, unpacking, and accurate stocking of deliveries
• Skill in making food and drinks with ease and accuracy using available guides and colleague knowledge
• Reliable execution of daily and weekly cleaning tasks
• Consistent application of FIFO practices and product dating
• Understanding of loss prevention procedures and de-escalation techniques
• Willingness to support the bookfloor team
• Building café product knowledge across beverage, bakery, savory, and gifting options
• Using product knowledge to maintain appetizing presentation and support sales objectives (LTO items, promotions)
• Making effective food and beverage customization recommendations
• Engaging with café retail options and training tools
• Applying café safety, hygiene, and sanitation guidelines to maintain standards
• Supporting the success of key products and promotions

Benefits

• Scheduled less than 20 hours/week: Employee Discount, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Sick Pay
• Scheduled 20–29.99 hours/week: Employee Discount, EAP, Sick Pay, Paid Time Off (including paid Maternity and Parental Leave), Company Paid Holidays, Transit, 401(k) with Company Match
• Scheduled 30 hours or more/week: Employee Discount, EAP, Sick Pay, Paid Time Off (including paid Maternity and Parental Leave), Company Paid Holidays, 401(k) with Company Match, Comprehensive Health Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision), Healthcare and Dependent Care Spending Accounts, Healthcare Spending Account, Disability Benefits, Life Insurance, Transit, Tuition Reimbursement

All benefits are provided in accordance with the terms of the current plan and may be subject to future change. Benefits may vary depending on location/state regulations.

Schedule

Shifts cover early mornings to late evenings every day, including weekends and most holidays. Flexibility to fill scheduling gaps is expected.