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 café team, welcoming customers cheerfully, answering questions, and connecting readers with the right beverages and café items. You maintain attractive café presentation, ensure efficient café operations, unpack and stock deliveries, tidy the bakes case and dining area, and operate registers quickly and professionally.

Behaviors

• Maintain reliable and punctual attendance for scheduled shifts.
• Fill scheduling gaps when able, being flexible and responsive to store needs (open early mornings to late evenings daily, including weekends and most holidays).
• Be positive and willing in your approach, performing assigned tasks with purpose and energy.
• Be supportive and considerate of colleagues, going out of your way to help others.
• Be consistently cheerful with customers, going out of your way to assist them.
• Show aptitude and willingness to learn new skills and acquire new knowledge.
• Enjoy being a barista.

Operational competencies

• Use varied technology including registers, computers, tablets, programs, and other tools comfortably and efficiently.
• Develop strong merchandising skills to maintain café presentation and cleanliness.
• Develop effective visual merchandising skills to maintain counter and floor retail fixtures.
• Run a register competently to serve customers quickly and reliably.
• Support receiving and unpacking of deliveries and efficient, accurate stocking.
• Make food and drinks properly with ease and accuracy using available guides and tools.
• Maintain café cleanliness through accurate execution of daily and weekly cleaning tasks.
• Follow and execute First In First Out (FIFO) practices and date product consistently and correctly.
• Support the bookfloor team willingly and effectively when needed.
• Understand loss prevention procedures and de-escalation techniques, identifying theft and problematic behaviors.

This work requires physical activity including prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and frequent walking.

Development and growth

As you gain experience, your barista knowledge and skills will develop. You will contribute increasingly as you build expertise in café products (beverages, bakery, savory, gifting), maintain appealing presentation, support sales objectives (e.g., limited-time offers and promotions), make customization recommendations, and execute café retail options. You will use café training tools, apply safety and hygiene standards, and support key products and promotions.

Career path

As you demonstrate mastery of the skills outlined, you are expected to advance to Senior Barista, taking on new challenges and growth opportunities.

Benefits

• Less than 20 hours/week: Employee Discount, EAP, Sick Pay.
• 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.
• 30+ hours/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.

Benefits are provided in accordance with the terms of the current plan and may be subject to future change; availability may vary by location/state regulations.