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.

Responsibilities

• Welcome customers cheerfully, answer questions, and help them find beverages and café items
• Maintain café presentation and cleanliness
• Unpack and stock deliveries; tidy the bake case and dining area
• Operate registers quickly and friendly to provide professional service
• Support receiving, unpacking, and accurate stocking of deliveries
• Prepare food and drinks accurately using recipe guides, spec sheets, and colleague knowledge
• Execute daily and weekly cleaning tasks (FIFO practices, product dating)
• Maintain café cleanliness and follow sanitation guidelines
• Support the bookfloor team when needed
• Apply loss prevention procedures and de‑escalation techniques
• Work flexible shifts, including early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and most holidays
• Be willing to work in other stores as needed to support the wider cluster

Requirements

• Maintain reliable and punctual attendance; fill scheduling gaps when possible
• Approach work with positivity, purpose, and energy; work hard and reliably
• Be supportive and considerate of colleagues; help others and show kindness
• Stay cheerful with customers and go out of your way to assist them
• Show aptitude and willingness to learn new skills and acquire store knowledge
• Enjoy being a barista
• Use varied technology (registers, computers, tablets, programs) comfortably and efficiently
• Develop strong merchandising skills to maintain café presentation and cleanliness
• Develop effective visual merchandising skills for counter and floor retail fixtures
• Run a register competently to serve customers quickly and reliably
• Support receiving/unpacking of deliveries and accurate stocking
• Make food and drinks properly with ease and accuracy
• Maintain café cleanliness through reliable execution of cleaning tasks
• Follow and execute First In First Out (FIFO) practices and date products correctly
• Support the bookfloor team willingly and effectively when needed
• Understand loss prevention procedures and de‑escalation techniques; identify theft and seek support for problematic behaviors
• Handle physical demands: prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and frequent walking

Benefits

• Employee Discount, EAP, and Sick Pay for those scheduled
• Employee Discount, EAP, Sick Pay, Paid Time Off (including paid Maternity and Parental Leave), Company Paid Holidays, Transit, and 401(k) with Company Match for those scheduled 20–29.99 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, and Tuition Reimbursement for those scheduled ≥30 hours/week
• All benefits are in accordance with the current plan and may be subject to future change; benefits may vary by location/state regulations

Pay

Hourly rate starts at $16.00, depending on experience, seniority, geographic location, and other factors permitted by law.

Schedule

The store is open from early mornings to late evenings every day, including weekends and most holidays; shifts are flexible and responsive to store needs.