Barista - Temporary

Location: TN – Brentwood – Cool Springs (Store 2701) · Classification: 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

• Maintain reliable and punctual attendance for scheduled shifts.
• Fill scheduling gaps when able, being flexible and responsive to the needs of the store — open early mornings to late evenings every day, including weekends and most holidays.
• Approach work positively and willingly, performing assigned tasks with purpose and energy, working hard and reliably.
• Support and consider colleagues, going out of your way to help others and showing kindness.
• Remain cheerful with customers, consistently going out of your way to help them.
• Show aptitude and willingness to learn new skills and acquire new knowledge in the store.
• Enjoy being a barista.

You will be trained and expected to be proficient in the following operational competencies:

• Using varied technology including registers, computers, tablets, programs and other tools comfortably and efficiently.
• Developing strong merchandising skills to maintain café presentation and cleanliness.
• Developing effective visual merchandising skills for counter and floor retail fixtures.
• Running a register competently to serve customers quickly and reliably.
• Supporting the receiving and unpacking of deliveries, and the efficient, accurate stocking that follows.
• Making food and drinks properly with ease and accuracy, using recipe guides, product spec sheets and other tools.
• Maintaining café cleanliness through accurate, reliable execution of daily and weekly cleaning tasks during your shift.
• Following and executing First In First Out (FIFO) practices and dating product consistently and correctly.
• Supporting the bookfloor team willingly and effectively when needed.
• Understanding loss prevention procedures and de-escalation techniques, identifying theft, spotting and seeking support for problematic behaviors and issues in the store.

Requirements

• Physical stamina for prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting and extensive walking.
• Willingness to work in other stores as needed to support the wider cluster.
• Compliance with all company policies and procedures.

Skills & development

As you gain experience, you should expect your barista knowledge and skills to develop. You will increasingly contribute by:

• Building café knowledge of products across beverage, bakery, savory and gifting categories; using this knowledge to maintain presentation in an interesting, appetizing manner.
• Speaking about and supporting key sales objectives such as new LTO items or café promotions, sharing this knowledge with customers and colleagues.
• Making effective food and beverage customization recommendations on varied items.
• Building knowledge and engagement for execution of café retail options.
• Understanding and using café training tools appropriately.
• Applying knowledge of café safety, hygiene and sanitation guidelines to maintain all standards correctly and reliably.
• Using product and promotion knowledge to support the success of key products and promotions.

As you demonstrate mastery of the skills outlined above, you are expected to advance to the next step in the career path — Senior Barista — where you will take on new challenges and gain further opportunities for growth.

Benefits

Benefits vary by scheduled hours per week:

• Less than 20 hours/week: Employee Discount, Employee Assistance Program (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 benefit, 401(k) with Company Match.
• 30 hours/week or more: 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 benefit, 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 through late evenings, seven days a week, including weekends and most holidays. Flexibility to fill scheduling gaps is expected.