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

• Welcome customers cheerfully, answer questions, and connect readers with the right beverages and café items.
• Maintain attractive presentation and efficient running of the Café.
• Unpack and stock deliveries; tidy the bake case and dining area.
• Operate registers quickly and friendly to provide professional service.
• Maintain reliable and punctual attendance for scheduled shifts.
• Fill scheduling gaps when able, being flexible and responsive to store needs.
• Approach work positively and willingly, performing tasks with purpose and energy.
• Be supportive and considerate of colleagues, helping others and showing kindness.
• Consistently be cheerful with customers, going out of your way to help them.
• Show aptitude and willingness to learn new skills and acquire knowledge.
• Enjoy being a barista.
• Master operational competencies: using varied technology (registers, computers, tablets, programs); developing merchandising skills for café presentation and cleanliness; developing visual merchandising skills for counter and floor fixtures; running a register competently; supporting receiving/unpacking and stocking deliveries; making food and drinks properly using knowledge, recipe guides, spec sheets; maintaining café cleanliness via daily/weekly cleaning tasks; following FIFO practices and dating product correctly; supporting the bookfloor team when needed; understanding loss prevention procedures and de‑escalation techniques; identifying theft and seeking support for problematic behaviors.
• Perform physical activities including prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and walking.
• Work in other stores as needed to support the wider cluster.
• Develop expertise, build café knowledge of beverage, bakery, savory, and gifting products; use this knowledge to maintain presentation interestingly and appetizingly.
• Speak about and support key sales objectives such as new LTO items or café promotions, sharing knowledge with customers and colleagues.
• Make effective food and beverage customization recommendations.
• Build knowledge and engagement for execution of café retail options.
• Use café training tools appropriately.
• Apply knowledge of café safety, hygiene, sanitation guidelines to maintain standards.
• Use this knowledge to support the success of key products and promotions.

Requirements

• Reliable and punctual attendance for scheduled shifts.
• Flexibility to fill scheduling gaps and respond to store needs.
• Positive, willing attitude toward work.
• Supportive and considerate of colleagues.
• Consistently cheerful with customers.
• Aptitude and willingness to learn new skills.
• Enjoyment of being a barista.