Lead Barista - FT

Location: Louisville, KY – Mall St Matthews

Classification: Full-Time

About the Role

A Barnes & Noble bookstore is a gathering place for readers and the community. As Lead Barista, you are an integral member of the café team. You play a leadership role in guiding the team to maintain compelling product presentations and overseeing the efficient running of the Café. You are both a trusted expert and hands-on leader, creating a welcoming environment where baristas feel supported, comfortable bringing forward questions or concerns, and trust that you will address them promptly and effectively.

Behaviors & Expectations

• Maintain reliable and punctual attendance for scheduled shifts, setting the standard for the team and ensuring consistent leadership presence on the floor.
• Fill scheduling gaps when able, being flexible and responsive to the needs of the store — open from early mornings to late evenings every day, including weekends and most holidays.
• Be positive and proactive in your approach to work; lead by example with purpose and energy, working hard and reliably while inspiring others to do the same.
• Be supportive and considerate of colleagues; consistently go out of your way to help others on the team and set a positive example.
• Be cheerful with customers, consistently going out of your way to help them.
• Show aptitude and willingness to learn new skills, acquire new knowledge, and apply it appropriately in the store while guiding and supporting others.
• Be curious, want to continuously learn, and demonstrate ambition and initiative to develop a bookselling or café career.
• Act as a resource for baristas and booksellers, addressing and resolving concerns and raising these issues to leadership.
• Prioritize resources and barista support appropriately to keep the shift on track.
• Enjoy being a barista!

Responsibilities

• Master operational competencies of a Barnes & Noble barista, including:
  • Drink making, food preparation, and all other tools and processes to model best practices for the café team and coach others in their effective execution.
  • Strong merchandising skills to coach the café team in creating and maintaining a full and vibrant bake case and adjusting displays while ensuring cleanliness and presentation standards are met.
  • Guiding baristas in applying and understanding effective visual merchandising skills to create and maintain counter and floor retail fixtures, keeping the Café neat and tidy.
  • Speed of service at the registers, actively coaching baristas in customer conversations as well as improving register speed and accuracy.
  • Guiding and supporting baristas in receiving and unpacking deliveries, and the efficient and accurate stocking that follows, ensuring First In First Out (FIFO) practices.
  • Supporting baristas in keeping the Café clean and tidy through excellent execution of daily and weekly cleaning tasks.
  • Supporting the bookfloor team with presentation standards and maintenance, ensuring high standards.
  • Actively coaching the team to follow loss prevention procedures and maintain a safe, secure bookstore by spotting theft and effectively de-escalating challenging situations and problematic behaviors.
• Engage in physical activity including prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and a lot of walking.
• Collaborate with the wider cluster by working in other stores if needed and able.
• As you gain experience, contribute increasingly to the store by:
  • Placing food and beverage orders accurately and timely, using tools and resources to ensure the Café is in-stock at all times.
  • Completing and submitting accurate monthly inventory and waste logs timely.
  • Coaching the team in delivering effective food and beverage recommendations to customers.
  • Leading and supporting the Café’s focus on key sales objectives such as new LTO, café promotions, Membership, etc., actively and genuinely sharing this knowledge with customers and colleagues.
  • Using knowledge of café training tools and resources to help baristas broaden their experience.
  • Maintaining café safety, hygiene, sanitation guidelines, and procedures to uphold all standards.
• Comply with all company policies and procedures.

Benefits

• Less than 20 hours per week: Employee Discount, EAP, and Sick Pay.
• 20 to 29.99 hours per week: Employee Discount, EAP, Sick Pay, Paid Time Off (including paid Maternity and Parental Leave), Company Paid Holidays, Transit, and 401(k) with Company Match.
• 30 hours or more per 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, and Vision), Healthcare and Dependent Care Spending Accounts, Healthcare Spending Account, Disability Benefits, Life Insurance, Transit, and 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.