Lead Barista - FT

Location: VA - McLean - Tyson's Corner Center - 3513 | 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 they trust that you will address them promptly and effectively.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate 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.
• Always 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.
• Show that you enjoy being a barista.
• Master operational competencies of a Barnes & Noble barista: use mastered skills in 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.
• Use 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.
• Guide baristas in applying and understanding effective visual merchandising skills, to create and maintain counter and floor retail fixtures, keeping the Café neat and tidy.
• Ensure speed of service at the registers, and actively coach baristas in customer conversations as well as improving register speed and accuracy.
• Guide and support baristas in receiving and unpacking deliveries, and the efficient and accurate stocking that follows, ensuring First in First Out (FIFO) practices.
• Support baristas in keeping the Café clean and tidy through excellent execution of daily and weekly cleaning tasks.
• Support the bookfloor team with presentation standards and maintenance, ensuring high standards.
• Actively coach the team to follow loss prevention procedures, and maintain a safe, secure bookstore by the ability to spot theft and effectively de‑escalate challenging situations and problematic behaviors.
• Perform physical activity which includes prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and a lot of walking.
• Work in other stores if able, collaboratively supporting the wider Cluster.
• Place food and beverage orders accurately and timely, using tools and resources to ensure the Café is in‑stock at all times.
• Complete and submit accurate monthly inventory and waste log timely.
• Coach the team in delivering effective food and beverage recommendations to customers.
• Lead and support 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.
• Use knowledge of café training tools and resources, helping baristas to broaden their experience.
• Use knowledge about café safety, hygiene, sanitation guidelines and procedures to maintain all standards appropriately.
• Comply with all company policies and procedures.

Benefits

• For those scheduled to work less than 20 hours per week: Employee Discount, EAP, and Sick Pay.
• For those scheduled to work between 20 and 29.99 hours: 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 to work 30 hours 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 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; benefit details may vary depending on location/state regulations.

Pay

Hourly rate starts at $20.75, depending on experience, seniority, geographic location, and other factors permitted by law.

Schedule

Full‑time position; the store is open from early mornings to late evenings every day, including weekends and most holidays.