Senior Barista - PT

Location: NY - Middletown - Crystal Run - 3624 | Classification: Part-Time

About the Role

A Barnes & Noble bookstore is a gathering place for readers and the community. As a Senior Barista, you are an integral member of the team at the heart of our Cafés. In this role, you have mastered the key barista behaviors and skills, genuinely welcoming our customers to discover and taste our curated offerings. You create a hospitable place for customers to relax and enjoy our bookstores. You foster a sense of community, helping new Baristas learn so they can provide a knowledgeable and great experience for our customers.

Behaviors

You’ll make a great Senior Barista if you demonstrate the following behaviors:

• Always cheerful with customers, consistently going out of your way to help them.
• Supportive and considerate of colleagues, helping others on the team and showing kindness.
• Positive and willing in your approach to work, performing tasks with purpose and energy.
• Aptitude and willingness to learn new skills and acquire new knowledge.
• Maintain reliable and punctual attendance for scheduled shifts.
• Flexible and responsive to the needs of the store, filling scheduling gaps when able (open early mornings to late evenings, including weekends and most holidays).
• Curious, continuously learning, and demonstrating ambition and initiative to develop a café or bookselling career.
• Act as a resource for baristas, addressing concerns and raising issues timely to leadership.
• Enjoy being a barista.

Responsibilities

As a Senior Barista, you will master the operational competencies of a Barnes & Noble barista, including:

• Using varied technology (registers, computers, tablets, programs) comfortably and efficiently, troubleshooting routine issues.
• Maintaining the counter and floor retail fixtures through effective merchandising, keeping the Café neat and tidy.
• Utilizing strong merchandising skills to maintain a full and vibrant bake case.
• Running an efficient and quick register, taking orders competently to serve customers quickly while helping other baristas.
• Supporting the receiving and unpacking of deliveries, following First In First Out (FIFO) practices.
• Making suggestions on food and beverage products and pairings to enhance customer experience.
• Mastering drink making and food preparation using approved recipes and spec sheets.
• Keeping the Café clean through excellent execution of daily and weekly cleaning tasks.
• Supporting the bookfloor team willingly and effectively when needed.
• Understanding loss prevention procedures, using de-escalation techniques, and identifying theft or problematic behavior.

This role requires physical activity, including prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and walking. You may also work in other stores if needed.

Skills

As you gain experience, your barista knowledge and skills should develop. You will:

• Use café knowledge of beverages, bakery, and savory items to create an enjoyable dining experience.
• Maintain visual presentation of café retail offerings (Harney Tea, Starbucks Coffee, Grab-n-Go, Drinkware).
• Present bake case offerings and products attractively.
• Educate baristas on making beverages properly to satisfy customers.
• Understand and use café training tools appropriately.
• Speak confidently about key sales objectives and company initiatives (promotions, Membership, etc.).
• Make effective food and beverage customizations/recommendations.
• Maintain backstock effectively and support proper ordering.
• Follow café safety, hygiene, sanitation guidelines, and procedures.

You are expected to advance in the career path, taking on new challenges and opportunities for growth while complying with all company policies and procedures.

Benefits

• Less than 20 hours per week: Employee Discount, EAP, and Sick Pay.
• 20–29.99 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 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, 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.

Pay

An employee in this position can expect an hourly rate starting at $19.00, depending on experience, seniority, geographic location, and other factors permitted by law.