Cafe Team Expert

Barnes & Noble is a renowned bookselling company with a rich history of serving readers and communities across numerous locations. Known primarily for its extensive offering of books, the company also integrates a welcoming café environment within its bookstores, creating a unique dual retail experience. Barnes & Noble bookstores are beloved local hubs where people gather not only to discover new books but also to socialize, enjoy high-quality beverages and snacks from the café, and participate in community events. The company is committed to fostering a positive workplace culture, supporting diversity and inclusion, and providing robust employee benefits that scale with hours worked. The café at Barnes & Noble plays a crucial role in enhancing the shopping experience by offering customers a cozy and inviting atmosphere, excellent food and beverage options, and friendly customer service.

In the role of Café Team Expert (CTE), you step into a leadership position within the café team, acting as a key player to ensure operational excellence and customer satisfaction. This position requires a blend of interpersonal skills, business acumen, and practical barista expertise. The Café Team Expert is responsible for leading and developing the café staff through coaching, mentoring, and setting an example that upholds the store’s high standards. With a focus on profitability, the CTE uses data such as sales trends, inventory levels, and waste reports to inform and adjust daily operations. Collaborating closely with the Store Manager, the CTE contributes to business strategy by proposing actionable plans to meet and exceed sales goals while maintaining quality and safety standards.

This position demands a flexible and proactive approach to scheduling due to the long and varied store hours, including early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and holidays. Reliability and punctuality are essential, as you will need to lead the team by presence and example. Your role also involves supporting the broader bookstore team beyond the café when opportunities arise, demonstrating versatile retail skills including bookselling and loss prevention. The Café Team Expert is trained extensively in key competencies such as beverage preparation, visual merchandising, order taking, and inventory management. You are expected to maintain physical stamina for tasks involving standing for long periods, lifting, and walking throughout the store.

As you grow in the role, your responsibilities expand to include making expert product recommendations, analyzing performance metrics, and influencing business outcomes in meaningful ways. Your contribution is critical in keeping health, hygiene, and safety practices at the highest standard, ensuring that the café is not only welcoming but also compliant with all applicable regulations. Barnes & Noble values employees who take pride in their work, are enthusiastic learners, and embrace ongoing development. The company also offers a comprehensive range of benefits adjusted by work hours, demonstrating a commitment to employee wellbeing and career advancement. Whether working part-time or full-time, this role invites candidates passionate about coffee culture and customer service to become an integral part of a well-respected retail and community institution.