Lead Barista

Rice University, located on a spacious 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, is widely recognized as one of the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Known for its intimate undergraduate experience, Rice boasts a 6-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, fostering a close-knit academic community. The university’s residential college system supports students not only academically but also emotionally and culturally through an array of social events, intramural sports, student plays, lecture series, courses, and student government activities. This tradition of creating vibrant, diverse college communities has earned Rice high rankings for quality of life and value among private universities. Beyond academics, Rice is celebrated as a welcoming and supportive workplace where faculty, staff, and students embrace core values of Responsibility, Integrity, Community, and Excellence (summarized under the acronym RICE) that guide the university’s culture and decision-making.

The role of Lead Barista at Rice involves key leadership responsibilities within the retail dining sector, specifically overseeing daily operations across Rice’s coffee shop locations. This position is designed to deliver an elevated hospitality experience that aligns with Rice Hospitality’s standards while ensuring operational efficiency and consistency. The Lead Barista will play a pivotal role in guiding student workers and barista teams through training, coaching, and real-time performance feedback. This leadership role demands a hands-on approach, requiring expertise in beverage preparation, guest engagement, and maintaining high quality standards for both product and service.

The Lead Barista supports multiple café locations on Rice’s campus, collaborating closely with the Retail Dining Manager, Culinary Leadership, and Hospitality team members. Key responsibilities include ensuring adherence to brand standards, driving sales focused on beverage offerings, and enforcing food safety, sanitation, and cash handling protocols meticulously. This position requires cross-training and the ability to provide operational support across different coffee shops while managing diverse team dynamics and varying service styles. The ideal candidate for this role is an experienced and passionate barista who thrives in fast-paced environments and excels at delivering hospitality-driven service. They are proactive, solutions-oriented, and dedicated to fostering a welcoming and well-organized café environment while leading and developing team members effectively. This role is fully on-site, requiring flexibility in work schedules including early mornings, evenings, and weekends to meet operational demands. The position is classified as essential on-campus, requiring physical stamina for prolonged standing, lifting, and repetitive task performance, with a hiring wage range of $20.64 to $23.00 per hour with eligibility for overtime. At Rice, the Lead Barista role is more than just coffee preparation — it embodies a commitment to community building, outstanding guest experiences, and a dedication to upholding the high standards that define the Rice Hospitality brand.