Cafe Team Expert

Job Summary

A Barnes & Noble bookstore is a gathering place for readers and the community. As a Café Team Expert (CTE), you are an integral leader for the café team, guiding the team to develop their knowledge and create a welcoming environment for our customers. You will identify and connect data to impact sales, trends, waste, inventory, and other components to ensure a profitable Café.

In this role, you present viable business strategies and work collaboratively with the Store Manager (SM) to implement and adapt café action plans to deliver expected results.

• 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 possible, being flexible and responsive to the needs of the store—available from early mornings to late evenings every day, including weekends and most holidays.
• Lead by example with purpose and energy, working hard and reliably while inspiring others to do the same.
• Support the entire store team, demonstrating kindness, fairness, encouragement, and respect.
• Be cheerful and helpful with customers, consistently going out of your way to help them and modeling this for the store team.
• Take initiative to drive your own development, being an enthusiastic learner and using feedback to improve skills.
• Actively listen, understand information, and clearly communicate messages to support company initiatives and goals.
• Prioritize resources and barista support appropriately to keep the shift on track.
• Enjoy being a barista!

• Mastered skills in drink making, creating and maintaining food and beverage presentation standards, adjusting displays, and coaching others.
• Strong visual merchandising skills to maintain counter and floor retail fixtures.
• Efficient and quick register operation while taking orders, coaching others on efficient order taking and speed of service.
• Bookselling skills to support the bookfloor team willingly and effectively when available.
• Coaching the team to follow loss prevention procedures, maintaining a safe, secure bookstore by spotting theft and effectively de‑escalating challenging situations and problematic behaviors.
• Managing inventory through effective food and beverage orders.
• Completing and submitting accurate monthly inventory and waste logs on time.

• Use expert knowledge to make effective food and beverage recommendations to customers, acting as a role model to the team.
• Review category sales, inventory quantities and product waste reports, assessing and acting on information to maximize sales and profitability.
• Meet with the SM regularly to review café sales performance, profitability, training, and opportunities to drive café results.
• Apply knowledge of café safety, hygiene, sanitation guidelines and procedures to maintain all standards appropriately.
• Collaboratively support other stores in the cluster when needed, contributing to the wider brand experience.
• Continuously comply with all company policies and procedures.

As a Café Team Expert, you will also undergo physical activity that includes prolonged standing, repetitive bending, lifting, and substantial walking. You may be asked to work in other stores if required and as opportunities arise.

As you gain experience, you will develop your expertise further, supporting others and the cluster while strictly following all company policies and procedures.

As an affirmative action employer, Barnes & Noble hires qualified people to perform the many tasks necessary for the success of our business and is committed to diversity in the workplace. All employment practices and decisions—including those related to application procedures, recruitment, hiring, placement, job assignment, transfer, promotion, demotion, training, rates of pay, benefits, discipline, leave of absence, layoff, recall, termination, and general treatment during employment—will be conducted without regard to age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship status, military or veteran status, religion, creed, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression (including transgender status), hairstyle, height, weight, pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, or any other protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances.

Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment. Contact .