Cafe Team Expert

Role overview

Barnes & Noble is looking for a Café Team Expert in Salem, Oregon at the Willamette Town Center location. This is a full-time, on-site position. In this role, you serve as a key leader on the café team, helping build team capability, supporting a warm customer experience, and using sales, inventory, waste, and trend information to improve café performance and profitability.

What the role involves

You will partner with the Store Manager to shape and adjust café action plans, helping the team deliver the expected business results. The position calls for strong leadership on the floor, consistent support for baristas, and hands-on involvement in café operations and bookstore support when needed.

Work style and behavior expectations

The company expects this role to model reliable, upbeat, and customer-focused behavior. You should be dependable for scheduled shifts, willing to help cover scheduling gaps when possible, and ready to work early mornings, late evenings, weekends, and most holidays. The role also calls for initiative, teamwork, strong communication, active listening, and a positive, service-oriented attitude.

• Show up consistently and on time, setting a strong example for the team.
• Remain flexible and willing to support the store when scheduling gaps arise.
• Lead with energy, optimism, fairness, and respect.
• Deliver cheerful, helpful service and model that behavior for others.
• Keep learning, respond well to feedback, and take ownership of self-development.
• Communicate clearly, listen actively, and support company goals.
• Prioritize resources and barista support to keep shifts running smoothly.
• Bring genuine enthusiasm for being a barista.

Operational duties

As a Café Team Expert, you are expected to master the same operational competencies as a Barnes & Noble barista and help coach others in doing the same. The role includes drink preparation, presentation standards, register work, merchandising, inventory control, safety awareness, and support for the book floor when available.

• Prepare drinks using advanced barista skills and uphold food and beverage presentation standards.
• Coach teammates on display upkeep, merchandising, and presentation expectations.
• Operate the register efficiently, take orders quickly, and support others in improving speed of service.
• Assist the bookfloor team when needed with bookselling support.
• Help enforce loss prevention practices and contribute to a safe, secure store environment.
• Recognize theft risks and help de-escalate difficult customer situations or problematic behavior.
• Place food and beverage orders and manage inventory effectively.
• Complete monthly inventory and waste logs accurately and on time.

Growth in the role

With experience, you are expected to deepen your café knowledge and take on broader leadership responsibilities. You will increasingly help guide customer recommendations, review sales and inventory data, and work with the Store Manager on training, profitability, and café improvement opportunities.

• Use product knowledge to recommend food and beverage items confidently.
• Analyze category sales, inventory levels, and waste reports to improve profitability.
• Meet regularly with the Store Manager to review sales performance, training, and business opportunities.
• Apply café safety, hygiene, and sanitation practices consistently.

Physical and workplace conditions

This job involves active, physically demanding work, including long periods of standing, repeated bending, lifting, and significant walking. You may also be asked to work in other stores when needed to support the wider cluster.

Benefits

Benefits depend on the weekly schedule and may vary by location and state requirements. For employees scheduled under 20 hours per week, benefits include an employee discount, EAP, and sick pay. For those scheduled between 20 and 29.99 hours per week, benefits also include paid time off, paid maternity and parental leave, company-paid holidays, transit, and a 401(k) with company match. For those scheduled 30 hours or more, benefits expand to include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, healthcare and dependent care spending accounts, a healthcare spending account, disability coverage, life insurance, transit, tuition reimbursement, employee discount, EAP, sick pay, paid time off, paid maternity and parental leave, company-paid holidays, and a 401(k) with company match.

Terms and conditions

All benefits are offered under the terms of the current plan and may change in the future. Eligibility can depend on location and state regulations. Additional benefit details can be provided by a recruiter or Human Resources.

Location

OR - Salem - Willamette Town Center - 3430