Lead Barista

Position: Lead Barista

Location: Fairbanks, Alaska

Employment Type: Full-Time

Reports to: General Manager

About Us: We are a fast-paced, customer-first drive-thru coffee hut serving the highest quality coffee, tea, and cold drinks, alongside an assortment of food items and hand-crafted baked goods. We're dedicated to providing quick, consistent, exceptional service, a welcoming atmosphere, and a delicious menu for our customers featuring local and eco-friendly sourced items.

Position Summary: As the Lead Barista at Summit Coffee Co., you will be responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations of the coffee hut, ensuring the highest standards of customer service, quality of products served, and a smooth workflow. This is a key leadership role that supports the General Manager and helps drive the team’s success in delivering an outstanding coffee experience. In addition to your barista duties, you will assist with staff management, inventory control, and ensuring that the coffee hut environment is clean, safe, and welcoming.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and Supervise Team: Oversee and support the barista team, ensuring they perform at their best while fostering a positive and collaborative work environment. Assist in training new baristas on coffee preparation techniques, equipment use, and customer service standards utilizing the New Employee Orientation Checklist.
• Customer Service Excellence: Provide exceptional customer service by maintaining a friendly, approachable, and professional demeanor. Handle customer inquiries and resolve any issues or complaints with professionalism and efficiency.
• Coffee & Beverage Quality Control: Ensure that all beverages are prepared to the highest standard, adhering to the Company’s recipes and guidelines. Conduct regular quality checks on coffee and other products to maintain consistency and taste.
• Staff Scheduling & Coordination: Assist with creating and managing staff schedules, ensuring adequate coverage during peak hours and time off is handled effectively. Assist the General Manager with enforcing the Attendance and Scheduling Policy.
• Staffing Coverage: This position will be expected to cover staff call-outs or unexpected absences to ensure the coffee hut operates smoothly during all shifts.
• Inventory & Stock Management: Help with inventory control, including tracking stock levels, ordering supplies, and ensuring proper storage. Work with the General Manager to manage product inventory and minimize waste.
• Cash Handling & Register Operations: Supervise and manage cash register operations, handle transactions, balance cash drawers, and ensure all financial processes are followed accurately.
• Training & Development: Assist with training and coaching new and existing team members, helping them grow professionally. Encourage ongoing development and ensure that employees are up-to-date with the latest coffee trends and operational procedures.
• Health & Safety Compliance: Ensure the coffee hut is compliant with health and safety standards, including food safety and cleanliness. Maintain a safe working environment for both employees and customers.
• Assist in Operational Duties: Support the General Manager with operational tasks, such as staff meetings, team-building activities, performance reviews, and administrative duties as needed.
• Managerial Support: In the absence of the General Manager, the Lead Barista will be responsible for covering general managerial duties, ensuring the seamless operation of the coffee hut, and making key decisions in their stead.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Barista Operations: Work alongside the baristas four shifts per week and cover for staff call outs or shortages.
• Social Media: Assist the General Manager in creating and posting social media content.
• Water Management: Ensure the coffee hut has adequate water in the holding tank and order refills as needed.

Qualifications:

• Previous supervisory experience in a similar role, preferably in a coffee shop, quick-service restaurant, or similar environment.
• Proficient in personnel management, quality control, and customer service.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including weekends and holidays, as needed.
• This role may require travel among various businesses around Fairbanks. Must have valid drivers license, vehicle insurance, and reliable transportation.

Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of coffee preparation techniques and food safety standards.
• Familiarity with POS systems, iOS, iPadOS, Google software, Windows.
• Self-motivated and able to operate autonomously.
• Analytical mindset for conducting cost analysis and identifying savings potential.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills to motivate and guide team members.
• Organized, with thorough attention to detail.
• Strong problem-solving, critical thinking, and adaptability suited for a fast-paced environment.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of standing, walking, crouching.
• Must be able to lift, carry, push pull or otherwise move up to 30 lbs frequently.

Summit Coffee Co. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $14.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• Employee discount

Shift:

• Day shift
• Evening shift
• Morning shift

Work Location: In person

Salary : $14