Lead Barista

Your Role from the Beginning

Wild Meadows Books & Café is newly opening — you’ll be part of building something special. From our partnership with a highly regarded bakery to our service standards, guest experience, and team culture, everything is being shaped by the founding crew. If you love excellent beverages, curated food delights, and the chance to grow with a brand from day one, this is a rare opportunity to take on a role that blends barista work with leadership and team support within the setting of inclusive bookstore community.

Job Summary

As Lead Barista, you’ll work as a barista while also supporting and guiding the team. This is a hands-on role — you’ll prepare drinks, serve guests, and maintain café standards alongside your coworkers. You’ll lead by example every day, modeling great service and teamwork. When the Team Captain is away, you’ll step up to run the shift and handle basic management responsibilities to ensure operations continue smoothly.

Leadership Snapshot

• Perform all barista responsibilities while modeling high standards.
• Support baristas with coaching and daily guidance.
• Step up to run shifts when the Team Captain is away — including cash reconciliation, sales reporting, and cost control.
• Help maintain smooth operations across bar, kitchen, and dining space along with excellent coordination with bookselling and event programming.
• Act as a consistent point of support for the team.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and serve handcrafted coffee and tea beverages to recipe and presentation standards.
• Serve wine and beer responsibly, following all licensing requirements.
• Present and serve food delights (pastries and café menu items).
• Greet guests warmly, take orders, answer questions, and make recommendations.
• Maintain cleanliness and safety in the bar, kitchen, and on-site dining space.
• Operate the POS system, process transactions, and handle payments accurately.
• Restock supplies and assist with inventory rotation.
• Support opening/closing duties and shift transitions.
• Provide excellent customer service and resolve escalated concerns.
• Assist with training new hires and reinforcing standards.
• Lead opening/closing responsibilities and step into shift leadership when the Team Captain is not present.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, hygiene, and liquor service laws.

Training & Certification

We provide a comprehensive training program that includes leadership development, café operations, and customer service excellence. Because we serve beer and wine, Lead Baristas must hold a Vermont Department of Liquor Control (DLC) Certification; training and certification will be provided during onboarding if not already held.

Qualifications & Skills

• 1–2 years in a café, restaurant, or hospitality role (barista experience preferred).
• Strong customer service and teamwork skills.
• Comfortable guiding peers and leading by example.
• Ability to step into shift leadership when needed.
• Flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends.

What We Offer

• $19-20/hour plus tips
• A role that blends barista work with leadership experience.
• The chance to be part of the founding team and shape a new community hub.
• Comprehensive training, including DLC certification if needed.
• Dental and vision benefits.
• Paid time off, including vacation and sick leave.
• Generous employee discount.
• A welcoming, collaborative work environment.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $20.00 per hour

Work Location: In person

Salary : $19 - $20