Lead Barista

Lead Barista / Assistant Manager
Bewick All-Day Café

Position Summary

The Lead Barista / Assistant Manager is the operational backbone of Bewick's daytime service. This role is responsible for the consistent execution of our coffee and beverage program, the daily rhythm of opening and closing, and the supervision and development of counter staff. As an assistant manager, this person is a culture carrier — someone who models Bewick's hospitality values on the floor every shift and supports the General Manager in keeping the team running smoothly and the guest experience exceptional. This is a hands-on leadership role that requires equal parts craft, hospitality, and operational awareness.

Reports To: General Manager / Managing Partner

Performance Metrics

• Coffee and beverage program execution
• Opening and closing procedures
• Counter staff supervision and training
• Guest experience and hospitality standards
• Cash handling and Toast POS accuracy
• Beverage inventory management

Responsibilities

Coffee & Beverage Program Execution

Your Role:

• Execute Bewick's full coffee and beverage program with consistency, precision, and genuine enthusiasm — from drip coffee and espresso drinks to specialty lattes, matcha, tea, and our non-alcoholic spritz and fizz menu.
• Maintain equipment daily — cleaning, calibrating, and flagging any issues to the General Manager promptly.
• Train all counter staff on beverage standards, ensuring every drink that leaves the bar meets Bewick's quality expectations regardless of who made it.
• Stay current on coffee and beverage trends and bring ideas to the General Manager and ownership team for program evolution.
• Speak knowledgeably and enthusiastically about our beverage offerings to guests and team members alike.

Success Looks Like:

• Every beverage served at Bewick is consistent, well-made, and reflects our standards — whether it's made by you or a newer team member you've trained.
• Equipment is clean, calibrated, and functioning properly at all times.
• The full beverage menu — coffee, tea, specialty drinks, and spirit-free options — is something every counter staff member can speak to and execute confidently.
• Guests notice the quality and care that goes into their cup.

Opening & Closing Procedures

Your Role:

• Lead the opening of the café, ensuring the space is clean, stocked, and ready for guests before the doors open at 8am.
• Execute and oversee all closing procedures at the end of each shift, leaving the café in perfect condition for the next day's team.
• Ensure that all opening and closing checklists are completed thoroughly and consistently by the full counter team.
• Identify and flag any operational issues — equipment, supplies, staffing, or otherwise — at the start or end of a shift so they can be addressed promptly.
• Act as the manager on duty during shifts when the General Manager is not present, making sound decisions in the best interest of the team and the guest.

Success Looks Like:

• The café opens on time, every time, fully prepared and ready for guests.
• Closing procedures are completed thoroughly and the space is left in excellent condition at the end of every shift.
• Checklists are followed consistently by the full team, not just when someone is watching.
• When you are the manager on duty, the shift runs smoothly and the team feels supported and clear on expectations.

Counter Staff Supervision & Training

Your Role:

• Supervise counter staff during service, providing real-time coaching, support, and direction as needed.
• Support the onboarding and training of new counter team members, using Bewick's Guide to Hospitality and job descriptions as your framework.
• Model Bewick's hospitality standards on the floor every shift — greeting guests, reading signals, offering genuine recommendations, and demonstrating what great counter service looks like in practice.
• Communicate team performance observations to the General Manager regularly and honestly, flagging both strengths and areas for development.
• Foster a team environment that is warm, accountable, and fun to work in.

Success Looks Like:

• Counter staff feel supported, well-trained, and confident in their roles.
• New team members are onboarded thoroughly and feel ready before working an unsupervised shift.
• Performance coaching happens in real time, kindly and directly, without waiting for a formal review.
• The counter team reflects Bewick's hospitality values consistently — even on the hardest shifts.

Guest Experience & Hospitality Standards

Your Role:

• Set the tone for guest experience on every shift you work — welcoming guests warmly, reading signals, and modeling the kind of attentive, unhurried hospitality that defines Bewick.
• Ensure that the counter experience never feels transactional, even during the busiest dayparts.
• Handle guest concerns or complaints with empathy and good judgment, using Bewick's guest recovery tools — including the guest recovery card — when appropriate.
• Proactively look for opportunities to go above and beyond for guests — offering samples to guests waiting in line, learning regular's names and orders, and making every person who walks through the door feel genuinely welcome.

Success Looks Like:

• Guests feel warmly welcomed and genuinely cared for from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave.
• Guest complaints are handled with empathy, speed, and good judgment — and are escalated to the General Manager when needed.
• Regulars feel known and appreciated every time they come in.
• The hospitality standard on your shifts is something the whole team aspires to.

Cash Handling & Toast POS

Your Role:

• Open and close the Toast POS system accurately at the start and end of each shift.
• Ensure accurate order entry, payment processing, and loyalty program enrollment for every transaction.
• Count and reconcile the cash drawer at opening and closing, flagging any discrepancies to the General Manager immediately and honestly.
• Train counter staff on Toast POS procedures, including order entry, modifiers, loyalty enrollment, and payment processing.
• Never leave a cash drawer unattended or unsecured during service.

Success Looks Like:

• Cash handling is accurate, consistent, and handled with full integrity on every shift.
• Toast POS procedures are followed correctly by all counter staff, including loyalty enrollment at every new guest transaction.
• Discrepancies are rare and are reported honestly and immediately when they occur.
• The team feels confident and efficient on the POS system.

Beverage Inventory Management

Your Role:

• Monitor beverage inventory daily, ensuring the bar is stocked and ready for service at all times.
• Communicate inventory needs to the General Manager in a timely manner to avoid shortages or last-minute gaps.
• Receive and check in beverage orders accurately, storing items correctly and rotating stock properly.
• Track usage patterns and flag any waste or inconsistencies to the General Manager.

Success Looks Like:

• The bar is never caught short on a key ingredient or supply during service.
• Inventory communication to the General Manager is proactive, not reactive.
• Stock is organized, rotated properly, and easy for any team member to navigate.
• Waste is minimal and usage patterns are understood and monitored.