Barista

Cashier/Barista

Hours: Monday to Friday. 6AM - 2:30PM

Wage: $18 per hour

Location: North Chicago, IL

Job Summary

As a Food for Thought Cashier/Barista, you will greet customers, take their orders, and use excellent time management and organizational skills to prepare and serve coffee, blended coffee, cold drinks, teas, espresso, pastries, cookies and other sweets and drinks.

You will process cash payments as well as operate a Point of Sale (POS) system for transactions, balancing cash drawers and ensuring accuracy. You will be knowledgeable of FFT products and policies to resolve customer concerns and answer their questions.

Responsibilities

• Greeting guests in a friendly, approachable, and courteous manner.

• Preparing and serving beverages such as drip coffee, espresso-based drinks, tea, and other specialty drinks per company recipe guidelines.

• Working on special events and taking on special projects.

• Ensure item pricing is accurate.

• Stock and refill inventory such as coffee cups, straws, napkins, and utensils; supervise inventory levels and communicate when necessary to ensure inventory is not low or out.

• Maintaining food service facilities and equipment by complying with the highest standards of safety and sanitation procedures.

• Engaging in additional supportive duties as assigned.

• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Customer service excellence.

• Strong coffee knowledge, such as how to prepare common coffee beverages.

• Cash handling and Point of Sale system.

• Basic math skills.

• Ability to work with speed, consistency, and organization.

• Comfortable in busy environments.

• Must provide valid Food Handler Certificate and Food Allergen Certification.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of brewing methods and specialty drinks.

• Team player, thriving in collaborative environments.

• Outgoing personality and a strong commitment to customer satisfaction.

• Excellent communication skills.

Why We're the Leaders

• Excellent training
• Employee Referral bonuses
• Flexible scheduling
• Career advancement opportunities
• Competitive Pay
• Anniversary Milestone Incentives

Company Benefits & Perks

• Paid Time Off
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance – Includes Spouse and Domestic Partner Coverage (Blue Cross Blue Shield Provider)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Paid Life Insurance
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance (AD&D) & Critical Illness Insurance
• Short Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Mental Health, Relationship Conflicts, Child and Eldercare, Substance Abuse, Grief and Loss
• Assistance for you and household members
• In Person Sessions
• Unlimited phone access
• Parental Leave – Equal benefits to Mothers and Fathers
• 401K Retirement Plan
• FFT University - Over 70 courses designed to enhance your skills in life and on the job to help your career growth.
• Employee Meal Plan
• Employee Discounts (Pet Insurance, Entertainment, Travel, Company Discounts, and much more).

Company Values & Culture

• Collaboration & Open Communication

• Diverse, Inclusive, Safe, and Motivating

• Our Triple Bottom Line – People, Product and Planet

• A Net Positive Organization

Grow with us! - at Food For Thought, instruction, advice, and assistance are always readily available, which is why our average tenure is 5 years. The U.S. average is 4.3 years, while the Hospitality industry average is only 2 years!

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee is regularly required to reach at or below the shoulder; lift and carry items up to 40 pounds for a moderate distance. The employee is required to use their hands to handle tools, grasp, and control objects. Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble items.

The employee is regularly required to talk, hear, move, reach, grab, and stand for long periods of time. As well as stooping, kneeling, crouching, and climbing ladders.

EEO Statement

Food For Thought provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all applicants and employees, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations.

E-Verify Participation

Food For Thought participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9. For more information on E-Verify, or if you believe that your employer has violated its E-Verify responsibilities, please contact DHS.