Head Barista

Restaurant Associates UK; Greater London; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Restaurant Associates UK is seeking a hands-on Head Barista at Canary Wharf to lead our coffee operation and inspire a two-person team. You will oversee daily cafe running, ensure high standards of coffee, service and hospitality, and build strong relationships with colleagues and customers.

This role requires passion for coffee, leadership experience, and a hands-on approach to stock, equipment, and health and safety.

Qualifications

• Experience as a Senior Barista, Head Barista, Supervisor, or ready to take the next step.
• Strong leadership and team development skills.
• Solid knowledge of coffee preparation and equipment.
• Passion for customer service and premium hospitality.
• Strong organisational and communication skills.
• Positive attitude and ability to build strong relationships.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, hands-on environment.
• Full flexibility to work across required shift patterns, including weekends.

Responsibilities

• Lead, train, and motivate a team of 2 baristas.
• Prepare and serve exceptional coffee and specialty beverages.
• Ensure consistent quality, presentation, and customer service standards.
• Manage stock ordering, stock counts, fridge replenishment, and waste control.
• Receive and check deliveries and ensure stock is stored correctly.
• Maintain coffee equipment and coordinate servicing where required.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, hygiene, and health & safety standards.
• Support the wider hospitality team to deliver a seamless customer experience.

Skills

Leadership

Team development

Coffee knowledge

Customer service

Communication

Organisational skills

Job description

Head Barista - Canary Wharf

Restaurant Associates is looking for an experienced and passionate Head Barista to lead our coffee operation and inspire a team dedicated to delivering exceptional customer experiences. Based in Canary Wharf, you’ll oversee the daily running of the café and lead your team to deliver consistently high standards of coffee, service, and hospitality.

This is a hands-on role where you’ll be responsible for managing a team of two baristas, maintaining coffee quality, managing stock, and building strong connections with the people around you.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, train, and motivate a team of 2 baristas.
• Prepare and serve exceptional coffee and specialty beverages.
• Ensure consistent quality, presentation, and customer service standards.
• Manage stock ordering, stock counts, fridge replenishment, and waste control.
• Receive and check deliveries and ensure stock is stored correctly.
• Maintain coffee equipment and coordinate servicing where required.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, hygiene, and health & safety standards.
• Support the wider hospitality team to deliver a seamless customer experience.

We're Looking For Someone With

• Previous experience as a Senior Barista, Head Barista, Supervisor, or an experienced Barista ready to take the next step.
• Strong leadership and team development skills.
• Good knowledge of coffee preparation and equipment.
• A passion for customer service and premium hospitality.
• Strong organisational and communication skills.
• A positive attitude and the ability to build strong relationships.
• The ability to thrive in a fast-paced, hands‑on environment.
• Full flexibility to work across the required shift patterns, including weekends.

If you're passionate about coffee, love developing people, and take pride in delivering exceptional service, join Restaurant Associates and lead a team that serves excellence in every

Benefits

We ensure you're rewarded for all your hard work, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes but is not limited to:

• Contributory pension scheme
• Grow your career with our Career Pathways and MyLearning programmes
• Quick access for you and your immediate family to a Digital GP, and wider healthcare benefits
• Exclusive travel discounts with TUI, Expedia, Booking.com and many more
• Save money on your food shop with discounts on Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and many more
• Up to 44% off cinema tickets to enjoy your favourite blockbuster
• Receive cash rewards every time you spend and use them on a wide range of brands
• Un-wind with us with free wellness, mindfulness and exercise classes
• You can share all discounts and offers with your friends and families

About Us

Restaurant Associates provides brilliant hospitality through our food, drink and services. We work with our partners and collaborate with our clients to achieve great things together. Every day, our teams of passionate hospitality professionals strive for excellence in delivering employee dining and hospitality to some of the UK's leading workplace as well as inspiring exceptional experiences in iconic cultural and heritage destinations.

Job Reference: com/2209/44921001/52822491/R/SU #RA Group

Compass Group UK&I is committed to fostering an environment where every individual can truly be themselves at work and has equal opportunities to advance in their careers. We strive to build a culture that respects and celebrates the unique talents, beliefs, backgrounds, and abilities of all our team members. We want our colleagues to feel valued, empowered to reach their full potential, and to thrive - because diversity is our strength!