Lead Barista

THIEVES; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 36,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Thieves is seeking a Barista Lead to help steer service at their Broad Ripple location in Indianapolis. The role blends hands-on coffee and cocktail craft with team leadership, aiming to elevate the guest experience while maintaining high standards.

This position offers growth toward a larger leadership role, with opportunities to mentor staff and influence service flow. Shifts may include evenings and weekends in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Strong barista experience including espresso drinks.
• Good judgment, situational awareness, and the ability to read people and situations.
• Lead by example with a calm, confident presence during busy service.

Responsibilities

• Lead service during shifts with speed, consistency and hospitality.
• Make quality coffee drinks and cocktails and ensure they are executed to standard.
• Set the tone for service, energy, and professionalism behind the bar.
• Support newer baristas, bartenders and staff during service.
• Assist with opening and closing duties.
• Maintain cleanliness, organization, prep, and bar flow.
• Communicate inventory needs, service issues and team performance to management.
• Step into a shift lead role to keep the team on track during busy periods.
• Support the guest experience from bar top to floor.

Skills

Barista lead

Hospitality instinct

Leadership

Communication

Situational awareness

Reliability

Evenings/weekends availability

Job description

Barista Lead / Assistant Manager Track
Thieves | Broad Ripple, Indianapolis
Full-time or Part-time, depending on fit

Thieves is looking for a strong Barista Lead to help lead service, support the team, and bring confident coffee & cocktail experience to the floor. This is a hands-on role for someone who knows how to make great drinks, handle volume, set the tone behind the bar, and help keep standards high.

We’re looking for someone with strong hospitality instincts - the kind of person who can read a room, anticipate needs, make smart judgment calls in the moment, and help keep things running smoothly without needing to be told every next step.

This role is ideal for someone who’s ready for more responsibility and wants real room to grow into a larger leadership position over time.

What You’ll Do

• Lead service during shifts with speed, consistency, and strong hospitality
• Make quality coffee drinks and cocktails and ensure drinks are executed to standard
• Help set the tone for service, energy, and professionalism behind the bar
• Support newer baristas, bartenders and support staff during service
• Assist with opening and closing duties
• Help maintain cleanliness, organization, prep, and bar flow
• Communicate with management about inventory needs, service issues, and team performance
• Step into a shift lead-type role and help the team stay on track during busy service
• Support the overall guest experience from bar top to floor

What We’re Looking For

• Strong barista experience and confidence making espresso drinks
• Good instincts, sound judgment, and the ability to read both people and situations well
• Someone who can lead by example and naturally command respect without ego
• A calm, capable presence during busy shifts
• Strong hospitality instincts and good people skills
• Reliability, urgency, and attention to detail
• Willingness to work evenings, weekends, and late nights
• Interest in growing into more leadership responsibility over time

Bonus If You Have

• Experience training or mentoring other baristas
• Comfort managing service flow and solving problems in real time
• Familiarity with cocktails or willingness to learn that side of the business
• Experience in upscale casual, cocktail-forward, or high-volume environments

Growth Opportunity

This is not just a shift lead role. We’re looking for someone who can become a key part of the operation - a steady presence behind the bar, a leader during shifts, and potentially a bigger part of management as Thieves continues to grow.

About Thieves

Thieves is a coffee shop and cocktail lounge in the heart of Broad Ripple - built around strong drinks, great energy, intentional hospitality, and a vibe people remember.

If you know your way around a coffee menu, can lead a bar without being overbearing, have strong instincts, and want to grow with something special, we’d love to hear from you.