Operation Associate

Workstream; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 28,929 - 38,572; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid sick leave

Workers’ Compensation coverage

Specialty coffee training

Job summary

Unbound Bookstore / 格外书店 in San Francisco seeks a versatile and community-minded team member to run daily operations of a combined bookstore and cafe. You will craft espresso drinks, recommend books, support the online shop, and help bring cultural events to life.

The role requires English and Mandarin proficiency, passion for literature and coffee, and enthusiasm for community connection. On-site position with comprehensive training and engaging customer interactions.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in English and Mandarin to serve a diverse community.
• Ability to follow all health, safety, and professional customer service protocols.

Responsibilities

• Provide customer service and literary guidance to guests and cultivate a warm community atmosphere.
• Craft specialty coffee and tea beverages to high standards (training provided).
• Process transactions accurately and manage daily cash using Shopify POS.
• Maintain store cleanliness and design engaging book and cafe displays.
• Receive shipments, manage stock, and keep accurate inventory records.
• Fulfill online orders and bridge physical and digital storefronts.
• Document daily store life for social media and content creation.
• Assist in planning and executing bookstore events and cultural activities.

Skills

English

Mandarin

Job description

ABOUT THE ROLE

我们正在寻找一位独当一面、富有想法且热爱社区的小伙伴，加入我们的书店咖啡馆。在这个岗位上，你是空间的主理人之一，也是面对顾客的第一张面孔——你的日常既包括制作精品意式咖啡、为读者挑选下一本好书，也涵盖了线上网店的运营以及各种文化活动的落地。如果你对文学和精品咖啡抱有热情，也喜欢与人建立有温度的连接，欢迎加入我们。

We are seeking a versatile, creative, and community-minded team member to join our hybrid bookstore and cafe. In this role, you will be the face of our space—doing everything from crafting specialty espresso drinks and guiding customers to their next great read, to supporting our online shop and vibrant cultural events. If you love literature, specialty coffee, and fostering community connections, we would love to meet you.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Daily Operations & Guest Experience

• Customer Service & Literary Guidance: Welcome guests, provide personalized book recommendations, and cultivate a warm environment for community and literary exploration.
• Coffee & Beverage Preparation: Craft specialty coffee and tea beverages to high quality and aesthetic standards (comprehensive training provided).
• POS & Financials: Process transactions accurately, handle daily cash management, and maintain financial records using Shopify POS.

Inventory, Merchandising & E-commerce

• Visual Merchandising: Maintain store cleanliness and design engaging book and cafe displays with a creative flair.
• Inventory Management: Receive shipments, manage stock levels, and maintain accurate inventory records.
• Fulfillment: Process, package, and ship online orders, ensuring a seamless bridge between our physical and digital storefronts.

Digital Marketing & Community Programming

• Social Media & Content: Document daily bookstore life, create visual content, and share book recommendations to grow our online community.
• Events & Cultural Programming: Assist in planning, coordinating, and executing bookstore cultural activities, author talks, and community events.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

• Language: Professional proficiency in both English and Mandarin is required to serve our diverse community.
• Compliance: Ability to follow all health, safety, and professional customer service protocols.

Preferred / Great to Have:

• Proficiency or conversational skills in Cantonese.
• Previous barista experience or a strong passion for specialty coffee.
• A keen eye for visual storytelling, brand photography, or digital content creation.

BENEFITS & EMPLOYMENT TERMS

What We Offer:

• Paid sick leave (in accordance with San Francisco/California law).
• Workers’ Compensation coverage.
• Comprehensive training in specialty coffee preparation.

Position Details:

• Employment Type: At-will employment subject to company policies outlined in the Employee Handbook.
• Evaluation Period: A 90-day performance evaluation period to assess mutual fit.
• Breaks: All California meal and rest break requirements are strictly provided and respected.

Unbound Bookstore / 格外书店 is the only Chinese bookstore in San Francisco. Located in the heart of San Francisco’s Chinatown at 38 Waverly Place, they are also a neighborhood coffee shop, serving as a cultural hub for the local Chinese community and the broader diaspora. They sell Chinese books from Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and also English, bilingual and Pinyin books. The bookstore also hosts lectures, film screenings, live music, art exhibitions, and other events to cultivate a multidimensional literary and artistic community.