Shift Lead

Blue Bottle Coffee Inc; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 21,593 - 30,754; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health, dental, and visa

Best-in-class coffee training

401(k) plan

Paid time off & volunteer hours

Product discounts

2 free drinks during shifts

Flexible spending account

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Blue Bottle Coffee Inc. is seeking a Shift Lead to join our Cambridge cafe team.

This leadership role ensures hospitality excellence, guides beverage and food execution, and maintains cafe standards while supporting team development and operational goals. The ideal candidate will have 6 months to 1 year of supervisory experience, complete Blue Bottle Barista training within 90 days, and hold a Food Safety Certification.

Qualifications

• 6 months - 1 year of supervisory experience or leading a team.
• Completed Blue Bottle Barista training and validation program or will complete within 90 days post-hire.
• Food Safety Certification required for the state and role, or obtained within 30 days post-hire.
• Basic math and computer skills.
• Flexible schedule including mornings, evenings, weekends and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Be a role model to teammates, setting high standards for service and beverage quality.
• Lead shift to ensure hospitality, correct beverage and food execution, and cafe standards.
• Assist with training new hires and current team on offerings.
• Guide completion of tasks and adherence to safety guidelines.
• Provide timely, constructive feedback to improve workflow and guest experience.
• Support sustainability initiatives and maintain positive team environment.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Training

Problem solving

Empathy

Sustainability mindset

Education

Blue Bottle Barista training

Food Safety Certification

Job description

At Blue Bottle, our mission is to connect the world to delicious coffee. From seed to cup, we elevate the craft of coffee in everything we do. We strive to build a better tomorrow by investing in what matters: a sustainable future for our people, the company, and our planet.

About the Job

A Blue Bottle Shift Lead is part of the cafe’s leadership team. They lead the team to consistently deliver great hospitality and coffee experiences while maintaining cafe standards and achieving business goals.

A Shift Lead ensures that everything in the cafe is operating smoothly during their shifts, from the front of the house to the back of the house. They support the success of the team and cafe by ensuring that the right people are in the right places at the right time and that Blue Bottle standards are upheld. They create a learning environment in the cafe, inspiring and motivating their fellow teammates to always improve.

A Shift Lead is an influential team leader but does not have direct reports.

You Will:

• Be a role model to your fellow team members, setting the standard for everything you do—and striving constantly to do it better
• Lead your shift by ensuring the right people are in the right places and that the team is giving exceptional hospitality and executing every beverage and food item according to Blue Bottle standards
• Assist with training new hires and training current team members on new beverage and food offerings
• Guide completion of operational tasks and adherence to Blue Bottle standards and safety guidelines
• Provide timely and consistent feedback to your team to inspire continuous improvement in workflow, hospitality, and product quality
• Lead your team in actively working to reach our company-wide sustainability goals
• Continuously cultivate your own curiosity and knowledge of coffee through in-house tastings, cuppings, and trainings
• Prepare delicious beverages and food to quality standards
• Promote a safe and respectful working environment
• Uphold and follow all health, food safety, and safety guidelines

You Are:

• A leader who is passionate about training and helping to develop a team
• Aware of your impact on others, and seek regular feedback to continually improve
• A strong communicator who can provide impactful and motivating feedback to improve the team’s beverage, food, and hospitality delivery
• Always curious, you are excited about finding new ways to delight our guests
• Savvy with your resources, with the ability to make decisions and problem-solve
• Dedicated to your team and your guests, you understand and value empathy and use it to guide interactions on and off the job
• Passionate about the planet and creating a sustainable future for our people, the company, and our planet
• Eligible to work in the United States and 18 years of age or older

You Have:

• 6 months - 1 year of supervisory experience or experience leading a team
• Completed Blue Bottle’s Barista training and validation program or will complete it within 90 days post-hire
• Existing Food Safety Certification required for the state you will be working in and your specific role, or will obtain it within 30 days post-hire
• Basic math and computer skills
• A flexible schedule and are available to work mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays

A few benefits we offer:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage for eligible employees starting on your first day
• Best-in-class coffee training and continuing education
• Free membership into the Specialty Coffee Association of America and discounts on events (including Expos and Championships)
• 401(k) plan
• Paid time off & paid volunteer hours
• 50% discount on all products, both online and in-cafe; this includes food, beverages, whole-bean coffee, and merchandise
• 2 free drinks during shifts for cafe team members
• Flexible spending account & commuter benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Additional Benefits Information

Our Shift Lead position is a dynamic one! Below, we’ve mapped out the physical demands that are essential to the role:

• Ability to stand and walk for long periods of time; you’re on your feet the majority of the day, whether you are standing behind bar pulling shots or walking the cafe floor
• Use of hands to reach, grip, turn, and perform precision work; you’re using your hands to operate beautiful espresso machines, pour delicious pour overs, and operate the register (among other responsibilities)
• As needed, squat, bend, twist, and reach for items below waist level or above shoulders; for example, you may have to bend down or reach up to grab cups, lids, and towels
• Ability to lift, push/pull, carry, and/or move up to 50 pounds; for example, you’ll be handling bags of coffee beans, coffee kegs, crates of milk, tubs of dishes, and trash bins
• As needed, climb ladders, stairs, ramps, and uneven floors and/or surfaces; for example, climb on a step stool to change menu slats or go up and down stairs and ramps to storage areas
• Ability to smell and taste; you’re tasting and smelling coffee and food, helping ensure quality control for each cup and plate
• Ability to listen and speak; you’re listening and speaking with our guests to take and fill orders, and guide and create experiences
• The role is performed in an environment that may involve exposure to environmental conditions, including elevated temperatures from food and beverage preparation equipment, and cooler temperatures in refrigerated spaces

$19 - $19 an hour

• $19.00 per hour + tips averaging $6-9 per shift hour
• Cafe Incentive Program

Blue Bottle is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value an open mind, dedication to work, and a collaborative spirit. We hire based on these qualities, a job’s requirements, our business’s needs, and an applicant’s qualifications. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment of any kind in the hiring process or in the workplace.

We comply with the ADA and provide reasonable accommodations that allow qualified applicants/employees to perform the essential functions of the job. We also provide reasonable religious accommodations to applicants/employees to allow them to practice their bona fide religious beliefs. To request an accommodation, contact your People Partner.

We may refuse to hire relatives of present employees if doing so could result in actual or potential problems in supervision, safety, security, or morale, or if doing so could create other conflicts of interest.

We will consider employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

We participate in E-Verify. We will provide the federal government with employees’ Form I-9 information to confirm authorization to work in the U.S. We will only use E-Verify once an employee has accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.