Shift Leader

Insomnia Cookies; Ames (IA); On-site; USD 17,000 - 22,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible scheduling

Paid vacation

Mentorship training

Pet insurance

Growth opportunities

Team environment

Employee discount

Free cookies

Job summary

Insomnia Cookies in Ames, IA is seeking a Shift Leader to captain the bakery during day and night shifts, guiding the Cookie Crew to deliver warm, delicious cookies and a standout guest experience.

You will coach teammates, manage shift operations, ensure food safety, and uphold quality and speed standards while fostering a positive, energetic team environment.

Qualifications

• 1+ year of experience in a customer-focused role
• Point of Sales systems experience
• Outstanding communication, time management, and people skills
• Outgoing/friendly/patient
• Detail focused and results-oriented
• Ability to lead-by-example and motivate others
• Ability to lift up to 40 lbs
• Legally eligible to work in the United States
• Must be 18 years or older to be employed

Responsibilities

• Lead bakery operations during your shift and ensure an exceptional guest experience from start to finish
• Bake, package, and prepare orders while providing exceptional guest service
• Coach and motivate Cookie Crew members, providing direction, feedback, and support throughout the shift
• Prioritize and delegate tasks to keep operations running efficiently and meet guest demand
• Help maintain our standards for product quality, food safety, cleanliness, and speed of service
• Handle cash management, register accountability, and deposits
• Communicate important updates and partner with store leadership to keep the bakery operating at its best
• Jump in wherever needed to help your team succeed

Skills

Customer service

POS systems

Communication

Time management

People skills

Leadership by example

Physical ability 40 lbs

Eligibility to work US

Age 18+

Job description

Insomnia Cookies was founded in a college dorm room by then-student, Seth Berkowitz. Fast forward 20 years and so... many....cookies... later, our innovative bakery + delivery concept has become a cult brand known for its rabid following of cookie lovers who crave Insomnia’s warm, delicious delivery all day and late into the night. With an expanding footprint of over 350 stores globally, an experiential, “sweet-easy” flagship concept, and large scale operations and delivery capabilities ... Insomnia Cookies is revolutionizing the cookie game by truly "Imagining What’s Possible"!

As a Shift Leader at our Ames store located at 217 Welch Ave, Ames IS 50014, you are the captain of our bakery day or night! You understand what it takes to “Own the Night” (and beyond), by predicting the flow of business during a successful shift. Your hands‑on leadership style should not only include building orders, suggestive selling, baking, and interacting with customers – it will also mean taking pride in knowing that your prowess as a leading Insomniac attributes to a productive and fun night for your store!

SOME OUR SWEET SHIFT LEADER PERKS

• Flexible part-time work schedules
• Paid vacation and sick time off
• Interactive training & mentorship
• Pet insurance for your furry loved ones
• Job stability with a rapidly growing and reputable company
• Achievable growth/promotion opportunities
• You get to work in a fun, exciting team environment
• Employee discount and FREE cookies with every shift!

WHAT WILL I DO AS A SHIFT LEADER?

• Provide incredible customer service and quality products to all of our guests throughout their experience within our bakeries
• Support store leadership by maintaining operations during your shift, communicating pertinent information, monitoring production efficiency, holding the team accountable to company standards and procedures, and assisting in the training and coaching of team members
• Prioritize and delegate tasks for baking, cashiering, packaging, and cleaning while leading the cookie crew team
• Support and work alongside the Cookie Crew
• Provide a safe, clean, working environment for our guests and staff and adhere to safe food handling practices
• Manage cash handling and deposits

DESIRED SKILLS/EXPERIENCE

• At least 1 year of working experience in a customer service focused role
• Point of Sales systems experience
• Outstanding communication, time management, and people skills
• Outgoing/friendly/patient
• Detail focused and results-oriented
• Ability to lead-by-example and motivate others
• Ability to lift up to 40 lbs
• Legally eligible to work in the United States
• Must be 18 years or older to be employed

At Insomnia Cookies, our Shift Leaders are the leaders in action. As the person leading the shift, you'll work side-by-side with your Cookie Crew to deliver warm, delicious cookies and an exceptional guest experience. From baking and packing orders to coaching teammates and keeping the bakery running smoothly, you'll lead by example every shift.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Lead bakery operations during your shift, ensuring an exceptional guest experience from start to finish
• Bake, package, and prepare orders while providing exceptional guest service
• Coach and motivate Cookie Crew members, providing direction, feedback, and support throughout the shift
• Prioritize and delegate tasks to keep operations running efficiently and meet guest demand
• Help maintain our standards for product quality, food safety, cleanliness, and speed of service
• Handle cash management, register accountability, and deposits
• Communicate important updates and partner with store leadership to keep the bakery operating at its best
• Jump in wherever needed to help your team succeed

Qualifications

• 1+ year of experience in retail, restaurant, hospitality, or another customer-focused environment
• Strong communication, organization, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment
• Positive attitude with a passion for delivering exceptional guest experiences
• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Ability to obtain any required food safety certifications applicable to the location
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation

Physical Requirements

• Stand and walk for extended periods of time (up to 8 hours per shift)
• Frequently reach, bend, stoop, twist, kneel, and lift
• Lift, carry, push, and pull up to 30 pounds regularly
• Occasionally lift up to 50 pounds with assistance
• Use hands and fingers to handle bakery equipment, food products, and a point-of-sale system
• Work in environments with varying temperatures, including around ovens, freezers, and refrigeration units
• Safely operate kitchen equipment in accordance with company procedures
• Read order screens, recipes, and safety information
• Communicate effectively with guests and team members in a fast-paced environment

Work Environment

This position works in a fast‑paced bakery environment that includes frequent interaction with guests, exposure to heat from ovens, refrigerated storage areas, cleaning chemicals, and moderate noise levels. Evening, late‑night, weekend, and holiday shifts are a regular part of the business.

Schedule Expectations

Our bakeries are busiest during evenings, late nights, weekends, and holidays. Team Members should have availability during these peak business hours. Scheduling needs vary by location.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Insomnia Cookies is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcome. We consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, or local law.

Reasonable Accommodation

If you require a reasonable accommodation during any part of the application or hiring process, please let us know. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities.

Additional Information

Employment with Insomnia Cookies is contingent upon successful completion of any background checks, employment verification, and other pre‑employment requirements applicable to the position and permitted by law.

Ready to Join?

Whether this is your first job or your next step, we're looking for people who bring great energy, take pride in their work, and love making someone's day a little sweeter.

When you join Insomnia Cookies, you'll enjoy

• Competitive hourly pay
• Early Wage Access (get paid the next day!)
• Flexible scheduling
• Employee discount (free cookies!)

This is more than a shift supervisor role—it's your opportunity to develop your leadership skills, make an impact every day, and grow your career with one of the fastest‑growing bakery brands in the country. Many of our Assistant Managers and Store Managers began their journey as Shift Leaders.

If you're ready to lead a great team, delight guests, and help create warm moments one cookie at a time, we'd love to have you join the Insomnia Cookies family.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.