Team Captain (Cafe)

Bluestone Lane; Los Altos (CA); On-site; USD 22,957 - 32,697; Full time

Job summary

Bluestone Lane in Los Altos, California is seeking a Team Captain to lead the coffee shop team and enhance the local customer experience. The ideal candidate will have at least 3 years of hospitality experience, with supervisory skills, to ensure efficiency and a positive atmosphere. Responsibilities include managing operations, driving sales, and promoting excellent customer service. A salary of $20.20 plus tips is offered, reflecting the commitment to quality and service.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of hospitality experience.
• At least 1 year of supervisory experience.
• Ability to work in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment.
• Organized and detail-oriented.
• Ability to stand for extended periods and lift up to 40 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Oversee store operations and maintain local experience.
• Drive sales and ensure excellent customer service.
• Manage team scheduling and support onboarding of new members.
• Ensure cleanliness and adherence to standards.

Skills

Customer service

Leadership

Detail-oriented

Point of Sale (POS) system experience

Communication skills

Education

Accreditation with the Department of Health for Food Protection Certificate

Bluestone Lane Barista Accreditation

Job description

Overview

The Team Captain, in close partnership with the General Manager (GM) and Area General Manager, is responsible for the local experience in the coffee shop, and for maintaining a cohesive, efficient and positive store environment. The Team Captain ensures teammates are in the right place, doing the right things at the right time to provide locals with a genuine daily escape. The Team Captain assists the GM in building a cohesive, efficient and stable team and acts as manager on duty in the absence of the GM. With keen awareness of the store’s financial performance, the Team Captain drives efficiency and recognition to maximize sales targets and average customer spend. The Team Captain understands and role models the Steps of Service, trains and directs the team to perform consistently.

Positioning

The Team Captain is typically positioned behind the bar, working alongside the team, frequently at the POS station while overseeing the coffee shop to ensure locals receive excellent and fast service, and that the store is clean.

Essential Functions / Responsibilities

• Ownership: Keen eye for detail; oversees the store, identifies locals' needs and tasks (e.g., benches to be cleaned, wobbly tables, plates for clearing) and directs the team to act. In a busy environment, the Team Captain is hands-on and pitches in.
• Keeps the team motivated, engaged and busy during busy and down times; delegates to ensure all locals are serviced and tasks completed.
• Supports the GM or Area GM in achieving efficient scheduling of all line team members on shift, including proactively sending people home early if the store is quiet.
• Leads by example and reflects the company’s competencies & behaviors at all times.
• Oversees waste management and inventory within the store.
• Provides feedback to the GM or Area GM when in their absence at end of day to guide adjustments: staffing opportunities, product needs/waste, customer requests or issues.
• Assists in onboarding and development of new team members; understands what good looks like in store.
• Works closely with the GM or Area GM to ensure teammates perform to expectations and develops action plans to address performance needs.

• Speed: Drives sales in the coffee shop, ensuring accuracy and upselling where appropriate. Acts as a peer, coach and mentor; develops teams to improve performance and reach goals.

• Quality Product: Helps develop a cohesive team and supports the vision and culture of Bluestone Lane; assists with ordering stock levels and reports supplier issues to the GM or Area GM. Follows systems to minimize wastage and ensures proper handling to maintain freshness and quality. Maintains product knowledge and ensures team adherence to portion control and costing to avoid waste.

• Recognition: Serves as the first point of contact for locals, communicates with energy and clarity, and builds personal connections to promote repeat business. Sets the tone in-store and understands local community trends.

• Cleanliness: Regularly participates in bar-side cleaning and restocking, supports cleaning schedules, maintains an organized and clean working environment, adheres to DOH standards, and executes opening/closing procedures and sanitation expectations.

• Measures of Success: Cross-functional operations with flexibility; team understands directives and acts as mentors; store team stability and efficiency; locals feel welcomed; achievement of sales targets and profitability; fast order placement and pickup times.

Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• You possess a passion for customer service.
• You have worked in hospitality for a minimum of 3 years.
• You have at least one year of supervisory experience.
• You can work in a high-pressure, fast-paced environment.
• You are well-organized and detail-oriented and can view the workspace with a fresh set of eyes each day.
• You have experience using a Point of Sale (POS) system.
• You demonstrate the desire and ability to lead, communicate and train team members. You possess accreditation with the Department of Health for Food Protection Certificate and Bluestone Lane Barista Accreditation.
• You possess strong interpersonal, leadership and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to stand for extended periods and lift up to 40 lbs.

Work Environment

Working conditions are typically indoors in environmentally controlled conditions. The employee is regularly required to talk or hear. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Salary Description

20.20 + Tips