As the Head of Barista, you will be responsible for leading and developing the barista team across all locations to ensure a consistent, high-quality coffee experience that reflects the company’s values and standards. This role is a crucial link between operations, training, quality control, and brand excellence, involving direct leadership of baristas, extensive training responsibilities, support for franchised outlets, and active contributions to product innovation.
Core Responsibilities:
Barista Leadership & Team Development • Lead, mentor, and inspire baristas to uphold the highest service and quality standards. • Act as the face of coffee excellence for the brand, embodying professionalism and passion for speciality coffee. • Work barista shifts when needed to stay connected to shop operations and team dynamics.
Training & Onboarding • Design and deliver onboarding training for all baristas, with 100% completion within 10 days of start. • Conduct regular upskilling, refresher courses, and leadership development programs. • Train and mentor barista trainers and high-potential team members for growth.
Quality Control • Conduct store assessments to audit drink quality, customer service, and SOP compliance. • Implement quality control systems across all UK sites. • Provide coaching and follow-ups to address performance gaps.
Franchisee Support • Deliver barista training programs to franchisee teams. • Conduct quarterly visits to all franchise locations for evaluation, training, and support. • Ensure franchise compliance with brand standards and operational guidelines.
Menu R&D • Lead or collaborate on the development and testing of new beverages and seasonal specials. • Roll out a minimum of 2 new offerings per quarter. • Monitor global beverage trends and suggest innovations accordingly.
Operational Excellence • Maintain and refine SOPs and preparation manuals. • Ensure shop managers and team leads are fully trained and equipped to implement company standards. • Assist in stock management, equipment troubleshooting, and liaising with suppliers.
Certification & Industry Involvement • Pursue and maintain personal coffee certifications (e.g., SCA). • Support company participation in barista competitions and events, with a target of at least 2 annual entries.
Reporting & Systems • Submit monthly reports detailing activities, visit outcomes, training metrics, and improvement recommendations. • Utilize company platforms for documentation, scheduling, reporting, and feedback (e.g., CRM, internal audits, Optrack).
Business Development Support • Provide insights and operational advice during new store setups. • Align barista performance and training with promotional campaigns and marketing efforts.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): • Quality Scores: Maintain 90%+ across all franchisor stores. • Training Completion: 100% of new baristas/franchisees trained within 10 days. • Franchise Coverage: Visit each franchise location at least once per quarter. • Menu Development: Launch 2+ new drinks per quarter. • Customer Satisfaction: Keep barista-related complaints under 1% of total transactions. • Competition Participation: Support a minimum of 2 company entries annually.
Qualifications & Experience:
Coffee Experience: • Minimum 4 years of experience in specialty coffee. • SCA Barista or Brewing Professional certification preferred. • Skilled in diagnosing coffee equipment issues. • Proven experience in barista training and quality assurance.
General Skills: • Strong leadership and team management capabilities. • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. • Passionate about coffee, hospitality, and customer experience. • Ability to multitask, travel frequently, and manage across multiple locations.
Additional Expectations: • Professionalism and brand representation always. • Collaborative approach with internal teams: HR, Marketing, R&D, Franchise Support, and Operations. • Work with Procurement and Supply Chain to ensure barista standards are maintained through sourcing and equipment.
This is a hands-on, influential role suited for a coffee professional who thrives in a leadership position, loves people development, and is driven to uphold and enhance excellence across all customer touchpoints.
