Barista Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Barista Manager Job Description

Nine Lives Café

Position Title

Barista Manager

Job Type

Full-Time Leadership Position

Location

West Palm Beach, Florida

Café Hours

Open Daily: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Managers must have flexible availability including mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and special events.

Typical shifts may include:

• 6:30 AM – 2:30 PM
• 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
• 12:00 PM – 8:30 PM

About Nine Lives Café

Nine Lives Café is a luxury boutique cat café and wellness space designed to bring together elevated coffee culture, community, movement, and compassion. Our business combines a specialty café, cat lounge, and mat Pilates studio into one unique lifestyle-focused experience.

We serve espresso beverages, specialty coffee, tea, matcha, smoothies, juices, and warming pastries in an upscale and wellness-oriented environment. Our mission is to create a peaceful, inspiring, and memorable experience for every guest who walks through our doors.

We are seeking a highly motivated, hospitality-driven Barista Manager who can lead a team, maintain operational excellence, increase sales, and create exceptional customer experiences while embodying the values of wellness, positivity, professionalism, and community.

Position Overview

The Barista Manager is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the café while ensuring exceptional beverage quality, customer service, cleanliness, team leadership, and sales performance.

This role is ideal for someone who:

• Thrives in fast-paced hospitality environments
• Has strong leadership and communication skills
• Loves coffee and wellness culture
• Is passionate about luxury customer experiences
• Can confidently lead and motivate a team
• Understands sales and guest retention
• Feels comfortable working in a cat café environment

The ideal candidate should be organized, proactive, positive, detail-oriented, and capable of handling both operational and customer-facing responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

Café Operations

• Oversee all daily café operations
• Ensure smooth workflow during opening, peak hours, and closing
• Maintain high standards for beverage quality and presentation
• Monitor cleanliness, organization, and sanitation throughout the café
• Manage inventory levels and communicate supply needs
• Minimize product waste and improve operational efficiency
• Ensure all recipes and procedures are followed consistently
• Maintain compliance with food safety and sanitation standards
• Support ownership with operational systems and improvements

Beverage & Food Service

The Barista Manager must be confident in preparing and training staff on:

• Espresso beverages
• Specialty coffee drinks
• Matcha beverages
• Loose leaf and specialty teas
• Smoothies
• Fresh juices
• Wellness beverages
• Seasonal drink specials
• Warming pastries

Responsibilities include:

• Maintaining consistency in taste and presentation
• Monitoring beverage speed and accuracy during rushes
• Proper calibration and maintenance of espresso equipment
• Ensuring freshness and quality of ingredients
• Training staff on recipes and preparation standards
• Assisting during high-volume rushes when needed

Leadership & Team Management

The Barista Manager plays a major leadership role within the company and is expected to create a positive, professional, and productive team environment.

Responsibilities include:

• Training and onboarding new employees
• Supervising baristas and café staff
• Delegating responsibilities during shifts
• Motivating team members during busy periods
• Addressing employee performance concerns professionally
• Assisting with scheduling and shift coverage
• Maintaining strong communication with ownership
• Leading by example through professionalism and work ethic
• Encouraging teamwork, accountability, and positivity

The ideal candidate should know how to balance strong leadership with emotional intelligence and hospitality.

Customer Experience & Sales

At Nine Lives Café, hospitality is one of our highest priorities. We aim to create luxury-level customer experiences that encourage repeat visits and strong community relationships.

Responsibilities include:

• Greeting customers warmly and professionally
• Building genuine relationships with guests
• Creating a welcoming and peaceful environment
• Handling customer concerns calmly and professionally
• Maintaining exceptional service during busy hours
• Upselling beverages, pastries, retail products, and wellness offerings
• Encouraging guests to explore the cat lounge and Pilates studio
• Supporting customer retention and community engagement

Candidates should be confident in:

• Product recommendations
• Upselling techniques
• Guest communication
• Luxury hospitality standards
• Creating memorable experiences

Wellness & Brand Alignment

Because Nine Lives Café is connected to a wellness-focused Pilates studio, we are looking for candidates who align with our brand values and lifestyle culture.

Ideal candidates have an interest in:

• Wellness
• Fitness
• Pilates
• Healthy living
• Mental wellness
• Holistic lifestyles
• Luxury hospitality
• Mindfulness
• Community engagement

We value employees who bring positive energy, emotional intelligence, professionalism, and a calm presence into the workspace.

Cat Café Environment

This role requires working in an environment with adoptable cats daily.

Responsibilities include:

• Maintaining a calm and safe atmosphere for guests and cats
• Ensuring guests follow cat lounge rules
• Supporting cleanliness and sanitation standards
• Respecting animal care procedures
• Helping create a compassionate and welcoming environment

Applicants must be comfortable around cats and able to work in a pet-friendly environment.

Qualifications

Preferred qualifications include:

• Previous barista experience
• Previous management or leadership experience
• Strong customer service skills
• Experience in high-volume hospitality environments
• Strong multitasking and communication abilities
• Experience with POS systems and cash handling
• Inventory management experience
• Sales and upselling confidence
• Ability to remain calm under pressure
• Flexible availability

Bonus qualifications:

• Latte art experience
• Specialty coffee knowledge
• Wellness or fitness background
• Pilates experience or interest
• Social media/content creation skills
• Luxury hospitality experience
• Food safety certifications

Physical Requirements

• Standing for extended periods
• Lifting up to 40 pounds
• Frequent movement throughout the café
• Repetitive hand and arm motions
• Working in fast-paced environments
• Multitasking under pressure