Shift Lead

Equator Coffees was founded in 1995 by Helen Russell and Brooke McDonnell, with a commitment to sustainable and fair trade coffee practices. Today, Equator Coffees operates twelve retail cafes across California and is known for its industry-leading sourcing and roasting practices.

The Shift Lead assists the store manager in leading the baristas to deliver an exceptional experience to every customer, including providing hospitality, high-quality beverages, and specialty coffee knowledge. The role requires acting with integrity and respect, promoting a safe and clean work environment, and being ethical and passionate about coffee.

Key Responsibilities:

• Share passion for coffee and knowledge of specialty coffee with customers and employees
• Leads team in preparing and serving the highest quality handcrafted beverages
• Provides regular coaching and feedback to team members on drink quality
• Leads the team in sharing product knowledge
• Plan and execute the deployment of staff
• Able to remain calm, professional, patient, kind, and productive in all situations
• Leads and helps with store cleaning, stocking, and organizing
• Ensure and uphold store cleanliness, organization, and food safety
• Always act responsibly in protecting the store assets and facilities by ensuring compliance with Equator Coffees policies and procedures
• Communicates efficiently with the Store Manager on concerns such as employee engagement, work performance, customer feedback, and areas to improve
• Work with the Store Manager to perform inventory control tasks
• You will be the ideal model for teamwork
• Able to make decisions in the best interest of the customer as well as problem-solve in the absence of the manager
• Contribute to store goals for achieving sales and improving profits
• Will be responsible for the opening and closing of the cafe
• Demonstrate respect, integrity, honesty, and knowledge to promote the culture, values, and mission of Equator Coffees

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Kind, welcoming, and patient even amid multi-tasking
• Coffee experience preferred
• Retail and/or customer service experience required
• Demonstrates a passion for coffee and tea
• Able to make customers the priority
• Can provide ongoing positive and constructive feedback with ease
• Curious to learn and gain knowledge and apply it to daily interactions
• Is a Team Player
• Capability to interface and maintain effective relationships with co-workers and customers
• Cash handling skills
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• At times, may be required to work more than 40 hours per week to perform the essential duties of the position
• High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED)
• Able to work agreed-upon full-time or part-time hours that include early mornings, evenings, weekends, and/or holidays
• Maintains a current state-issued Food Handler Card
• Flexibility to work a variable schedule, including early mornings, weekends, and holidays, is strongly preferred
• Must be 16 years of age or older

Compensation:

• Available to all employees
• Commuter Benefits - pre-tax parking and transit
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - Physical and mental health, financial and legal coaching available at no cost to the employee
• Free mental health app subscription
• Employee discount on merchandise, coffee gear, and at Equator cafes
• Continuing coffee education classes
• Free coffee
• Paid Time Off for voting on Election Day
• After 60 days as an employee at Equator
• Healthcare Benefits (for full-time employees working over 30 hours per week)
• 100% employer-covered premium medical insurance
• Voluntary Insurance Plans - dental, vision, long-term disability, pet, and supplementary life insurance
• Employer covered life insurance premium
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) - healthcare and daily dependent care
• After 90 days as an employee at Equator
• Holiday Pay after 90 days of employment. Eight Equator-observed holidays per year
• Paid Time Off with tenured increases for full-time employees
• 1 paid volunteer day per year
• After six months as an employee at Equator
• 401K with up to a 4% company match on employee contributions

Compensation will be commensurate with experience.