Lead Barista

Regular Part-Time, Non-Exempt

Under the direction of the Head of Food & Beverage, the Lead Barista oversees the day-to-day operations of the Honolulu Museum of Art Coffee Bar and leads the barista team in delivering exceptional coffee, beverages, food, and guest service. The Lead Barista maintains high standards for product quality, cleanliness, efficiency, and hospitality while supporting staff training, scheduling, menu development, and special events.

The ideal candidate has strong coffee knowledge, excellent customer service skills, a hands‑on leadership style, and the ability to remain organized and composed in a fast‑paced environment.

Opened in 1927, the Honolulu Museum of Art is a home for art and education created for the benefit of the entire community. Founder Anna Rice Cooke envisioned a museum that would bring people together through the power of art and “the deep intuitions that are common to all.” The museum was conceived of as a place of meaningful exchange and dialogue, celebrating the diverse artistic and cultural traditions of Hawai‘i’s multi‑ethnic population.

From this founding intention grew the museum of today, with a world‑class encyclopedic collection of more than 55,000 works of art, representing a stunning breadth of places and eras, from all corners of the globe and from the ancient past to the present day.

• Lead the daily operations of the Coffee Bar, ensuring consistent service, product quality, cleanliness, and efficiency.
• Prepare and serve high‑quality coffee, beverages, and food while maintaining HoMA standards for presentation and execution.
• Provide warm, knowledgeable, and responsive customer service; anticipate guest needs and make appropriate menu recommendations.
• Lead and support barista training, including coffee preparation, equipment use, service standards, recipes, and operating procedures.
• Delegate daily production, stocking, cleaning, and other operational tasks to baristas as needed.
• Maintain appropriate inventory and stock levels and communicate supply needs to management
• Assist with beverage development, including seasonal specials, themed events, and menu updates.
• Support staffing needs, special events, exhibition openings, and catered functions as required.
• Complete daily sales reporting, cash deposits, and tip pool calculations accurately.
• Maintain a clean, organized, safe, and welcoming Coffee Bar environment.
• Demonstrate initiative, sound judgment, accountability, and the ability to work independently without close supervision.
• Support HoMA’s mission and values and contribute to a respectful, inclusive, and collaborative workplace.
• Demonstrates a commitment to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion through respectful communication and cooperation with others at all times, continuous training and modeling inclusive behaviors.
• Other duties as assigned.

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum 2 years of prior experience as a barista in a cafe or restaurant.
• Knowledge of coffee brewing methods, extraction fundamentals, milk science, and bar efficiency.
• Ability to prepare and develop beverage specials and maintain consistent recipe execution.
• Excellent customer service and communication skills, with the ability to remain calm and professional under pressure.
• Experience using a restaurant point-of-sale (POS) system.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a current Blue Card from the Honolulu Liquor Commission and an ANSI-accredited Food Handler Safety certificate.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, reliability, and follow-through.
• Abilityto lead, train, and support a diverse team.
• Ability to work effectively with a diverse…