Beverage Program Manager Jobs in Connecticut (NOW HIRING)

Location: Avon CT

Compensation: $23/hour + tips
Position: Full-time

Small State Provisions is an award-winning organic bakery and café founded in 2019, with two locations in Connecticut. We are an employee-centric bakery focused on building a sustainable business with deep community impact. Our bakery is known for naturally leavened sourdough bread made with regionally grown and milled regenerative and organic grains, alongside pastry, thoughtfully prepared food, and a quality-focused coffee program.

We are looking for an experienced coffee professional to join our Front of House team as Lead Barista.

The Lead Barista is a hands-on role responsible for leading all aspects of the Small State coffee program, including coffee quality and consistency, barista training and development, beverage production, ordering and inventory, and the organization and maintenance of the coffee bar.

This role works closely with and reports to the Operations Manager – Cafe & Hospitality. The Lead Barista serves as the leader of our barista team and coffee program, while our Front of House Shift Leads are responsible for leading the overall flow and execution of service. This collaborative structure allows the Lead Barista to focus deeply on coffee quality, training and development while remaining an active part of daily café service.

The Lead Barista works alongside the team every day, making drinks, serving guests, coaching baristas and leading through expertise and example.

·      Lead the daily execution and ongoing development of the Small State coffee program.

·      Maintain high standards for espresso extraction, grinder adjustment, milk steaming, drink construction and presentation.

·      Dial in espresso and coffee throughout service and ensure recipes and standards are consistently followed across the barista team.

·      Train and onboard new baristas, including espresso fundamentals, milk steaming, beverage recipes, workflow, equipment care and hospitality standards.

·      Provide ongoing coaching and development to the existing barista team and identify opportunities for additional training.

·      Work closely with the Operations Manager – Cafe & Hospitality to maintain clear coffee standards, training materials and operating procedures.

·      Lead production of house-made syrups, cold brew and other beverage components, maintaining appropriate pars, labeling, organization and production schedules.

·      Maintain and develop recipes for seasonal and specialty beverages in collaboration with the Operations Manager and ownership.

·      Manage ordering and inventory for the coffee program, including coffee, dairy and alternative milks, tea, cups, lids, beverage ingredients and other coffee-bar supplies.

·      Establish and maintain appropriate inventory pars and place orders proactively to support the needs of the café.

·      Maintain relationships and communication with our coffee and beverage suppliers.

·      Oversee the proper daily and weekly cleaning and maintenance of espresso machines, grinders and other coffee equipment.

·      Ensure opening and closing standards for the coffee bar are consistently completed by the barista team.

·      Identify equipment issues early and communicate maintenance and service needs to management.

·      Maintain a clean, organized and efficient coffee bar that is properly stocked and prepared for service.

·      Work the espresso bar as an active member of the Front of House team, preparing drinks quickly, accurately and consistently.

·      Provide warm, knowledgeable and thoughtful hospitality to every guest.

·      Support other Front of House positions during service as needed and work collaboratively with the Shift Lead responsible for the overall flow of each shift.

·      Lead by example and help create a team culture built around quality, accountability, communication and hospitality.

·      You love coffee, but just as importantly, you love teaching other people how to make great coffee.

·      You notice the details. You know when an espresso needs adjustment, when milk texture isn’t right, when the bar could be set up more efficiently or when a teammate could benefit from additional coaching.

·      You take ownership. If something isn’t working, you don’t simply work around it.  You communicate, troubleshoot and help find a solution.

·      You are comfortable being the coffee expert without needing to be in charge of everything. You understand how to work collaboratively within a team structure. 

·      You communicate clearly and directly, can give constructive feedback, and are equally comfortable receiving it.

·      You care about consistency. A guest should receive the same excellent drink whether they visit on a Tuesday morning or in the middle of a busy weekend service.

·      You genuinely enjoy hospitality and understand that technical coffee knowledge only matters if we use it to create a better experience for our guests.

·      Most importantly, you are excited about helping build and develop a coffee program and a team rather than simply maintaining what already exists.

·      Minimum 2–3 years of experience as a barista in a busy, quality-focused café or coffee shop.

·      Strong working knowledge of espresso extraction, grinder adjustment and dialing in.

·      Strong milk steaming and beverage construction skills.

·      Experience training, coaching or developing other baristas.

·      Experience as a Lead Barista, Head Barista, Coffee Trainer or similar position is preferred, but not required for an experienced barista ready to take the next step.

·      Experience with ordering, inventory management and maintaining product pars.

·      Working knowledge of proper espresso machine and grinder cleaning and maintenance.

·      Strong organizational and communication skills.

·      Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.

·      Strong sense of hospitality and commitment to creating a welcoming guest experience.

·      Ability to work collaboratively with managers, Shift Leads and the broader Front of House team.

·      Weekend availability is required.

·      5 Days PTO 

·      Health Care Reimbursement for Employee (40% of self-purchased policy) 

·      401k savings program 

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