Job Overview: Lead Barista & Team Leader (Fairbanks, AK)

Kroger (operating as Fred Meyer) is seeking a high-caliber Lead Barista & Team Leader for their Fairbanks location. This role is a critical supervisory position that bridges the gap between expert coffee craft and retail department management.

As a Lead, you aren’t just making beverages; you are responsible for the operational health of the coffee department and the professional development of your team. This is a “Career Track” position designed for someone who wants to leverage their barista certification into a management portfolio.

Key Responsibilities & Leadership Duties

Departmental Supervision

Personnel Leadership: Supervise and direct department personnel to ensure consistent, high-quality customer service across all shifts.
Service Standards: Ensure all coffee selection, purchase, and preparation standards are not only met but surpassed.
Operational Oversight: Monitor total department conditions, including cleanliness, equipment functionality, and inventory levels.

Guest Experience & Sales

Expert Guidance: Act as the primary resource for customers seeking specialty coffee beverages and whole-bean education.
Problem Solving: Calmly and tactfully handle stressful situations, ensuring a positive impression is left on both associates and customers.
Core Values: Model the company’s values of respect, honesty, integrity, and safety in every interaction.

Qualifications & Requirements

Core Requirements

Certification: Must be a trained and certified barista.
Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills to effectively lead a team and engage with the Fairbanks community.
Flexibility: Willingness and availability to work a varied schedule, including weekends and holidays.

Professional Attributes

Leadership Mindset: Ability to take initiative, monitor standards, and provide constructive feedback to team members.
Resilience: Proven ability to work under pressure in a high-volume retail environment.

Why This Role? (The Kroger Advantage)

Kroger offers a comprehensive “Associate Well-Being” package that stands out in the retail industry:

Tuition Assistance: Access to $21,000 in tuition reimbursement over your career through the “Feed Your Future” program.
Financial Health: Free, confidential financial tools and coaching provided by Goldman Sachs Ayco.
Health Coverage: Affordable and comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans.
Career Growth: Vast potential for advancement into store-wide management or specialized corporate roles.

Application Information

Interested candidates should apply through the Kroger/Fred Meyer Careers portal. In your application, highlight your specific experience in supervising others and your commitment to maintaining high-level brand standards. Referencing Job ID #J-18808-Ljbffr may help in tracking your submission.

Full Job Description

This leadership role is situated within the Starbucks kiosk of a Fairbanks Fred Meyer (likely the Airport Way or Old Steese Hwy location). As a Lead Barista and Team Leader, you are the face of the department, balancing high-level beverage craft with operational management. You will serve a diverse Fairbanks clientele—ranging from morning commuters and university students to military personnel—ensuring that every cup meets the “Gold Standard” while the team remains efficient and morale stays high.

Typical Responsibilities:

Personnel Supervision: Managing the daily workflow of barista associates, including shift breaks, task delegation, and providing “on-the-spot” coaching to ensure service speed and quality.
Expert Beverage Preparation: Maintaining certification standards for coffee selection, grinding, and manual espresso pulling; ensuring the team follows exact Starbucks recipes.
Operational Oversight: Managing inventory levels for milk, syrups, and beans; placing orders to prevent outages; and ensuring all equipment is calibrated and maintained.
Compliance & Safety: Enforcing strict health department and Kroger food safety protocols; maintaining a “clean as you go” environment behind the bar and in the seating area.
Customer Connection: Resolving complex customer concerns with professionalism and maintaining a welcoming atmosphere during high-volume “rush” periods.

Qualifications:

Experience: Proven experience as a certified barista is required. Previous experience in a “Lead” or “Shift Supervisor” capacity is highly preferred.
Communication: Strong verbal skills to effectively lead a team and interact with store management and a high-volume public.
Flexibility: A mandatory willingness to work weekends and holidays, which are the highest-demand periods for retail coffee operations.
Technical Skill: Proficiency in POS (Point of Sale) systems, inventory software, and the technical operation of industrial espresso machines.
Physicality: Ability to stand for the duration of a shift, perform repetitive hand/wrist motions, and lift up to 30–40 lbs (milk crates/syrup boxes).

Company Benefits:

Comprehensive Coverage: Access to medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.
Union Security: This position is typically covered by the UFCW union, providing structured pay scales, grievance procedures, and scheduled raises.
Education Perks: Eligibility for the “Feed Your Future” program, offering up to $3,500 annually for tuition reimbursement.
Employee Discounts: Discounts on Kroger-brand groceries and a wide range of general merchandise throughout the Fred Meyer store.

To apply for this job please visit www.kroger.com.