About Gordon’s Market & Café

Gordon’s is an independent grocery store and café located downtown Collingwood. At Gordon’s we are dedicated to providing a wide range of high-quality products, including fresh produce, artisanal goods, and everyday essentials. We prioritize sourcing locally whenever possible supporting regional farmers and producers.

Gordon’s aims to stand out by fostering a strong sense of community through our commitment to excellent customer service, inclusivity, and a convenient shopping experience. The café portion of Gordon’s provides a variety of pre-made and fresh food options with a full espresso bar that is also licensed to sell alcohol. With a commitment to quality and community, we strive to create a welcoming space where people can come together to enjoy delicious food & beverages and great conversation.

Position Overview

We are looking for a passionate, experienced, and detail-oriented Lead Barista to help deliver an exceptional café experience at Gordon’s Market & Café.

As Lead Barista, you will set the standard for beverage quality, customer service, café presentation, and daily operations. You will lead by example, share your knowledge with fellow team members, and help create a welcoming environment where every guest receives a consistently excellent experience.

This is a hands-on leadership position that works closely with management to uphold our standards and identify opportunities for improvement. While the role does not include formal supervisory or scheduling responsibilities, you will play an important role in shaping our café culture and ensuring operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Customer Experience & Hospitality

- Set the standard for warm, attentive, and genuine hospitality.
- Build meaningful relationships with regular customers and create a welcoming experience for new guests.
- Lead by example in professionalism, positivity, and customer engagement.
- Proactively recognize and address opportunities to improve the guest experience.
- Help resolve customer concerns with care and professionalism, escalating issues to management when appropriate.

Beverage Quality & Consistency
- Prepare exceptional espresso beverages, coffee, tea,



and other café offerings to established recipes and quality standards.
- Maintain consistency in beverage taste, temperature, presentation, and preparation.
- Monitor espresso quality throughout the day, making adjustments to grind settings and extraction as required.
- Demonstrate expertise in coffee preparation, milk texturing, latte art, and equipment operation.
- Help maintain and improve beverage recipes, preparation procedures, and quality standards in collaboration with management.

Team Leadership & Development
- Lead by example through a robust work ethic, attention to detail, and a positive attitude.
- Manage onboarding and hands-on training of new café team members.
- Serve as a knowledgeable resource for fellow baristas, offering guidance, encouragement, and practical support.
- Promote teamwork, effective communication, and a culture of accountability.
- Provide constructive feedback and communicate training opportunities or recurring concerns to management.

Café Standards & Daily Operations
- Maintain exceptional standards of cleanliness, organization, and merchandising throughout the café.
- Ensure espresso machines, grinders, and other equipment are properly cleaned and maintained.
- Help ensure café displays, baked goods, and retail offerings are presented attractively and consistently.
- Monitor product freshness, preparation standards, and overall presentation.
- Support efficient workflow and service during busy periods.
- Identify operational inefficiencies and recommend practical improvements.
- Communicate product shortages, equipment concerns, and quality issues to management.

Collaboration with Management
- Act as a trusted resource to management regarding café quality, customer feedback, and operational improvements.
- Support the implementation of new products, seasonal beverages, and service initiatives.




- Help reinforce established café standards and operating procedures.
- Communicate opportunities to improve training, product consistency, and the customer experience.

Qualifications & Attributes

- Previous specialty coffee or barista experience, preferably in a high-quality or high-volume café.
- Smart Serve is required.
- Strong knowledge of espresso preparation, coffee equipment, and beverage quality standards.
- A genuine passion for coffee, hospitality, and delivering exceptional customer experiences.
- Previous experience training baristas is an asset.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Strong attention to detail and pride in presentation and cleanliness.
- Positive, approachable, and collaborative leadership style.
- Ability to remain calm, organized, and efficient during busy service periods.
- Self-motivated, dependable, and committed to continuous improvement.

Benefits

- Opportunities for advancement.
- Employee discounts on food and beverages.
- Tips.
- Fun, inclusive and supportive work environment.
- Training and development opportunities to enhance your skills.

Application Process

- If you are passionate about food & drinks, and creating a memorable experience for customers, we would love to hear from you! Please apply with a resume through the link here.
- Selected candidates will be contacted directly for next steps in the interview process.
- The interview process will include an unpaid trial shift to demonstrate appropriate skills for selected candidates.
- Gordon’s is an equal opportunity employer which values diversity in the workplace. We do not discriminate in making employment decisions based upon race, colour, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or any prohibited grounds. In keeping with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, accommodations are available throughout the recruitment and selection process. If contacted for an employment opportunity, please inform us of any accommodations required.

Pay: $20.00-$22.00 per hour Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits

- Discounted or free food
- On-site parking
- Store discount

Work Location: In person

📌 Lead Barista (Collingwood)
🏢 Gordon's Market u0026 Café
📍 Collingwood