Head Barista

Lead the coffee programme in one of Queenstown's most spectacular settings.

Back dropped by the Remarkables Mountain Range, Jack’s Point is a truly authentic and unique destination from which to experience Queenstown’s stunning scenery.  Situated on the edge of Lake Tewa, surrounded by Jack’s Point championship golf course, it is the perfect place dine and relax.

Jack's Point is looking for an experienced Head Barista to take ownership of our coffee and non-alcoholic beverage programme and help shape the next stage of our food and beverage offering.

This is a hands-on leadership role for an experienced barista who loves great coffee, enjoys developing people and products, and wants the opportunity to make their mark on a growing beverage programme.

About the role

Reporting to the F&B Manager, you will take ownership of the day-to-day coffee operation while remaining hands-on during service. Your responsibilities will include:

• Lead the barista team during service and set a consistently high standard for coffee and beverage preparation.
• Dial in coffee, monitor extraction and maintain consistently high drink quality throughout service.
• Prepare espresso coffee and other hot and cold non-alcoholic beverages to a high standard.
• Develop seasonal specials, signature drinks and other new coffee and beverage products.
• Cost new products and maintain recipes, specifications and cost cards.
• Monitor beverage sales, stock, waste and gross margins against agreed targets.
• Order coffee, milk, syrups, teas and other beverage stock within approved budgets and par levels.
• Build relationships with coffee roasters and beverage suppliers and recommend products or blend changes where appropriate.
• Develop promotions and initiatives to grow coffee and beverage sales.
• Train and coach baristas and other team members in coffee preparation, recipes, milk texturing, presentation, cleaning and service standards.
• Assess and sign off team members as competent to work on the coffee bar independently.
• Maintain high standards of cleanliness, food safety and workplace health and safety.
• Complete daily cleaning and maintenance of espresso machines and grinders and coordinate servicing when required.
• Work closely with the F&B Manager, F&B Director, Head Chef and wider FOH team to continually improve the coffee and beverage offering.
• Contribute to barista recruitment, rostering and performance discussions.
• Assist with the wider Jack's Point food and beverage operation as reasonably required.

About you

You will have:

• At least 3 years' barista experience, including experience in a senior or supervisory barista role.
• Experience working in a high-volume or premium hospitality environment.
• Advanced espresso and milk preparation skills, including the ability to dial in coffee and identify and resolve extraction issues.
• Experience training or coaching other baristas or hospitality team members.
• An understanding of recipe costing, stock control, margins and basic sales reporting.
• A genuine passion for coffee and beverage development, with an eye for quality and creativity.
• Strong attention to detail and a high standard of personal presentation and hygiene.
• Good knowledge of and commitment to food safety and workplace health and safety.
• The ability to remain calm, organised and hands-on during busy service periods.
• Flexibility to work weekends, public holidays and during peak seasonal periods.
  
  

Desirable: SCA or equivalent coffee qualifications, experience developing menus or launching products, latte art or competition experience, and a current food safety certificate.

Why Jack's Point?

This is an opportunity to take real ownership of a coffee programme in an exceptional Queenstown location.

You'll have the freedom to bring ideas to the menu, develop your team and influence how the coffee experience evolves, while working alongside an experienced food and beverage leadership team.

You'll also enjoy:

• A spectacular Queenstown location surrounded by mountains and Jack's Point golf course.
• A hands-on leadership role with genuine ownership of the coffee programme.
• Creative scope to develop new products, seasonal offerings and sales initiatives.
• The opportunity to develop people and build a strong barista team.
• Premium hospitality experience within a distinctive golf and lifestyle environment.
  
  

Employment details

• Permanent, full-time position.
• Minimum 30 hours per week.
• Remuneration of $31–$34.50 per hour, depending on experience and suitability.
• Weekend and peak-period work will be required.
  
  

How to apply

If you're an experienced barista who is ready to lead from the front, develop a team and put your stamp on a coffee programme in one of Queenstown's most beautiful settings, we'd love to hear from you.

Please submit your CV and a short cover letter outlining your relevant experience and why this opportunity interests you.