Barista and Retail Associate (Flex and Part-time)
Location: Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, Calgary
Reporting to: Visitor Experience Manager
Commitment to Fair Hiring Practices
National Music Centre (NMC) believes in the power and importance of fair hiring practices in the workplace. We ensure equal opportunity for all qualified applicants and encourage people of all visible minorities, and those of any religion, sex, age, ability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression to apply.
About this position
The NMC Barista and Retail Associate role is a dynamic front-line role that combines café operations, retail sales, and exceptional guest service to create memorable experiences at Studio Bell.
Reporting to the Manager of Visitor Experience, this position is primarily responsible for the daily operation of the NMC Gift Shop & Café, including preparing and serving beverages and food items, maintaining café standards, processing transactions, and creating a welcoming atmosphere for guests. The role also occasionally supports operations at the Visitor Experience desk while helping visitors engage with Studio Bell's exhibitions, programs, performances, and events.
As a key member of the Visitor Experience team, this role contributes to an end-to-end guest experience by delivering warm hospitality, sharing information about Studio Bell, assisting with visitor inquiries, and ensuring guests feel welcomed throughout their visit.
The ideal candidate is passionate about customer service, enjoys working in a fast-paced environment, and is comfortable balancing café operations, retail responsibilities, and visitor engagement. This role may involve independent work and requires strong initiative, organization, and attention to detail.
Applicants must have flexible availability, including weekends, evenings, holidays, and occasional weekday shifts.
Responsibilities
Café Operations
- Prepare and serve coffee, tea, specialty beverages, and grab-and-go food items in accordance with established standards.
- Deliver exceptional customer service and hospitality to café guests.
- Take customer orders and accurately process transactions using point-of-sale systems.
- Maintain cleanliness, organization, and presentation standards throughout the café.
- Complete opening and closing procedures, including cash handling and reconciliation.
- Monitor, stock, and replenish café products and supplies.
- Ensure food products are handled, stored, prepared, and served safely and in accordance with food safety regulations.
- Operate and maintain café equipment according to established procedures and report maintenance concerns as required.
- Contribute to a welcoming and inviting café environment that enhances the overall Studio Bell experience.
Retail Operations
- Support the daily operation of the NMC Gift Shop.
- Assist guests with merchandise purchases and product inquiries.
- Promote retail merchandise and provide product recommendations.
- Maintain retail displays, merchandising standards, and product presentation.
- Assist with inventory counts, stock replenishment, receiving, and organization.
- Process retail transactions accurately and responsibly.
Visitor Experience & Guest Engagement
- Welcome guests and create a positive first impression of Studio Bell.
- Share information about the National Music Centre's exhibitions, programs, events, performances, memberships, and amenities.
- Provide wayfinding assistance and respond to visitor inquiries.
- Foster a friendly, inclusive, and engaging atmosphere for visitors.
- Build meaningful connections with guests through conversation and personalized recommendations.
- Occasionally sell admissions, memberships, ticketing, public programs, and special events as required.
- Respond to guest concerns with professionalism and a solutions-focused approach.
- Help deliver a seamless end-to-end visitor experience across the café, gift shop, and public spaces.
Operational Excellence
- Follow all food safety, health, safety, security, and operational procedures.
- Maintain knowledge of current exhibitions, programs, events, café offerings, and retail products.
- Collaborate with colleagues across departments to ensure exceptional guest experiences.
- Support inventory management and operational projects as required.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- A minimum of 2 years’ experience in customer service, retail, and/or hospitality
- A minimum of 1 years’ barista experience
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Experience with sales using a POS system and ticketing software
- Experience in reporting, budgeting, and cash handling
- Proficiency in both Mac-based and PC-based computer platforms
- Ability to multitask and transition between café and visitor support duties
- A positive, collaborative, and solution-oriented attitude
- Excellent communication skills in English, both oral and written. French or another second language would be an asset.
- Pro-serve Certification is an asset
- Flexibility to work weekends, holidays and varying shifts
Key Relationships
- Visitor Experience Manager
- Visitor Experience and Cafe Coordinator
- Visitor Experience and Retail Coordinator
- Visitor Experience Team Lead
- Visitor Experience, Café and Retail staff
- Director of Administration
- Marketing and Communications Team
- Event Coordinators and Hosts
- Programming and Education staff
- NMC visitors, guests, and members
- Volunteers
This part-time position offers a flexible schedule with hours ranging between 4–40 hours per week at a rate of $16.00 per hour.
Qualified applicants should apply with their resume in PDF format before July 31, 2026. Please ensure that your full name is in the file name (ex: Smith_John_cover_letter_resume) and the subject line of your email is: NMC Barista and Retail Associate (Part-time). No phone calls please.
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: $16.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
