Albany
Job Description ABOUT THE ROLE We are looking for a dedicated, reliable and energetic person to join our cohesive TEAm in August of 2026. This is a career hybrid/ all-rounder position with a promotional opportunity to a Shift Lead or Assistant Manager. In this role, we will train you all about high quality teas and good service practices. You will work closely with the owners and manager while performing tasks from front of the house to back of the house to keep our business running smoothly. On weekdays, we normally have 3 people on a team and up to 7 people for weekends. All team members share responsibilities, but each will have a designated role during busy hours. Weekend availability is required. No experience is necessary--we’ll train. The right person should have a good work ethic and an open mind. WHO WE ARE Short and Stout Tea is a boutique tea lounge and specialty tea shop based in Albany, NY. We are passionate about connecting people, cultures, and daily rituals through tea. As a family-owned and owner-operated business, we have a strong focus on building a community, sharing our passion for tea through premium loose-leaf teas, handcrafted tea beverages, educational workshops, and meaningful customer experiences. As we continue to grow both our tea lounge and e-commerce business, our mission remains the same: to make quality tea approachable while building lasting relationships with tea lovers near and far. OUR WORK CULTURE Our culture is built on teamwork, respect, and a genuine mind-set. Our team comprises of hard-working individuals. We take pride in creating a welcoming, clean, and positive environment for both our guests and our TEAm. We operate like a family, supporting one another and sharing responsibilities. We believe feedback and accountability help us grow, so communication is important within our TEAm. As tea lovers with ambitious goals, we work hard, take pride in what we do, and are committed to providing all of our customers with an exceptional experience. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Retail Service • Greeting customers and guiding them through our selection of over 150 loose-leaf teas and sharing knowledge of flavor profiles, brewing techniques and other tea related concepts, • Answering the phone and managing the POS system, • Packing and restocking of loose tea and merchandise, • Maintaining the cleanliness of the retail areas, dusting shelves and organizing retail shelves, • Maintaining daily tea sample area, • Reporting customer’s feedback on blends/ tasting to the manager/ owners Tea Bar Service • Taking orders, describing menu, processing transactions, • Supporting tea bar service and general flow management in a timely manner, • Assisting bar lead to brew and craft signature craft tea using precise brewing times and temperatures, • Preparing pastries per order and delivering food to tables, • Restocking ingredients and maintaining a pristine workspace by cleaning counters and washing equipment, • Cleaning and keeping dining area neat and orderly, • Setting up and closing off the tea bar and all service areas Daily Food Preparation & Safety • Preparing pastries, sandwiches, light menu items and other bar ingredients according to established recipes in a given timeframe, • Arranging and restocking the food display case to encourage front-counter sales, • Tracking stock level, reporting shortages, and organizing storage areas., • Maintain a pristine workspace by cleaning equipment, washing dishes, and following daily sanitation checklists, • Strictly adhering to New York State food safety, handling, and sanitation guidelines Inventory & Heavy Operations • Routinely observing inventory levels of teas, ingredients, supplies and merchandise and reporting to the manager, • Receiving deliveries and restocking weekly supply shipments, • Safely lifting and carrying heavy boxes of inventory weighing 30-50 lbs All team members share responsibilities, but each will have a designated role during busy hours. We prioritize our daily tasks and have a schedule to fulfill side jobs during low time. QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS Must Have • Availability to work a minimum of 25-30 hours per week spanning Wednesday to Saturday 10-8 and Sunday 10-8 (covering our busy weekend), • Experience in customer service, • Strong communication skills and experience working collaboratively in a small team, • Must be 18 years or older with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, • Ability to stand for long periods and lift up to 30-50 lbs Preferred • Experience in food preparation or a professional kitchen environment, • Interest in tea or culturally inspired products, • Background working with small businesses or founder-led brands Personality Traits • Proactive, self-motivated and able to multitask, • Capable of taking ownership without constant supervision, • Strong attention to detail, • Strong sense of urgency and good time management, • Adaptable and comfortable working in an evolving environment, • Genuine interest in customer connection and good teamwork ethic, • Eager to learn new things and open minded, • Low ego, open to feedback, and focused on continuous improvement OUR INTERVIEW PROCESS • Phase 1: All resumes will be scanned through and personally reviewed, • Phase 2: Selected candidates will be given an opportunity to virtually interview with our TEAm recruiter, • Phase 3: Top candidates will go through the second round of an in-person interview with the owners We hope to make an offer to the right candidate around the end of July or early August. 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