Lead Barista- Drift Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, California at TMC Group LLC

TMC Hospitality was founded in 2016 by Philip Bates as an offshoot of TMC Group to bring its innovation and purposeful disruption to the hospitality industry. As a forward-thinking hotel development and management company focused on elevating hospitality from a service to an experience through strategic development, investment, and brand creation, the group has two hotel brands, Bode and Drift, in addition to Buttonwood Farm & Winery that cater to the concept of social group travel and experiences. Bode, with a location in Nashville, redefines traditional travel by creating flexible spaces that expertly blend the style of vacation rental homes with the comforts and conveniences of a boutique hotel. Drift, with locations in San Jose del Cabo, Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, and Nashville, is a modern hotel concept for independent and group travelers who value adventure and culture with minimalist yet intentional details and amenities.

Full-Time | On-Site | Non-Exempt

Drift Santa Barbara is looking for a Lead Barista to help drive our café experience and support hotel operations. This role is perfect for someone who loves great coffee, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and enjoys being a steady, uplifting presence for both guests and the team.

As the Lead Barista, you’ll help maintain café standards, train new team members, support ordering and quality control, and step into a leadership role when the Café Supervisor or F&B Manager is not on site. You’ll also collaborate closely with our hotel team—assisting with guest requests, staying active in work chat, and acting as Manager on Duty when needed. This is a great opportunity for someone who wants to grow their hospitality career and be part of a tight-knit, service-focused team.

• Create a warm, friendly, and consistent café experience for guests
• Maintain café standards and lead the team when supervisors are offsite
• Train new baristas and support ongoing development of the café team
• Check and sign for deliveries; assist with ordering and inventory
• Support morning bar deliveries and help put away Dawn/Sidebar stock
• Act as Manager on Duty for the hotel when needed
• Assist with guest check-in processes and train staff on the PMS system
• Respond to guest requests professionally and handle issues with ownership
• Stay active in work chat and support hotel operations throughout the day
• Uphold Drift’s brand standards and commitment to exceptional service

• Strong barista experience in a café or restaurant setting
• Leadership qualities and experience training or supporting a team
• Excellent communication and customer service skills
• Organized, detail-oriented, and calm under pressure
• Comfortable with basic tech tools (Microsoft Office, PMS, etc.)
• Someone who genuinely enjoys hospitality and creating memorable guest moments

• Be part of a collaborative, modern hospitality team
• Opportunity to grow into broader hotel operations leadership
• Work in a beautiful, guest-centric environment steps from the best of Santa Barbara
• A culture that values curiosity, creativity, and shared success