Team Member - POKE COUNTER

JOIN THE PLAYA BOWLS TEAM

TEAM MEMBER – POKE COUNTER
 

JOB DESCRIPTION

Department

Shop Operations

Reports To

General Manager

Location

Toms River, NJ

Work Arrangement

On-Site

Employment Status

Non-Exempt

Shift Schedule

11:00 AM – 7:00 PM, 5 days per week (days may vary weekly)

Role Purpose

You're a positive, enthusiastic, people-oriented individual with a passion for superfoods, healthy living, and (of course) fresh, made-to-order food! As a Team Member on the Poke counter at our Toms River shop, you play a key role in creating an exceptional guest experience, preparing fresh poke bowls with care and precision, guiding guests through building their perfect bowl, and maintaining a clean, well-stocked station — while upholding food safety, quality, and company standards.

Key Responsibilities

Guest Experience

• Fosters a positive and friendly atmosphere for both guests and fellow team members.
• Answers customer questions and addresses concerns in a friendly, helpful manner.
• Operates the point-of-sale (POS) system to take and process customer orders.
• Accurately takes and assembles customer orders in a timely manner.

Product Preparation & Quality

• Prepares fresh poke ingredients (proteins, bases, vegetables, sauces, and toppings) and assembles made-to-order poke bowls with care, precision, and consistency.
• Ensures food quality and freshness by checking proteins and toppings for consistency, flavor, and presentation, and follows strict food safety and temperature-control protocols for handling raw and marinated seafood.
• Guides guests through customizing their poke bowl, offering suggestions on protein, base, and topping combinations.

Shop Maintenance & Inventory

• Maintains a clean, organized, and welcoming environment throughout the shop.
• Restocks supplies, replenishes condiments, and assists with inventory management as needed.
• Communicates inventory shortages or product concerns to the supervisor promptly.

Team & Brand Standards

• Manages time effectively to complete all tasks and responsibilities efficiently.
• Represents and embodies the Playa Bowls mission, purpose, and core values in every interaction.

Key Relationships

Internal Partners
 Shift Leader
 Assistant Manager
 General Manager
 Fellow Team Members

External Partners
 Guests

Measures of Success

• Guest satisfaction: Orders are accurate, timely, and delivered with a friendly guest experience.
• Product quality: Bowls and menu items consistently meet Playa Bowls' standards.
• Shop cleanliness: The shop is consistently clean, organized, and welcoming.
• Team collaboration: Inventory concerns and shortages are communicated promptly.

Experience & Qualifications

Required

• Committed to delivering exceptional customer service, with friendly, attentive service on every guest interaction.
• Proven ability to remain flexible in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Collaborates effectively with the team, fostering a positive and productive work environment.
• Skilled at prioritizing tasks to meet guest demands during peak hours.
• Ability to handle guest concerns or operational challenges calmly, with assistance from management.

Role-Specific Expertise

• Poke bowl preparation and custom guest builds
• POS operation and order accuracy
• Guest service and hospitality
• Inventory restocking
• Raw seafood handling and food safety
• Shop cleanliness and organization

Position Requirements

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position for prolonged periods of time.
• Must be able to lift or otherwise move 25–40 pounds occasionally.
• Must be able to safely handle and store raw and refrigerated seafood in accordance with food safety guidelines.
• Must be able to retrieve items from high and low shelving, the fridge/freezer, and under counters.
• Must be able to tolerate occasionally loud environments (high-powered blenders, timers, and order notifications).
• Ability to frequently move about inside the shop to access the POS, assemble guest orders, clear tables, restock inventory, etc.

About Playa Bowls

Playa Bowls is New Jersey’s Original Acai Shop, founded in 2014. Our mission is to bring superfruit bowls to the masses using only the freshest, highest-quality ingredients while providing a fantastic in-store brand experience. What began with a pair of blenders, a patio table, and a fridge has flourished into a 400+ unit operator and franchisor of a leading fast-casual restaurant concept. Playa Bowls added 85 locations in 2025 and is on target to add 90+ new locations in 2026. Our continued rapid growth has created an opportunity for a leader who will help us continue to grow our brand.

OUR MISSION

Inspire and support our communities one bowl at a time.

OUR VALUES

Real Deal • Playa Passion • Powerhouse • Big Wave Chaser • Dawn Patrol

Unique Benefits of Working at Playa Bowls

• A great first job or side gig: Flexible scheduling that works around school or other commitments.
• A cleaner, more refreshing shift: Playa Bowls shops run on blenders, refrigerators, and freezers instead of fryers and grills.
• A different kind of environment: Bright, casual shops with a relaxed dress code — more oasis than traditional fast-food kitchen.
• Playa Perks: Shift and off-the-clock discounts, a competitive hourly wage plus credit card and cash tips, and a fun, high-energy culture where you can work hard, have fun, and be part of a great team.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Playa Bowls is an equal opportunity employer, and all aspects of employment, including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.