Commonplace Coffee Head Roaster Pittsburgh, PA · Full time Company website

Apply for Head Roaster

Commonplace Coffee exists to foster and build community through coffee with Craft and Care.

The Head Roaster at Commonplace Coffee is responsible for overseeing and ensuring the quality and consistency of all roasted coffee. Key duties include quality control, roast profile modulation, maintaining accuracy in production roasts, developing coffee recipes, and training production roasters. These responsibilities are aligned with continual improvement and delivering exceptional coffee experiences. This position reports to the Head of Coffee.

Essential Functions

• Quality Control:
• Lead and maintain quality control practices, including regular cupping sessions to evaluate production roasts and ensuring adherence to desired flavor profiles set by the Head of Coffee.
• Establish and monitor standards to maintain consistency and excellence across all roasted coffee, including regularly tasting coffee in the retail and wholesale environment.
• Roast Profile Modulation:
• Develop and refine roast profiles tailored to highlight the unique attributes of each coffee and meet quality benchmarks.
• Continuously analyze and adjust profiles based on sensory feedback, customer preferences, and seasonal variations.
• Pursue continuing education around roasting practices, maintaining software and hardware updates and staying up to date on roasting theory, modulation, etc.
• Production Roasting:
• Ensure accuracy and consistency in production roasts by establishing clear processes and guidelines and effectively communicating any changes to production roasters.
• Collaborate with team members in fulfillment and roasting to optimize workflow and meet production targets efficiently.
• Schedule and lead regular maintenance and cleaning of roasting equipment.
• Coffee Recipe Development:
• Create and document brewing and roasting recipes for each coffee to enhance flavor and customer experience.
• Collaborate with baristas and wholesale partners to ensure recipes are effectively applied across various brewing methods.
• Assist and advise retail and wholesale on recipes, as needed.
• Staff and External Engagement
• Share information, insights, and learnings about our coffee program with wholesale customers, retail customers, prospective clients, and guests through curated events, cuppings, meetings, and engagement opportunities.
• Present coffee feedback, training, brew recipes, coffee program updates to retail staff through direct engagement at staff meetings.
• Assist in development of training material for retail staff as it pertains to the coffee program.
• Develop and facilitate roasting workshops as time permits.
• Management, Training and Development:
• Manage and train production roasters on roasting techniques, equipment operation, and maintaining quality standards.
• Maintain and update the coffee roasting SOP for onboarding new production roasters.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning and skill development within the roasting team.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in coffee roasting, with a strong understanding of the roasting process and its impact on flavor.
• Expertise in quality control practices and sensory evaluation.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, enabling effective management of multiple tasks and priorities.
• Excellent communication skills and a collaborative approach to team leadership.
• Commitment to innovation, sustainability, and elevating the coffee experience.
• Proficiency in roasting equipment and software.

Physical Demands

• Written and oral communication – must be able to clearly and effectively communicate with team members through oral communication and in writing.
• Taste and smell – must be able to detect and perceive the smells of coffee.
• Must be able to travel locally.

Work environment

• Work is performed in Commonplace Coffee Headquarters and remotely.
• This job involves high amounts of interpersonal interaction and some physical labor.

Supervisory responsibilities

• Production Roaster(s).

Classification

• Full Time, Salaried

Additional Benefits

• Paid Time Off
• Medical, Dental and Vision Plans with 75% employer coverage
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Program
• Gym Membership Subsidy
• Parental Leave
• Company Discounts