Coffee Trading Jobs (NOW HIRING)

About Us:

Groundwork Coffee specializes in batch-roasted, certified organic coffees and artisanal teas. From our humble roots as a rare book store and cafe back in 1990, Groundwork would go on to become one of the first certified organic coffee roasters in Southern California, as well as the largest organic coffee roaster in Los Angeles. A truly local pioneer in fair trade and fairly traded coffee and tea sourcing, we remain committed to sustainable business practices, including maintaining direct relationships with growers and importers who promote responsible coffee and tea production. From the ground up, Groundwork is steadfast in its commitment to the values of quality, sustainability and community.
JOB TITLE: Production Roaster

DEPARTMENT: Roastery

DOL STATUS: CLASSIFICATION: Part Time Non-Exempt (gets OT pay)

SCHEDULE: Saturday and Sunday 6 AM- 2:30 PM / 2:30 PM-11 PM

LOCATION: North Hollywood, CA

REPORTS TO POSITION: Production Manager

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: No direct reports.
Position Overview

The Production Roaster follows roasting protocols and profiles to produce roasted coffee within specifications. The Production Roaster is responsible for production roasting and routine maintenance of the production roasters, including but not limited to: operating the production roaster, correctly adhering to blend recipes and profiles, routine maintenance/cleaning, quality control, and data input and management. This position is responsible for self-monitoring quality control and notifying the Production Manager and Quality Control ("QC")/Quality Assurance ("QA") department of any roasts that may fall out of specification. The Production Roaster works in a fast-paced environment subject to numerous schedule/ priority changes on short notice.

Role Priorities

• Roasting coffee. Adhering to the Roast Schedule as determined by the Production Manager, utilizing the Cropster roasting program, to maintain quality control and consistency of roasts.
• Staying up to date with blend formulas, roast profiles, and changes.
• Fluency and understanding of roaster operation and maintenance, and Cropster roasting software.
• Routine roaster maintenance, adhering to the maintenance schedule.
• Keeping a tidy work area/roasting floor. Regular QC of all roasted coffee.
• Notifying others when there are discrepancies with roasts, green coffee inventory, or order fulfillment.
• Conducting Green Coffee and Roasted Coffee inventory counts and maintaining organized inventory on the floor and storage racking.
• Blending of large quantities of various coffees, as required, and determined by the Production Manager.
• Checking in with the Production Manager before ending roasting shifts.

Work Environment

Warehouse/Production environment: busy, tight quarters, sometimes stuffy, dusty, ever-present coffee roasting aroma. Noise level is usually moderate but may be loud depending on roasting activity.

Additional Duties

The Production Roaster is a critical role in the operation of Groundwork Coffee and our Production Department. The Production Roaster must be capable of supporting production needs as they increase and decrease based on demand. Additional hours may be necessary, and are expected on an as-needed basis.

Role Qualifications

• Forklift certification, or the ability to be trained and operate a forklift.
• Fluency in information systems (Cropster/ Inventory Tools) and Quality Control procedures and protocols
• Understanding of needs for daily production for a Roasting Facility (packaging, blending, receiving, shipping, etc.)
• Understanding and fluency of the coffee roasting process
• Understanding of roast defects and their causes (both sensory and mechanical)
• Understanding of green and roasted coffee inventory management
• Ability to maintain records and documents
• Ability to lift a minimum of 50lbs, and to move 150lbs with proper support.
• Able to work independently with little or no supervision
• Ability to maintain confidentiality when needed
• Commitment to company values and vision
• Willingness to pitch in wherever needed, especially loading/unloading trucks, and inventory control.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Team Work: Strong, positive, and constructive team player. Reliable, respectful, and detail-oriented.
• Pressure: Able to maintain focus when operating in a busy, distracting environment. Takes initiative.
• Flexible/Adaptable: Able to deal skillfully and promptly to new situations. Energized by challenges.
• Receptive to Feedback: Gains insights from mistakes and is open to and actively seeks feedback.
• Time Management: Ability to organize and manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Communication: Ability to communicate in a clear verbal manner. Relates well to all kinds of people.
• Dealing with Ambiguity: Open to change; learns quickly when facing new/unfamiliar tasks or challenges.
• Planning: Can breakdown work into process steps; anticipates and adjusts for problems and roadblocks.
• Problem Solving: Observant, aware. Resourceful, creative problem-solver.
• Conflict Management: Effectively handles issues and/or complaints without escalating the situation.
• Approachability: Spends the extra effort to put others at-ease. Builds constructive relationships.
• Presentation Skill: Effective in a variety of formal presentation settings. Commands attention and can manage group processes during the presentation.
• Strong Customer-Orientation: Can-do, friendly, professional, "Win-Win" attitude.

Physical Demands

This position is very active. Primarily a standing job (sometimes on even and uneven surfaces) within the facility, stooping, bending, twisting, leaning, grasping, and occasional lifting of 50 pounds or more.

Why Groundwork:

We strive to be the best place our employees have ever worked, and to produce the best coffee our customers have ever sipped. As a part of our team, you'll be working with people who are down-to-earth, friendly, and passionate in a casual, caffeinated, and fun retail environment.

Groundwork Perks:*Benefits are offered to eligible employees and are subject to change.

• Free Coffee to Take Home: 1 pound Bulk Coffee or Pound Loose Leaf Tea every other week
• Employee Discount Program: Discounts on Food, Beverage, & Merchandise
• Paid Time Off: Sick Hours
• Commuter Program: Substantially Subsidized Metro Pass

Groundwork is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, color, age, sex, ancestry, marital status, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, present or past history of mental disability, genetic information, or any other classification protected by state or federal law.