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Lead Roaster Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Highwire Coffee Roasters

Lead Roaster

Emeryville, CA · On-site

$25 - $32/hr

We are looking to bring an experienced, full-time Lead Roaster onto our team to oversee daily roasting operations in our Emeryville Roastery. Reporting to the Director of Coffee , the primary ...

Highwire Coffee Roasters

Lead Roaster

Emeryville, CA

$25 - $32/hr

We are looking to bring an experienced, full-time Lead Roaster onto our team to oversee daily roasting operations in our Emeryville Roastery. Reporting to the Director of Coffee , the primary ...

Bird Rock Coffee Roasters

Lead Position

La Jolla, CA · On-site

$18.25/hr

BIRD ROCK COFFEE ROASTERS IS HIRING AT OUR newest La Jolla location! PART OR FULL TIME SHIFTS ARE ... Customer Service/Lead Duties & Responsibilities Include: *Have a love and passion for coffee and ...

Coldfire Roaster LLC

Warehouse Assistant

Houston, TX

$13.75 - $16.50/hr

Warehouse Lead / Warehouse Supervisor Industry: Coffee Roasting & Manufacturing Position Summary We are seeking a dependable and detail-oriented Warehouse Assistant to support daily operations in our ...

A3 Staffing Solutions

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Production Supervisor (Roasting Supervisor) - SNC

Chicago, IL · On-site

$26 - $28/hr

The Roasting Supervisor is responsible for directing, planning, and monitoring all operations ... lead daily team activities by reviewing open orders daily to create and maintain production ...

Bird Rock Coffee Roasters

Keyholder Lead

San Diego, CA · On-site

$17.50/hr

Bird Rock Coffee Roasters has an extensive training program where you will learn from some of the best! Barista/Customer Service/ Key Holder Duties & Responsibilities Include: • Greet and interact ...

Jaho Coffee Roaster & Wine Bar

Sales Manager

Salem, MA · On-site

$80K - $160K/yr

... Jaho Coffee Roaster. In this role, you will be responsible for identifying, targeting, and ... We are looking for a dependable and experienced Sales Manager to lead and grow our wholesale ...

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Lead Roaster information

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$11

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How much do lead roaster jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average hourly pay for lead roaster in the United States is $25.39, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.27 and $27.88 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Lead Roaster, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Lead Roaster, you need deep knowledge of coffee bean varieties, roasting profiles, and quality control, often supported by experience in specialty coffee and relevant training or certification (such as SCA certifications). Familiarity with commercial roasting equipment, production software, and inventory management systems is typically required. Strong attention to detail, leadership, and effective communication skills are essential for managing roasting teams and maintaining consistency. These skills ensure the delivery of high-quality coffee products, efficient production workflows, and a cohesive team environment.

What does a Lead Roaster do?

A Lead Roaster oversees the coffee roasting process to ensure beans are roasted to perfection according to quality standards. They manage the roasting schedule, monitor equipment, and adjust roast profiles to achieve desired flavors. Additionally, Lead Roasters often supervise roasting staff, maintain inventory, and ensure safety and cleanliness in the roasting facility. Their expertise is crucial in producing consistent, high-quality coffee for cafes or retail.

What are some common challenges Lead Roasters face in maintaining coffee quality during large-scale production?

Lead Roasters often encounter the challenge of ensuring consistency and quality when roasting high volumes of coffee. Variations in green bean batches, changes in humidity, and equipment calibration can all impact flavor profiles. To address this, Lead Roasters must closely monitor roasting parameters, keep detailed logs, and frequently cup the coffee for quality control. Collaboration with production teams and regular equipment maintenance are also essential for minimizing inconsistencies and upholding quality standards.

What is the difference between Lead Roaster vs Roaster?

AspectLead RoasterRoaster
CredentialsOften requires certifications in coffee roasting or barista trainingTypically requires basic coffee roasting experience or certification
Work EnvironmentLeads roasting team, manages quality control, and oversees roasting processesPerforms roasting tasks under supervision, focuses on executing roasting profiles
Industry UsageUsed in specialty coffee shops, roasteries, and cafes with multiple staffCommon in cafes, small roasteries, or entry-level roles

The main difference between a Lead Roaster and a Roaster is that the Lead Roaster manages the roasting process, oversees quality, and leads the team, while the Roaster primarily focuses on executing roasting tasks. The Lead Roaster typically has more experience, certifications, and responsibilities in quality control and team leadership.

More about Lead Roaster jobs
What job categories do people searching Lead Roaster jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Lead Roaster jobs are:
Lead Roaster jobs near you
Infographic showing various Lead Roaster job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 3% As Needed, 71% Part Time, 3% Temporary, 20% Contract, and 2% Nights. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $52,817 per year, or $25.4 per hour.
Lead Roaster

Lead Roaster

Highwire Coffee Roasters

Emeryville, CA • On-site

$25 - $32/hr

Full-time

Medical, Vision

Posted 6 days ago

Job description

Highwire Coffee Roasters was established in Oakland In 2011. Since the beginning, Highwire has sought to offer coffees and create spaces that exhibit what we call "Approachable Excellence". We explicitly aim to serve some of the best coffee in the world while centering our communities in a welcoming, non-fussy way. We have since expanded from our first shop to include 8 retail locations in the East Bay. We are looking to bring an experienced, full-time Lead Roaster onto our team to oversee daily roasting operations in our Emeryville Roastery.

Reporting to the Director of Coffee, the primary responsibilities of the Lead Roaster will include roasting, quality control, inventory management, and mentorship of apprentice roasting staff. The best candidate for this position will be an experienced coffee roaster with an unflappably positive attitude and a keen sense of how to coax the best expression of a coffee through the roasting process, exhibiting the completeness and balance Highwire is known for.

Additional duties will include:

  • Understand all start-of-day procedures for collecting orders and create a production roast list
  • Manage our in-house green coffee inventory, including forecasting and releases
  • Update blend recipes and communicate changes to staff
  • Share relevant roast and other coffee info with retail staff to increase their visibility to roasting and understanding of our coffees
  • Comment on espresso dial-ins and Coffee of the Week posts to increase dialog and understanding
  • Scoop, weigh, and lift green coffee into the roaster, and roasted coffee out of the roaster
  • Maintain all roasting equipment using weekly, monthly and yearly checklists
  • Maintain and create SOP documentation for all roasting related tasks
  • Ensure quality control through daily cupping of production roasts with roastery staff
  • Maintain all necessary logs for Organic Certification
  • Maintain all logs for Bay Area Air Quality compliance
  • Data log all roasts through Cropster and adhere to roast recipes
  • Fill in on production duties as needed
  • Maintain a clean and safe working environment
  • Unload weekly coffee deliveries and organize pallets in the roastery
  • Participate in weekly roastery staff meeting
  • Take constructive criticism about the roasting process
  • Provide constructive feedback to others and collaborate around solving issues
  • Aim to create and support a positive work environment at all times

Experience:

  • 5+ years production roasting experience (preferably on Probat UG-22)
  • Functional knowledge of Cropster
  • You know how to cup and are comfortable talking about your sensory experience
  • Sample roasting experience is a plus
  • Experience with Google Docs and Shopify are desirable
  • Though this position is not expected to manage other team members, you are expected to share your knowledge and experience, mentoring new roastery staff

Based on experience, this position is offered at an hourly rate between $25.00 and $32.00.

In addition to monetary compensation, Highwire's benefits package includes opportunities for 70% subsidized medical and vision insurance.

Robert Myers and Rich Avella first met in the mid-1990s and share an approach to coffee we call "approachable excellence".
Our shops are welcoming spaces where we connect around our enthusiasm for coffee, our communities, and our love of music. Our coffees are always the freshest green coffees available in any season and we roast them along a roast spectrum that captures the range of coffee lovers' tastes from lighter, bright Single Origins, to the deeper chocolatey body-forward coffees typical of a darker roasted coffee.

Education:{"credentialcategory":"high school","@type":"EducationalOccupationalCredential"}Employment Type: FULL_TIME

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