Coffee Quality and Marketing Manager

Job Description

Description:

LWR’s work in coffee has traditionally focused on grants-based support to producer cooperatives and their farmer members. Recently, LWR embarked on an impact investing initiative that has broadened its enterprise development beyond grants-based programming to include investments in mission-driven coffee production companies. Our first investment, which will be the initial focus for this position, is in a coffee production company that operates on Mount Elgon, an extinct volcano straddling the border between Uganda and Kenya.

The Coffee Quality and Marketing Manager will support the growth of LWR portfolio companies and grantees by training staff in evaluating/grading coffee, creating blends and single origin/varietal offerings that meet buyer specifications, marketing coffee to premium-quality roaster-retailers around the world. The position will also master the operations of a well-run coffee production businesses in order to ultimately transfer innovations, systems and expertise to other LWR investees and grantees throughout the world

Duties:

• Review existing investee or grantee coffee quality, brand and marketing strategy
• Develop and implement coffee quality protocols for field operations (sourcing, processing) and warehousing
• Train investee or grantee staff in evaluating/grading coffee, creating blends and single origin/varietal offerings that meet buyer specifications.
• Cup coffee inventory to ensure high quality and consistency
• Design and develop a branding and marketing strategy that will enable investees and grantees to establish trading relationships with roaster-retailers willing to pay higher prices for micro-lots of coffee
• Market coffee to roaster-retailers and build brand awareness and positioning for coffee produced by investees and grantees. Direct, plan and coordinate marketing efforts, including social media and content marketing.
• Manage and mentor investee and grantee quality control/management staff.

Qualifications:
• Deep commitment to LWR and IMA core values and ability to model those values in relationships with colleagues and partners.
• Must love coffee.
• Excellent cupper.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, particularly when sharing tasting notes and stories about the farmers producing the coffee that roaster-retailers can relate to/find appealing.
• An entrepreneurial mind-set with excellent organizational and leadership skills.
• At least three to five years of progressive coffee experience, preferably in green coffee sourcing or buying role.
• Bachelor’s degree in business or relevant field. Q Grader accreditation preferred.
• Strong understanding of the specialty coffee market.
• Existing relationships with roaster-retailers around the world and ability to develop new ones that lead to tangible partnerships with investees or grantees.
• Strong knowledge of green coffee buying as well as sophisticated knowledge of the green coffee evaluation and purchasing processes.
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, Outlook) and web browser software
• Fluency in English, with excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to travel regularly to promote coffee sales and spend extended periods in the field to support increased quality in production and monitor progress of improved operational management (50% to 70% of the time).

Q Grader accreditation preferred.

About the Organization

Founded by Lutherans in the United States at the end of World War II, grounded in Lutheran theology and building on decades of experience, Lutheran World Relief tackles global poverty by helping people adapt to the challenges that threaten their livelihoods and well-being.

We work with people based on need, regardless of race, religion or nationality and we do not evangelize.

We provide aid in emergencies and help families restore their lives. We partner with communities to build and grow rural economies. We break the cycle of poverty, so families and communities can thrive.

Our goal is to help people build self‐sufficiency and create new community‐owned approaches to problem‐solving that will last long after our projects end.