Coffee Roasting Manager

Job Description – Coffee Roasting Manager

Job Title: Coffee Roasting Manager
Location: Dammam, Saudi Arabia
Department: Coffee Roastery / Production
Reports To: General Manager / Operations Manager

Job Purpose

The Coffee Roasting Manager will be responsible for managing the complete coffee roasting and roastery production operation, ensuring consistent coffee quality, efficient production, proper roasting profiles, food-safety compliance, equipment performance, and effective management of the roasting team.

The role requires strong practical knowledge of green coffee beans, roasting techniques, roast profiling, cupping, quality control, production planning, and specialty/commercial coffee operations.

Key Responsibilities

1. Coffee Roasting Operations

• Manage day-to-day roasting activities and production schedules.
• Operate and oversee commercial coffee roasting equipment.
• Develop, maintain, and optimize roasting profiles for different coffee origins and blends.
• Ensure consistency in roast colour, development, flavour, aroma, body, acidity, and overall cup quality.
• Conduct test/sample roasting for new green coffee beans.
• Adjust roasting parameters based on bean origin, density, moisture, processing method, and desired flavour profile.
• Maintain accurate roasting records and batch documentation.
• Ensure production targets are achieved while minimizing wastage and product loss.

2. Green Coffee & Raw Material Management

• Evaluate the quality of incoming green coffee beans.
• Work with procurement teams on green coffee specifications and quality requirements.
• Monitor green coffee inventory and coordinate production requirements.
• Ensure proper storage conditions for green coffee and roasted coffee.
• Monitor bean usage, yield, roasting loss, and production efficiency.
• Assist in selecting suitable origins and blends for the company's product portfolio.

3. Quality Control

• Establish and maintain roasting and quality-control standards.
• Conduct regular cupping and sensory evaluation.
• Identify defects and inconsistencies in green and roasted coffee.
• Monitor roast profiles and make corrective adjustments when required.
• Maintain consistency across different batches and production days.
• Work closely with the Quality/Operations team to resolve quality issues.
• Maintain proper documentation of QC results and corrective actions.

4. Production Management

• Plan daily and weekly roasting production according to sales and inventory requirements.
• Coordinate roasting, cooling, grinding, packaging, and dispatch activities.
• Monitor production capacity and machine utilization.
• Ensure production deadlines are achieved.
• Reduce downtime, wastage, rejected batches, and production losses.
• Implement SOPs for roasting and production processes.
• Continuously improve productivity and operational efficiency.

5. Team Management

• Lead, train, and supervise roasters and production staff.
• Prepare work schedules and allocate daily responsibilities.
• Train team members on roasting techniques, equipment operation, safety, hygiene, and quality standards.
• Monitor employee performance and productivity.
• Develop the technical skills of junior roasters.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and operational procedures.

6. Roasting Equipment & Maintenance

• Ensure proper operation and daily inspection of roasting machines.
• Coordinate preventive maintenance and servicing of roasting equipment.
• Identify technical issues and coordinate with maintenance/service providers.
• Maintain roasting equipment, grinders, cooling systems, and related production machinery in good working condition.
• Ensure proper calibration of relevant equipment.

7. Food Safety & Hygiene

• Ensure compliance with food safety, hygiene, and sanitation standards.
• Maintain a clean and organized roasting and production environment.
• Ensure proper handling and storage of coffee products.
• Follow applicable Saudi food-safety and municipality requirements.
• Implement and monitor hygiene and safety SOPs.

8. Product Development

• Develop new coffee blends and roasting profiles.
• Conduct trials for new origins and seasonal coffees.
• Work with management and the coffee/product team on new product development.
• Support development of espresso, filter, blend, and specialty coffee profiles according to market requirements.

9. Reporting & Cost Control

• Prepare daily/weekly production reports.
• Monitor green coffee consumption and roasted coffee output.
• Track roasting yield and wastage.
• Monitor production costs and identify opportunities for cost reduction.
• Maintain records of batches, profiles, inventory, quality results, and production performance.
• Report production and quality issues to management.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Diploma/Bachelor's degree in Coffee Technology, Food Science, Food Technology, Hospitality, Production Management, or a related field is preferred.
• 5–8+ years of relevant coffee roasting/roastery experience, preferably with commercial or specialty coffee operations.
• At least 2–3 years in a supervisory/managerial role is preferred.
• Strong hands-on experience operating commercial coffee roasters.
• Excellent understanding of roast profiling and coffee extraction principles.
• Strong knowledge of green coffee origins, processing methods, bean characteristics, and roasting behaviour.
• Experience with cupping and sensory evaluation.
• Experience managing roasting/production teams.

Work Location: In person