Master Roaster

Profile Summary:

Reporting to the Head of Innovation, the Master Roaster/Blender plays a critical role in driving roasting efficiency and blend optimization throughout the coffee development lifecycle. With deep expertise in green coffee classification, selection, roasting and utilization, this role is accountable for roast profiling, blend precision, and cup quality from concept through commercialization. Collaborating across Green Purchasing, Quality Assurance, Product Development, Plant Operations, and Sales, the Master Roaster/Blender ensures cross-functional execution that maximizes product value, margin, and production performance. By strategically leveraging diverse green classes, the role delivers tailored solutions that meet customer expectations while streamlining sourcing and roasting workflows.

Specific Accountabilities:

• Lead the Product Development Team driving excellence in execution and innovation across green coffee and roast development
• Develop and manage sensory panels responsible for evaluation of green coffee
• Improve internal processes and procedures for sample preparation, evaluation and analysis for all inbound green coffee, benchmarking against industry best practices and operational KPIs
• Combine innovative and creative ideas as customer solutions – modify recipes for taste enhancement, reach productivity goals, develop and improve products
• Lead green coffee rationalization and blend optimization initiatives, extracting maximum value from selected greens to identify cost reductions in finished product and improving operational efficiencies
• Revise green coffee specifications to align with industry standards, streamlining procurement and expanding sourcing flexibility
• Lead product development from ideation to commercialization for all new products with accelerated timelines and optimized scale-up planning
• Optimize existing products and formulations to increase margins and improve efficiencies
• Translate customer needs into initiatives while aligning internal stakeholders to influence business strategy
• Manage external roasting partners and develop roast profiles to meet customer parameters, focusing on flavor precision, roasting yield, and process scalability
• Develop and lead pertinent training for Product Development and cross-functional teams to build capability in sensory evaluation, green coffee classification, and blend optimization
• Participate in customer meetings as required acting as a technical and strategic product expert
• Some travel to coffee origins to support sourcing decisions, deepen supplier relationships, and reinforce supply chain resilience
• Other duties and projects as assigned
• Understand, apply and actively participate in maintaining product quality and food safety program practices including BRC, HACCP, QA / QC, GMP, Sanitation and good hygiene practices.
• Understand, apply and actively participate in maintaining health and safety program practices promoting a culture of operational discipline and compliance

Ideal Qualifications:

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in a Master Roaster or Master Blender role
• Experience with perforated and solid drum roasters. Experience with JB 23R is a plus
• Strong understanding of diverse green coffee types & origins
• In depth knowledge of key industry blends in North America
• Demonstrated success in blend optimization and cost-reduction initiatives
• Strong analytical skills in roasting yield, formulation efficiency, and data interpretation
• Track record in commercializing new products under accelerated timelines
• Proven ability to work cross-functionally with teams involved in execution – plant management, procurement, engineering, packaging, quality, customer success, sales & marketing
• Excellent communication skills, verbal and written
• Highly organized with effective time management skills
• Effective leadership and people management skills
• Excellent inter-personal skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Self-starter
• Confident, consistent decisive personality