Production Assistant Manager

A Coffee Roastery Production Assistant Manager bridges the gap between the Head Roaster's vision and the daily hustle of the floor. You are essentially the engine that keeps the beans moving from green storage to the final bag, ensuring quality never dips while meeting fulfillment deadlines.

Role Overview

• Core Focus: Overseeing daily roastery operations, managing production schedules, maintaining quality control (QC), and leading the floor team.

• Key Partners: Reports to the Head Roaster / Production Manager; collaborates with the green buyer, inventory specialists, and fulfillment team.

Key Responsibilities

1. Operations & Scheduling

• Daily Workflow: Map out roasting schedules based on wholesale and retail orders to maximize machine efficiency.

• Inventory Tracking: Monitor green coffee stock, packaging materials, and shipping supplies to prevent production bottlenecks.

• Equipment Care: Oversee routine maintenance and deep cleaning schedules for roasters (e.g., Stronghold, Probat, Loring), destoners, and grinders to prevent fire hazards and downtime.

2. Quality Control (QC) & Cupping

• Profile Consistency: Monitor roast logs (using software like Cropster or Artisan) to ensure production batches exactly match target profiles.

• Sensory Evaluation: Lead or participate in weekly production cuppings to catch defects or flavor drifts before coffee is packaged.

• Data Management: Keep meticulous records of moisture levels, color tracks (Agtron readings), and extraction metrics.

3. Team Leadership & Safety

• Shift Management: Direct and cross-train production assistants, production roasters, and packaging staff.

• Safety Compliance: Enforce strict adherence to food safety standards (BizSafe/SFA) and workspace safety protocols.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Attribute

Requirements

Experience

2+ years in a specialty coffee production environment, with a solid grasp of commercial roasting dynamics.

Technical Skills

Proficiency with roast logging software (Cropster/Artisan) and basic inventory management systems.

Core Traits

Strong sensory palate, highly detail-oriented, and capable of heavy lifting (handling 60kg/132lb green coffee bags).