Roastery Operations & Green Coffee Manager (Grand Rapids)

The Roastery Operations & Green Coffee Manager leads Madcap’s coffee operations from green coffee sourcing through roasting, production, quality, and fulfillment. This role leads the Roastery team and owns green coffee sourcing and procurement, balancing exceptional coffee quality with availability, cost, inventory, and business needs. We’re looking for a strong people leader who combines a deep commitment to specialty coffee with operational discipline, analytical thinking, and sound decision making.

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About Madcap Coffee Company, Inc.

Since 2008, our mission has been to unveil the awe-inspiring craftsmanship, exquisite beauty, and human touch that goes into crafting every single cup of coffee, transforming an ordinary daily ritual into an elevated experience.

Description

ROASTERY OPERATIONS & GREEN COFFEE MANAGER

Reports To: Vice President

Expected Hours per Week: 40 hours/week

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Roastery Operations & Green Coffee Manager leads Madcap’s coffee operations from green coffee sourcing and planning through roasting, production, quality, packaging, fulfillment, and shipping.

This role is responsible for leading and developing the Roastery team while ensuring Madcap has the coffee, systems, and production capacity required to reliably support customer demand and company growth. The Manager owns green coffee sourcing relationships and procurement while balancing coffee quality, availability, cost, inventory, and working capital.

The ideal candidate combines strong people leadership and operational discipline with a deep commitment to specialty coffee. They are analytical, systems oriented, financially aware, and capable of developing and executing Madcap’s coffee sourcing and operational strategy.

MAJOR ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Lead, Manage & Develop

Lead, manage, and develop the Roastery team, creating clear expectations, accountability, communication, and ownership. Build a healthy, high performing team capable of supporting Madcap’s current operation and future growth. Provide coaching, development, performance management, cross training, and clear departmental priorities.

2. Green Coffee Sourcing & Procurement

Own Madcap’s green coffee sourcing and procurement function, including green coffee planning, producer and importer relationships, negotiations, purchasing, contracts, and inventory planning.

Lead green coffee evaluation and selection, including making purchasing and contracting decisions at origin based on quality, flavor profile, business needs, and Madcap’s sourcing strategy.

Develop purchasing plans based on forecasted demand, existing inventory, seasonality, quality requirements, lead times, cost, and working capital considerations.

Protect and strengthen important sourcing relationships while continually evaluating the coffee portfolio against Madcap’s quality standards, business needs, financial goals, and growth plans.

3. Production, Fulfillment & Logistics

Own the systems that move coffee from green inventory through finished production and shipment.

Lead production planning, scheduling, roasting, bagging and packaging, fulfillment, shipping, warehouse operations, inventory management, staffing, workflow, equipment readiness, sanitation, SOPs, and continuous improvement.

Ensure Madcap reliably fulfills wholesale, DTC, café, and other orders accurately and on time while appropriately managing capacity, efficiency, waste, and cost.

4. Coffee Quality

Ensure Madcap’s coffee quality standards are clearly understood, consistently executed, and continually improved.

Maintain exceptional sensory and cupping proficiency, with the ability to evaluate green coffee, identify quality and flavor characteristics, and make confident purchasing decisions.

Lead and empower the roasting and QC team to maintain standards across green coffee evaluation, roasting, cupping, and finished coffee. Remain actively connected to the product through regular cupping, QC participation, and engagement with day to day roastery operations.

5. Strategy & Cross Functional Planning

Translate Madcap’s company and coffee strategy into executable sourcing, inventory, quality, and production plans.

Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Retail, Finance, and executive leadership to ensure business decisions appropriately consider coffee availability, production capacity, quality, cost, inventory, and working capital.

Support new products, promotions, wholesale opportunities, café initiatives, and other business activities with appropriate coffee expertise and operational planning.

DESIRED EXPERIENCE & CAPABILITIES

• Proven ability to lead, develop, and hold a team accountable.

• Exceptional sensory and cupping skills, with demonstrated ability to evaluate green coffee for quality, flavor, consistency, and fit within Madcap’s coffee program.

• Deep specialty coffee knowledge and demonstrated experience in green coffee evaluation, roasting, QC, sourcing, or related coffee disciplines.

• Ability to make confident coffee purchasing and contracting decisions in real time, including during origin travel and producer visits.

• Strong operational, organizational, and project management skills.

• Strong analytical ability and comfort working with forecasting, inventory, purchasing, costs, and operating data.

• Strong communication, decision making, and cross functional leadership skills.

• Ability to balance coffee quality, customer needs, operational realities, and financial considerations.

• Experience in roastery operations, green coffee sourcing, roasting, QC, inventory management, production planning, or related specialty coffee operations strongly preferred.

• Experience with Cropster or similar coffee production systems preferred.

• Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally, including to coffee producing regions.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

This position directly leads the Roastery team and is responsible for the performance, development, and accountability of the department.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

This role works actively within a coffee production and warehouse environment and may be exposed to roasting fumes, airborne particles, moving equipment, noise, and areas that are not climate controlled.

The position requires regular standing and walking and the ability to safely perform physical work associated with a production and warehouse environment.

POSITION TYPE / EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK

This is a full time position. The standard schedule is Monday through Friday with hours based on production needs. Hours and/or overtime may vary due to roasting schedules, seasonal demand, and fulfillment requirements.

TRAVEL

Some domestic and international travel is required, including origin travel related to green coffee sourcing, producer relationships, industry events, and other business needs.

OTHER DUTIES

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Benefits

• Priority Health (eligible after 90 days of hire), including medical, dental, vision, and HSA. All are optional opt in benefits based on need.

• Unlimited PTO (eligible after 90 days of hire)

• 2 x 8 oz free bags of coffee monthly

• Free coffee and espresso drinks in café for self and significant other