Job Description
Job Description
FreshBrew Group USA — Houston, TX
Department: Roasting Operations Reports to: Director of Operations Type: Full-Time
The Lead Roaster is the senior hands-on roasting expert on the production floor, responsible for day-to-day roasting operations across six Probat roasters. This role combines deep technical roasting expertise with shift leadership owning roast quality and consistency, troubleshooting equipment and process issues in real time, and supervising and developing the roasting team. The ideal candidate has extensive experience operating and maintaining Probat equipment in a commercial or industrial-scale environment.
Key Responsibilities
Roasting Operations
• Operate and oversee daily production across six Probat roasters, ensuring roast profiles are executed to specification for both private label and branded products
• Develop, maintain, and refine roast profiles in coordination with quality and product development teams
• Monitor roast consistency batch-to-batch using color analysis (Agtron or equivalent), moisture, density, and cupping
• Manage roast scheduling to meet production targets while optimizing throughput, gas usage, and changeovers across multiple SKUs
Troubleshooting & Equipment
• Serve as first responder for roaster performance issues — burner, airflow, drum, cooling, destoner, afterburner, and controls — diagnosing root causes and minimizing downtime
• Perform and oversee routine preventive maintenance on Probat equipment; coordinate with maintenance staff and Probat technical support on major repairs
Leadership & Supervision
• Lead, train, and supervise roaster operators across shifts; build bench strength so the operation never depends on a single person
• Establish and enforce SOPs for roasting, quality checks, equipment operation, and safety
Qualifications
Required
• 7+ years of commercial/industrial coffee roasting experience, with at least 3 years on Probat equipment
• 2+ years in a lead, supervisory, or head roaster role in a production environment
• Proven ability to troubleshoot roasting equipment mechanically and operationally — not just operate it
• Strong command of roast profiling, roast chemistry, and quality measurement (Agtron, moisture, cupping)
• Working knowledge of GMP, HACCP, and food safety certification environments (SQF, BRC, or similar)
• Ability to work flexible hours, including early starts and occasional weekends, as production demands
Preferred
• Probat factory training or certification
• Experience with roast data/profiling software (Cropster or similar)
• Mechanical or maintenance background (burners, gas systems, PLCs/controls)
• Green coffee knowledge — grading, blending, and how origin/density/moisture affect roast behavior
• Bilingual English/Spanish
Physical Requirements
• Ability to work in a hot production environment around industrial equipment
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs and stand/walk for extended periods
• Comfortable climbing ladders/platforms and working around elevated equipment
Compensation & Benefits
Competitive salary commensurate with experience, plus health benefits, paid time off, and 401(k).
FreshBrew Group is an equal opportunity employer.
Company DescriptionFreshBrew Group is one of the fastest-growing coffee manufacturing companies in North America, providing private-label and branded coffee, tea, and beverage solutions to some of the largest retailers, convenience store chains, foodservice operators, airlines, and hospitality organizations in the world.
Operating from our SQF-certified manufacturing facilities, FreshBrew specializes in coffee roasting, single-serve cups, bagged coffee, tea packaging, liquid coffee extraction, and custom beverage development. As we continue our rapid growth, acquisitions, and expansion into new product categories, we are investing heavily in world-class operations, supply chain management, and customer service.
We are looking for driven professionals who thrive in a fast-paced environment and want to help build the future of a high-growth manufacturing company.
Company Description
FreshBrew Group is one of the fastest-growing coffee manufacturing companies in North America, providing private-label and branded coffee, tea, and beverage solutions to some of the largest retailers, convenience store chains, foodservice operators, airlines, and hospitality organizations in the world.\r\n\r\nOperating from our SQF-certified manufacturing facilities, FreshBrew specializes in coffee roasting, single-serve cups, bagged coffee, tea packaging, liquid coffee extraction, and custom beverage development. As we continue our rapid growth, acquisitions, and expansion into new product categories, we are investing heavily in world-class operations, supply chain management, and customer service.\r\n\r\nWe are looking for driven professionals who thrive in a fast-paced environment and want to help build the future of a high-growth manufacturing company.