Job Description
Job DescriptionPOSITION: Lead Roaster CLASSIFICATION: Non-Exempt REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS: Head Roaster
About EquatorIn 1995, Equator Founders Helen Russell and Brooke McDonnell began their values-driven path, roasting coffee in a Marin County, CA garage. Possessing an obsessive commitment to green coffee sourcing and unparalleled roasting expertise, Helen and Brooke have committed over 30 years to sustainable and fair trade coffee practices all in the name of creating a remarkable coffee experience for consumers. Today, Equator Coffees is a retail and wholesale coffee roaster and coffee farm owner with thirteen retail cafes throughout California—from Marin County to San Francisco to Oakland to Los Angeles and beyond. Throughout the years, Equator Coffees has spearheaded industry-leading sourcing and roasting practices, and has forged progressive partnerships with Michelin-starred chefs, specialty grocers, tech campuses, and more. Women-owned, LGBTQ-founded, and an early adopter of Fair Trade certification, Equator Coffees is the first California coffee roaster to achieve B Corp Certification.
Position Summary Reporting to the Head Roaster, the Lead Roaster supports Equator Coffees’ commitment to quality through hands-on production roasting on Loring and Giesen systems. This role develops and refines roast profiles for seasonal coffees and core blends in collaboration with the Head Roaster and Director of Coffee, while leading the roasting team to meet daily production goals with professionalism and care. The Lead Roaster partners with the Head Roaster and Production & Fulfillment Manager to plan daily production, adapt to changing priorities, and uphold high standards for quality, sanitation, equipment maintenance, and safety. Committed to continuous improvement, the Lead Roaster leads with accountability, supports team development, and upholds Equator’s culture of care, curiosity, and excellence.
Key ResponsibilitiesCoffee Roasting
- Execute production roasting on Loring and Giesen roast systems.
- Develop roast profiles for new seasonal coffees and refine profiles for year-round blends in partnership with the Head Roaster and Director of Coffee.
Leadership & Professionalism
- Act as lead-on-shift, modeling professionalism, kindness, and a strong commitment to quality.
- Guide the team to meet daily production goals by delegating tasks, supporting teammates, and ensuring breaks are taken on time.
- Troubleshoot immediate issues as they arise and escalate to the appropriate manager when needed—often with a proposed solution.
Planning & Collaboration
- Collaborate with the Head Roaster and Production & Fulfillment Manager to plan daily production schedules.
- Remain flexible and solution-oriented, maintaining a positive attitude when priorities shift or plans change
Sanitation & Maintenance
- Perform routine cleaning and maintenance of roasting machines, destoners, and related equipment.
- Accurately log maintenance and repairs, demonstrating strong attention to detail.
- Foster an environment where attention to detail and proactive communication are standard practice.
Quality
- Support Equator’s quality standards through cupping, sample roasting, espresso dialing, pour-over recipe development, and data collection.
- Utilize tools such as Sinar, ColorTrack, Cropster, and TDS meters to support consistency and continuous improvement.
Professional Development
- Engage with industry trends and ongoing learning within the specialty coffee space.
- Contribute to growth initiatives by researching new tools or systems, attending workshops, participating in competitions (e.g., US Roasters Championship), collaborating cross-functionally, or pursuing food safety certifications.
Qualifications and Requirements
- 3+ years of production roasting experience, preferably on Loring Smart Roast systems.
- At least 1 year of experience supporting or leading a small team (3–5 people), such as acting as lead-on-shift or senior team member. Working knowledge of roasting equipment, maintenance, and routine repairs.
- Experience with sample roasting and quality evaluation.
- Familiarity with specialty coffee brewing, including espresso. Experience using Cropster or similar roast-tracking software. Understanding of food safety and manufacturing protocols (GMP, SQF, ServSafe preferred).
- Ability to safely operate forklifts and pallet jacks (preferred). Q-Arabica Grader certification or SCA Sensory Skills certification (preferred).
- Must be 16 years of age or older.
Compensation
- Available to all employees
- Competitive Hourly wage
- Commuter Benefits - pre-tax parking and transit
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - Physical and mental health, financial and legal coaching available at no cost to the employee
- Free mental health app subscription
- Employee discount on merchandise, coffee gear, and at Equator cafes
- Continuing coffee education classes
- Free coffee
- Paid Time Off for voting on Election Day
- After 60 days as an employee at Equator
- Healthcare Benefits (for full-time employees working over 30 hours per week)
- 100% employer-covered premium medical insurance
- Voluntary Insurance Plans - dental, vision, long-term disability, and supplementary life insurance
- Employer covered life insurance premium
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA) - healthcare and daily dependent care
- After 90 days as an employee at Equator
- Holiday Pay after 90 days of employment.
- Eight Equator-observed holidays per year (including Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth)
- Paid Time Off with tenured increases for full-time employees
- 1 paid volunteer day per year
- After six months as an employee at Equator
- 401K with up to a 4% company match on employee contributions
Compensation will be commensurate with experience.
We’d love for you to use the video answer feature for our screening questions! It’s a great way for us to get a better sense of your experience and how comfortable you are discussing your skills. Plus, it helps us see your personality and passion for the role!
This position description intends to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. It is not intended to include all duties and responsibilities. Job responsibilities can change according to the operational needs of the business. The order in which duties and responsibilities are listed is not significant.
Equator Coffees is an equal-opportunity employer. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, and discharge will be based on competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability or any other applicable legally protected characteristics.