CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGER (CRM)

Full time Sales/Business Development

Job Description

About Caravela

Caravela Coffee is a team of innovating pioneers deeply committed to de-commoditizing coffee.  

What we do 

We pursue BETTER COFFEE for all by making specialty coffee as prosperous as it is delicious.  

At Caravela Coffee, our work goes beyond buying and selling coffee. We are a collective of coffee experts working to create and deliver as much value for the specialty coffee network as we can imagine. We connect the most talented coffee growers and the most committed coffee roasters, developing long-term partnerships that lead to improved quality, sustainability, and prosperity.  

How we do it 

We achieve this by working directly with close to four thousand small and medium-sized coffee farmers, providing them with education, technical assistance, access to, and feedback from the world's most respected and renowned coffee roasters. Our aim goes beyond increasing coffee farmers' incomes; we seek to uplift the communities they call home and enhance their quality of life. Simultaneously, we are devoted to offering coffee consumers a superior and more sustainable product, realizing our commitment to mutual growth and prosperity. We have been BCorp-certified since 2014 and have been named 'Best for the World' by B Labs for six consecutive years from 2016 to 2021. 

The Opportunity 

We're seeking a dynamic Customer Relationship Manager to join our team in Spring, TX or on the West Coast (must have the right to work there). This role requires a highly motivated individual with a passion for coffee and a knack for building strong relationships.  
 
The ideal candidate will be responsible for identifying and pursuing new business opportunities with US roasters and coffee buyers, cultivating and maintaining strong relationships with existing clients, expanding Caravela's market presence in North America, developing a deep understanding of our coffee offerings, implementing effective relationship development strategies, and staying informed about industry trends.  
 
Strong communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills are essential. The ideal candidate is self-motivated, results-oriented, and able to work independently. 
 

Key Responsibilities 

Market Development & Sales  

  • Identify and prioritize new and existing customers in the US market using our relationship-based, prosperity-driven model.  

  • Connect with prospective coffee roaster partners by utilizing market research, networking, and industry analysis. Cultivate and evaluate leads to establish a robust pipeline of prospective roaster partners in the prioritized market areas. 

  • Translate the specific needs and preferences of coffee roaster partners into customized solutions that demonstrate Caravela’s full value proposition; clearly communicate how partnering with Caravela will enhance their coffee program, business success, and customer satisfaction. 

  • Create and develop thought pieces such as social media posts, essays, etc. to further reinforce Caravela’s position as a leader in specialty coffee.  

Relationship Building and Outreach 

  • Foster relationships with existing coffee roaster partners. Serve as a trusted advisor, providing ongoing support and guidance to the primary contact and other key account stakeholders.  

  • Develop strategies that support the commercial partnership beyond sales and maintain regular communication and follow-ups to ensure that the customer is realizing the full value of their partnership with Caravela. 

  • Leverage Caravela’s customer-interaction-model to bring the full team to the benefit of roaster partners. 

  • Establish Caravela as a leading and innovative green coffee expert in the US. 

Marketing & Brand Ambassadorship 

  • Engage with roaster partners as a representative of the Caravela brand in the US, embodying and communicating our principles of quality, transparency, and sustainability. 

  • Develop and deliver narratives around coffee quality and producer prosperity to engage customers authentically. 

  • Establish Caravela as a green coffee thought leader within the US market. 

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Team member may perform other related duties to meet the ongoing needs of the organization. 

 Qualifications 

  • Experience developing business-to-business markets in North America 

  • Capable of crafting compelling stories using numbers and words 

  • Comfort working in a decentralized, autonomous, and outcomes-driven environment 

  • Data-driven sales experience 

  • Bachelor's degree or higher in a relevant field 

  • Peer-coaching experience 

  • Availability to travel as needed (around 40%)  

Preferences 

  • Proficiency in a second language (Spanish) 

  • Previous experience in food and beverage business-to-business sales 

  • Experience buying and selling specialty grade green coffee 

  • Passion for premium culinary culture 

 What we offer: 

  • Immersive onboarding experience. 

  • Access to coffees from Latin America’s finest coffee producers 

  • Competitive compensation package. 

  • Medical, vision and dental plan 

  • Generous holiday package (including all federal holidays + 20 days PTO and an additional day off on the month of your birthday) 

  • 401k match after 6 months. 

Caravela is committed to being an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer. We do not discriminate based on a person's race, color, religion, age, veteran status, disability, national origin, medical condition including pregnancy, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other legally protected status.