Job Description
Head Roaster
Full-Time, On Site | Wilmington, NC | Reports to VP of Roasting
About Port City Java
We started in 1995 as a Wilmington coffeehouse with a simple idea: roast great coffee locally, serve it with care, and be a real part of the community. Thirty years later, that idea has grown into a regional coffee company with locations across Southeastern North Carolina and franchise cafes throughout the Carolinas. We roast our beans right here in Wilmington, up to five days a week, and handcraft every cup with the same attention we brought to day one.
The communities we serve have shaped who we are just as much as we have shaped them, and the people who chose to build their careers here are a big part of why that is true.
We are just getting started. We are opening new locations, building toward something bigger, and doing it without losing what makes us worth seeking out in the first place. Every new location has to earn the name. If that sounds like the kind of work you want to be part of, keep reading.
The Role
Coffee roasting at Port City Java is not a background operation. It is central to who we are. Our Head Roaster owns the full arc of production quality: executing roast profiles with precision, leading daily cuppings, mentoring the roasting team, and working shoulder-to-shoulder with our VP of Roasting to make sure every bag we put out meets the standard we have built this brand on.
This role demands both technical mastery and genuine leadership. You will manage equipment, inventory, and protocols, but the bigger part of the job is making sure the team around you is growing and consistent.
What You Will Do
• Execute all roasted coffee fulfillment according to profiles and quality standards set by the VP of Roasting
• Set up and lead daily production cuppings, maintaining rigorous QC protocols throughout
• Monitor, refine, and develop roast profiles in collaboration with the VP of Roasting, including profiles for new coffee releases
• Maintain all roasting logs and track green and roasted coffee inventory levels at the Roastery
• Oversee all preventative maintenance, cleaning, safety protocols, and equipment troubleshooting for roasting machines
• Participate in production meetings with the VP of Roasting and broader team
• Train new roasters and provide ongoing feedback and mentoring to ensure consistency across the team
• Keep the roastery clean and organized alongside roasting and production team members
• Assist with cupping classes for team members as needed
• Support sample roasting of green coffee samples with the VP of Roasting
• Participate in green coffee buying, including contracting and logistics
What We Are Looking For
• At least 5 years of specialty coffee roasting experience, preferably across a variety of roasting machines
• Experienced coffee cupper with strong sensory evaluation skills
• Deep technical understanding of roasting equipment, including comfort troubleshooting and working with technical support
• Extremely detail-oriented, with genuine satisfaction from consistent, quality-focused execution of roasting protocols
• Strong leadership and organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize, delegate, and manage time across a fast-paced production environment
• Clear and effective communicator, both verbal and written
• Proficient with email, Excel, and operations-related applications
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a positive, constructive manner
• Excellent general coffee knowledge with a desire to keep learning
• Intentional about reducing waste and minimizing environmental impact
• Ability to travel locally, regionally, and internationally as needed
• Availability to work 40 hours a week, with flexibility for responsibilities that fall outside standard M-F daytime hours
Physical Requirements
• Must be able to lift 50-75 pounds
• Standing and walking 6-8 hours in an 8-hour workday
• Work requires bending, twisting, squatting, and reaching
• Occasional exposure to temperatures as low as 32°F
• Ability to use warehouse equipment including forklifts, handcarts, pallet jacks, and ladders
Compensation and Benefits
Compensation is $45,000. Standard Salaried Employee Benefits (see Salaried Employee Handbook).
Relocation assistance is not provided.
Carolina born and raised. Freshly roasted coffee, crafted with care since 1995.
Port City Java is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
We started in 1995 as a Wilmington coffeehouse with a simple idea: roast great coffee locally, serve it with care, and be a real part of the community. Thirty years later, that idea has grown into a regional coffee company with locations across Southeastern North Carolina and franchise cafes throughout the Carolinas. We roast our beans right here in Wilmington, up to five days a week, and handcraft every cup with the same attention we brought to day one.