Location
Candidates must be located within the greater Chicago area with the ability to travel easily within the Chicagoland area. Currently, the office location is 1850 West Fulton in Chicago. In August, Intelligentsia will move to 7300 S Central Ave in Bedford Park.
Position Summary
The Quality Control Supervisor is responsible for developing and determining work flow for the team, as well as ensuring the QC Lab can maintain efficient and timely evaluation of all relevant samples. The lab has two equal priorities: provide detailed information to the Green Coffee Team to purchase the best coffees possible, and support Operations by ensuring all coffees in production are meeting quality expectations.
Attention to detail is a must for successful sample roasting and fair-minded evaluation. Time management is critical for keeping all tasks in motion at the correct pace.
Duties & Responsibilities:
- Sample roast green samples according to priority and sample queue.
- Lead and develop the team to meet department workload.
- Have a strong understanding of extraction in brewing and espresso.
- Participate in purchase and quality assurance cupping tables.
- Perform weekly quality assurance tables on production roasts.
- Maintain sensory calibration with QC team.
- Maintain cupping schedule offers, arrivals, unsolicited samples, production roasts, and exploratory tables.
- Enter green samples and relevant data into Cropster upon arrival.
- Ensure inventory is accurate in Cropster for production roasting.
- Grade green coffee and enter each lot into Cropster upon arrival.
- Distribute all cupping results to relevant parties in a timely manner.
- Maintain lab cleanliness and organization at all times.
- Maintain the blend component outlook with the Green Coffee team.
- Execute coffee reports for coffee producers we work with.
- Participate in weekly inventory and green coffee meetings.
- Participate in menu construction and tasting note tastings for all releases.
- Play a key role in developing and maintaining blends.
- Execute Brew QC exercises in a repeatable fashion.
- Maintain all lab equipment and ensure regular calibration is happening.
- Execute monthly palate development tastings for Intelligentsia employees.
- Participate in scheduled tours as time permits.
- Assist in developing a cupper certification process for our QC team.
- Ability to analyze and manage approval process with Green Coffee Team.
- Ability to think strategically and manage process flow from offer to arrival of all coffee samples,
- Implement process improvement for all aspects of the lab.
- Other duties as assigned.
Job Requirements:
- High School Diploma or General Education Degree (GED) required.
- Coffee experience is highly encouraged. Experience in the practical application of scientific method is an advantage.
- Minimum 1 year as Quality Control Assistant, or equivalent experiences in a comparable environment including coffee sensory & physical analysis and data organization.
- Strong understanding of extraction in brewing and espresso.
- Previous experience in supervising and training employees.
Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality in all matters and use discretion with dissemination of information.
- Advanced sensory skills (taste, smell) and understanding of sensory and physical quality of coffee. Good Calibration with Experienced Intelligentsia Cuppers
- Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills, with the demonstrated capability to maintain professional relationships with co-workers and/or customers.
- Flexible, with the ability to work independently and with minimal guidance.
- Analytical, logical, and methodical approach to problem solving.
- Computer proficiency with good knowledge of Excel and data entry, including experience with Cropster database
- Good attention to detail with exceptional organization skills and observant nature.
- Efficient, with excellent work ethic and willingness to accept responsibility for independent projects.
Language Skills:
- Ability to read and speak English proficiently
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to see, talk and hear.
- The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit; use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, or crouch.
- The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 75 pounds.
- At times, may require more than 40 hours per week to perform the essential duties of the position.
- Fine hand manipulation (keyboarding, roasting, green coffee grading)
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Laboratory environment. Cleanliness and organization are of utmost importance.
- Warehouse environment. Some areas are not climate controlled.
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Benefits
- 401(k) with Company Match
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- Employee Discounts
- Flexible schedule
- Paid Time Off and Sick Leave
- Paid Training
- Employee Assistance Program
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $50,000.00 - $80,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
- 8 hour shift
- Monday to Friday
- Weekends as needed
Work Location: In person