We hire aspiring coffee professionals committed to authenticity and professional growth who are excited to be part of a workplace where they can make a positive difference in people's day. 

Current opportunities

Director of Retail Operations

About Highwire Coffee Roasters:

Highwire delivers "Approachable Excellence" by serving world-class coffee in a welcoming environment.

Position Summary:

Reporting to the CEO, this role leads all operational aspects of Highwire Coffee's retail locations, focusing on customer experience, employee experience, revenue growth, cost control, and operational efficiency.

Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement strategies for financial success, customer satisfaction, and growth.
• Operations Management: Oversee daily operations at all cafes, including staffing, scheduling, inventory, quality control, and compliance.
• Financial Performance: Build budgets, analyze financial data, and mentor managers on using data to optimize operations.
• Team Development: Recruit, hire, train, and develop a high-performing team. Conduct performance reviews and provide coaching.
• Culture Building: Champion Highwire's culture, create a positive work environment, and implement appreciation programs.
• Operational Efficiencies: Streamline processes, improve efficiency, and manage maintenance, repairs, and capital improvements.

Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in cafe operations leadership, with 2+ years in multi-unit leadership.
• Proven track record of driving growth, profitability, and customer satisfaction.
• Superior analytical skills, solid business and financial acumen.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

• Excellent organizational, planning, and time management skills.
• Dynamic and outgoing personality with a passion for developing and motivating teams.
• Ability to give and receive constructive feedback and demonstrate a commitment to personal growth.
• Deep understanding and love for the specialty coffee industry.
• Ability to travel regularly between all Highwire locations.

What's in It for You:

• The opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of a beloved and growing coffee company.
• A competitive compensation and benefits package.
• A collaborative and supportive work environment where your contributions are valued.
• The chance to work with passionate coffee professionals and be part of a thriving community.
• Unlimited access to some of the best coffee in the world!

Compensation ranges from $80k-$125k per year. Benefits include subsidized health insurance, PTO, and 401K with a company match. Come help us shape the future of a dynamic, growing, local company! 

If you are a passionate multi-unit leader who thrives in a coffee shop environment, we encourage you to apply.

Please send resume and cover letter to info@highwirecoffee.com 

Roaster/Production Team Member

Coffee is at the core of what we do and what connects us. We currently have seven (soon eight) retail locations in the East Bay, along with a significant mail order and wholesale business. We are looking to add a Roaster/Production Team Member onto our team to roast coffee and participate in production at our Emeryville Roastery.

Reporting to the Director of Coffee, and supplementing the Lead Roaster, the Roaster/Production Team member will need to be the quintessential team-player, as they will wear several hats throughout their day-to-day responsibilities. This role will not only manufacture the roasted coffee, they will also help to package and ship orders all while maintaining high levels of quality control. This role will require excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and a persistent pace of urgency in order to succeed. A positive attitude and professional demeanor will be expected at all times.

The best candidate for this position will be an experienced coffee roaster with an unflappably positive attitude, with a strong attention to detail and a keen sense of how to coax the best expression of a coffee through the roasting process, exhibiting the completeness and balance Highwire is known for.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Understand Start-of-Day procedures for importing orders, preparing necessary pre-production paperwork, and creation of the roasting schedule. 

• Responsible for knowing all of the steps of starting up the roaster and afterburner.

• Know all of the coffee recipes and how to identify the green coffee in the space by bag or by ICO number.

• Be competent in the use of Cropster as a data-logging tool. Understand how to use Cropster to create the day’s roast schedule. Expected to log every roast and attach their name to batches they have roasted.

• Collect information about the batch code and make sure that the information in Cropster is accurately recorded on the batches of coffee sent to production.  Finished weights should also be recorded.  

• Pull samples for Quality Control purposes and accurately record batch numbers, product name and finished weigh/percent loss

• Maintain Organic compliance by roasting Organic coffees first in the production day and by logging heat and air purge steps in the roasting log.

• Prioritize their work according to the priorities of the production day and delivery schedule, based on volume and workflow. For example, The Core, is typically the  biggest volume, but lowest priority since it goes out in bulk

• Participate in the bagging of coffee and the fulfillment of orders. This can and will include loading coffee into the weigh and fill, bagging of coffee using the weigh and fill, sealing of coffee bags with the heat sealer, folding of filled coffee bags, placing of filled bags on the bagging shelf, filling of orders with bagged coffee, grinding coffee for orders, packaging coffee for shipment, and recording of bags loaded into store orders.

• Maintain a pace of work consistent with the needs of production when bagging and filling orders.

• Attention to detail both in the roasting space and in the production space will be critical to the success of individuals in this position

• Help with occasional deliveries or pick-ups using the company vehicle.

• Familiar with all of the blends, their flavor profiles, and best approaches in roasting to achieve flavor and roast degree goals.

• Participate in Quality Control exercises like cupping or tasting of brewed batches if something about a roast seems out of protocol. The production roaster will also be expected to help in tasting samples for future production needs.

• Stay aware of company communication around how coffees are received in the cafes, contributing to the conversations about coffee and sharing experiences in roasting with the staff

• Give and receive feedback with regards to different roast techniques or procedures. All discussions of coffee quality or perceived experiences of flavor will be delivered and received in a professional manner.

• Work collaboratively sharing information about the roasting process with other members of the roasting team.

• Keep a consistent pace of work with an expectation of producing three roasted batches of coffee an hour, up to 21 total batches in a standard production day.

• Adhere to existing roast protocols within reason, and should be able to explain why decisions are made within the roasting process.

• Know how to operate the roasting equipment safely and will know how to shut down equipment quickly in the case of an emergency.  

• Understand the basics of fire safety and what to do in case of a fire, either inside the equipment or in the roasting area.

• Responsible for maintenance of the roasting equipment. This will include daily cleaning and vacuuming of the machines, and well as weekly, monthly, and annual tear-downs and deep cleaning of the equipment.

• Responsible for helping to maintain the green coffee inventory in the space, by physically loading and unloading green coffee, both in bags and buckets.

• Use safe lifting techniques at all times.

• Use both electric and manual pallet jacks to manipulate pallets of coffee in the space. 

• Able to lift up to 40lbs, frequently, with occasional lifting up to 60lbs. They will also be expected to be able to move coffee bags with other team members, using safe team-lifting techniques. 

• Maintain a clean and clear workspace, before, during and after their roasting shift.  

• Pitch in on general cleaning duties of the roasting and  production areas as well as the general warehouse.

• Complete green coffee inventory and document in shared spreadsheets

• Set up (daily) cuppings and help to break them down.

• Communicate with the production supervisor and other roasters about the production day and to address any exceptions

Experience:

• Roasting experience with a UG-22 preferred, but willing to train the right candidate

• Functional knowledge of Cropster

• You know how to cup and are comfortable talking about your sensory experience

• Sample roasting experience is a plus

• Experience with Google Docs and Shopify are desirable

• Though this position is not expected to manage other team members, you are expected to share your knowledge and experience, engaging with baristas about coffee via Basecamp and other venues

Based on experience, this position is offered at an hourly rate between $23 and $27/hr.

In addition to monetary compensation, Highwire’s benefits package includes opportunities for 70% subsidized medical and vision insurance. A 401(k) retirement fund with matching from the company will be offered after 1 year of employment. 

Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to steveford@highwirecoffee.com

Barista 

If you're the person customers look forward to seeing in the morning, and can crush a bar rush while staying cool, we'd like to hear from you! A Highwire barista is a student of hospitality and coffee. A barista strives to delight our customers by being approachable, coffee-focused, detail-oriented, and operationally excellent. They are a pleasure to work with, connect with our guests in authentic and meaningful ways, and ultimately create someplace special. They are values-focused, results-driven, and learn the Highwire way to help drive growth and loyalty for their location.

We start all new baristas at $18.67/hr plus tips with a plan for growth up to $20.67/hr and beyond with promotions. We offer training, health insurance, PTO, and 401K with a company match. You get free coffee to drink and a bag of coffee or tube of tea to take home each week.

We're hired up for the moment, but check back here to see when we're hiring.

In the meantime, let us know if we should meet you!

Terrific Barista Candidates Apply Here!

Store Manager

Are you an experienced leader who gets psyched about leading a team to deliver coffee and connection excellence? Do you create great spaces to work, where people can develop personally and professionally, grow their strengths, and be part of something special? If these sound like you, and you’re values-focused, results-driven, operationally solid, and ready to serve our growing community, drop us a line!  

And we're always down to talk with inspiring leaders who want to explore future opportunities here.

Hit the link below if you'd like us to know about you.

Job Requirements:

• Exceptional customer service and hospitality practices, love of specialty coffee and connecting with people.
• 2 years in a store/cafe manager or leadership role
• Ability to quickly assess the needs of a location or team and map out a plan to address
• Current accredited  CA Food Safety Certification (manager level)  or certification within 30 days post-hire. Highwire will pay for the certification
• Basic understanding of California labor regulations and laws
• Current accredited sexual harassment and abusive conduct prevention training for supervisors within 30 days post-hire. Highwire will pay for the certification.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills – both oral and written. 
• The ability to exercise independent judgment and decision-making skills in line with the values and standards of Highwire. 
• Ability to lead changes that come with a growing business, and prioritizing the need to run a fast-paced environment
• Basic familiarity and comfort with using and troubleshooting technology systems such as Square POS, Shopventory/Thrive, Google Docs, Gmail, Basecamp, wifi networks...
• Comfort with basic coffee/foodservice equipment maintenance and troubleshooting.

Store Manager compensation ranges from $27 - $34/hr. We offer training, subsidized health insurance, PTO, and 401K with a company match. You get a bag of coffee or tube of tea to take home each week, as well as free coffee at work. 

Inspiring Leaders apply here!