Posted time 05/06/24 Location Bremen, Germany

Role Overview

We have an exciting newly created opportunity for someone to join us as an experienced Specialty Coffee Salesperson to work closely with the head of coffee trading and the coffee trading team to build supply chain relationships with customers to sell speciality coffee. The successful candidate will lead in the creation and execution of an effective sales strategy for enhancing our specialty business the German green coffee markets. This role will spend a large percentage of its time on the phone talking to customers and following sales leads

Volcafe Ltd is one of the world’s leading international green coffee trading companies, operating in over 20 countries globally. Our expertise spans green coffee procurement and preparation, sustainability, blending, quality control, risk management and export as well as importing and distribution. We supply the world’s major coffee roasters and retail distributors with their green coffee requirements, with significant strategic growth ambitions for the future. We are part of ED&F Man Commodities, a world leading trader of agricultural products including coffee, sugar, molasses and animal feed.

Volcafe works across the whole green coffee supply chain to make coffee business better, together with our partners and employees. We have built and operate sustainable coffee supply chains across all our origins, addressing key economic, social and environmental issues in coffee farming communities. Our Volcafe Way farmer support programme engages with thousands of coffee farmers and provides a holistic response to the challenges they face.

This role will be working for Golluecke & Rothfos GmbH, Volcafe’s company in Bremen, Germany.

Key Accountabilities

  • Manage all sales activity across an existing portfolio of specialty clients to meet growth targets.
  • Establish and build new commercial relationships with small to medium sized roasters to drive revenue and support the organizational strategy.
  • Execute an effective lead-generation strategy and develop own client portfolio across specialty sector in Germany.
  • Getting into the specifics of individual coffee origins and translating those dynamics into commercial decisions
  • Researching supply and demand figures and facilitating price fixing
  • Representing the company at trade events and contribute to trade media as required.
  • Contribute to sourcing and purchasing decisions, negotiating sales and third parties’ contracts in a timely and accurate manner
  • Daily green coffee quality tasting and cupping to learn and evaluate coffee qualities, and ultimately helping to develop new products

Skills and Experience

You will be driven and passionate about specialty coffee and the impact we have on our communities and the world through it’s production, trade and consumption.

  • Prior sales experience in green coffee and/or specialty coffee is ESSENTIAL
  • Bachelor’s degree in international trade, economics, or related field.
  • Fully proficient in written and spoken English and good business level German ESSENTIAL. Other languages beneficial.
  • Entrepreneurial thinker with a growth-mindset and a proven track record for delivering results.
  • Excellent communication skills, client focussed and cultural awareness to successfully manage a diverse portfolio of clients.
  • Strong attention to detail and organization skills
  • High level numeracy and literacy skills.
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a small team of experts
  • Possess a keen commercial drive to meet and surpass stretch targets
  • Committed team player who is willing to be flexible and assist with a whole range of tasks to support colleagues and the delivery of a common strategic goal.
  • Must have the ability to adapt to the dynamic sales and trading environment and take a proactive approach to managing tasks and competing priorities.

As an ever-friendly reminder: Researchers have found that men apply to roles when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria. Women and other underrepresented groups tend to apply only when they check every box. If you are interested, but don’t feel like you meet every single point on the job description, please still apply!

Our Offer

We provide a fast-paced, stimulating and truly global environment, which will stretch your abilities and channel your talents. We also offer competitive salary and benefits combined with outstanding career development opportunities in one of the global leaders in soft commodity trading.

Our Values

Respect, Integrity, Meritocracy, Client Focus, Entrepreneurship

Volcafe shares the values of our parent company, ED&F Man Commodities. Our values define who we are. They are the fundamental beliefs that determine our actions and guide our behaviour. They influence the way we communicate and collaborate, and define the way we engage with our clients, partners, and communities.

Our Commitment

Volcafe shares the commitment of our parent company, ED&F Man Commodities. We are committed to creating and sustaining an inclusive and diverse work environment where all employees are treated with dignity and respect. We are committed to promoting equal opportunities in employment and are focussed on actively building and developing diverse teams. All qualified applicants will receive equal treatment without regard to race, colour, sex, gender, age, religion or belief, ethnic or national origin, marital or civil partner status, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender reassignment (identity, gender expression), genetic information or any characteristic protected by local law.

We are willing to make any reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process.

To apply you must have the right to work for the provided location.