Job Description

We are seeking a high-calibre Head of Coffee with a passion for consumers, brands, and great coffee to lead our coffee strategy across the UK&I region, including our key global accounts such as McDonald's and BP. This strategic role focuses on building long-term customer partnerships through coffee strategy support, blend development, and beverage innovation aligned with market needs.



The successful candidate will demonstrate a deep understanding of UK and EU coffee suppliers and will work closely with our production teams to ensure consistent coffee quality and future-ready blends that align with evolving customer expectations. With strong market insight and a keen interest in trends shaping the future of coffee, the Head of Coffee will play a pivotal role in future-proofing UCC's long-term strategy to win.



In addition, they will oversee the Coffee Experience Specialists and Coffee Trainers, ensuring delivery of exceptional customer experiences through our COFFEEWORKS programme, and embed a strong coffee culture across our sites. This role will also drive innovation in coffee equipment and experiential coffee engagement in collaboration with our marketing, supply chain, and equipment partners.

Key Responsibilities:

Develop and deliver UCC's Coffee Experience strategy across UK&I, including key global accounts Through the team of coffee specialists, ensure an aligned approach , sharing best practice and supporting the Strategic plans of UCC's Global and Key strategic European customers Embed a coffee culture across Milton Keynes and Dartford sites through COFFEEWORKS. Ensure that a COFFEEWORKS logic and approach is also embedded across the service operation, roastery, commercial teams. Ensuring that high value data (fault and failure analysis) is made available. Consult with key customers to implement impactful marketing, operational, and sales strategies. Create and manage onboarding plans for multi-site businesses. Evolve COFFEEWORKS, a market-leading data-driven training program. Manage the UCC coffee portfolio in collaboration with roasters, marketing teams, and Q-graders. Drive continuous improvements in customer tenders, customer experience, supply chain, and cost engineering. Collaborate with machine manufacturers to drive innovation in coffee equipment. Work with marketing to develop experiential media content and live events. Support the creation of operational tenders for new and existing business. Represent coffee initiatives and challenges on the Senior Leadership Team (SLT). Manage budgets and track KPIs for coffee-related initiatives. Lead and develop the Coffee Experience Specialists and Coffee Trainers, creating the right team structure and career progression paths. Ensure the team presents UCC as the Total Coffee Solution.

Ideal Candidate

Profile:

Highly driven leader with broad coffee experience. Excellent influencer and communicator at all levels. Collaborative mindset, comfortable working across departments. Experience in senior roles across different channels. High drive and tenacity to deliver growth in people and planning. Proven experience in creating and implementing winning strategies.

Benefits (band 1):

Private medical insurance 5% employer pension contribution +5 time served holiday days (based on length of service) 60 sick pay days (in total) 25% discretionary bonus 11,280 car allowance or company car (Audi Q4 equivalent)

Salary:

Competitive