Agronomists - Farmer Support Centers
Lausanne, CHJob Summary and Mission
Key Responsibilities
- Develop agronomy programs consistent with local and regional customs to support sustainable crop production and ensure a continuous supply of high-quality coffee meeting Starbucks standards
- Support technicians and farmers in developing and executing best-in-class field practices in coffee production, farm management, income diversification, carbon and water management, productivity and profitability enhancement, and coffee quality
- Responsible for supporting the implementation of the C.A.F.E. Practices standard across the Starbucks network in the region
- Execute annual operating plans, projects and budgets for the region
- Understand the role of technology and innovation in agronomy practices to highlight forward-thinking approaches to sustainability and productivity
- Communicate local best practices back to the global agronomy research and development team for dissemination throughout countries in the region
- Work with local farmers to manage and improve crop production and soils, make efficient use of natural resources, develop and use weed controls, and maintain environmental quality
- Develop and maintain relationships with preferred suppliers
- Communicate Starbucks quality standards for green coffee and assist farmers in meeting these standards to become preferred suppliers
- Gather information on market trends, production methods, suppliers, and quality, contributing to Starbucks' proprietary data warehouse of green coffee intelligence
- Develop and conduct workshops on C.A.F.E. Practices, Starbucks quality standards, and best field agronomy practices to provide training to farmers, millers, exporters, and internal partners
- Contribute to and support C.A.F.E. Practices goals to identify coffee growers who meet Starbucks standards for quality and sustainable production practices
Required Qualifications
- Education: Minimum Bachelor's degree in Agronomy or related field. Having a Master's degree is a plus
- Experience: Minimum of 5 years of cumulative proven coffee field experience. Additional knowledge of plant & soil sciences and advanced agronomy is a major plus
- Skills:
- Fluent in spoken English., as a second language
- Knowledge of current best practices in coffee productivity, income diversification, and climate resiliency
- Adaptability and problem-solving skills & Proven project management skills
- Proficient in MS Excel, Word, PPT, Outlook, and MS Teams
Additional considerations
- The Agronomist position in Antigua, Guatemala needs to also have significant farm management experience.
- The Agronomist position in Alajuela, Costa Rica needs to have significant plant breeding experience.
Join us and inspire with every cup!
- for Costa Rica, Guatemala and Colombia: FSCLatamrecruitment@starbucks.com
- for Tanzania and Rwanda: FSCrecruitment@starbucks.com
