Role Overview
We have an exciting opportunity for someone to join us as a Trade Support Assistant to work in a truly global environment to provide crucial support on daily logistics requirements, invoicing, green coffee quality assessment and sample roasting to ensure we maintain high levels of service. Reporting to the Senior Trade & Operations Manager, the role provides long term development potential for someone eager to demonstrate their skills and gain a first experience in the fast-paced soft commodities environment.
Business Overview
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 from the Volcafe office in Bristol.
Key Accountabilities
* Assist in the daily execution and coordination of green coffee releases and deliveries on behalf of clients across the UK and Ireland.
* Support the timely generation, distribution, and follow-up of invoices, receivables and account statements for both clients and suppliers.
* Serve as a first point of contact for logistics, accounts and invoicing enquiries, ensuring excellent customer service is delivered at all times.
* Maintain and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders, including logistics providers, warehouses and distribution partners.
* Collaborate with internal departments to ensure smooth cross-functional operations and efficient supply chain performance.
* Provide administrative and operational support to the Quality team, including the physical and sensory analysis of green coffee.
* Accurately entering quality data and maintaining records and assisting with sample roasting and preparing sample shipments to clients.
* Respond to and resolve issues under time-sensitive conditions, demonstrating strong attention to detail and a calm, solution-focused approach.
* Support the Senior Trade & Operations Manager with ad hoc tasks and ongoing project needs related to trade operations and client services.
Skills and Experience
* Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with clients, suppliers, logistics providers, and internal teams.
* Experience working cross-functionally with different departments to ensure smooth operational flow.
* Possess a high level of accuracy in relation to data entry, documentation and problem resolution.
* Ability to manage multiple responsibilities and respond effectively in time-sensitive situations.
* Proven ability to handle invoicing, account statements and receivables with accuracy and efficiency.
* Familiarity with sensory analysis, sample preparation or data handling in a quality assurance context is advantageous.
* Comfortable using Excel, Word and potentially CRM or ERP systems for operational and reporting tasks.
* Demonstrates initiative and the ability to troubleshoot operational issues independently.
* An understanding or interest in green coffee logistics, trading or quality processes is advantageous.
* Willingness to support various operational and client service needs as directed by senior management.
* Prior experience coordinating deliveries, releases or managing logistics is highly desirable.
* Passionate and organised and with a strong eye for detail.
* Demonstrate a basic understanding of the UK coffee industry.
* Strong communicator and confident with client interaction.
* Self-driven, detail-focussed and task-orientated.
* Language skills in Portuguese, Spanish or German would be advantageous.
We recognise that talent comes in many forms, and we value potential just as much as experience. If this role excites you but you don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to 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
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 values are underpinned by a set of essential behaviours, which form part of our performance management approach. Delivering on our objectives is very much about ‘what’ we do, but these essential behaviours also provide a guide and measure for ‘how’ we do things. Our performance essentials are Take Initiative, Self‑Management, Deliver Results and Collaboration.
Our Commitment
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.
We encourage people to speak up if they see any behaviour that violates any laws, regulations or our own internal policies, values and behaviours. To report a concern visit:https://edfman.speakup.report/edfman .
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