Location: Bend, OR (York Drive Roastery)
Reports to: Roastery Manager
Schedule: 2-3 days per week to start, with a clear path to near full-time as production scales (anticipated within 3–6 months)
Pay: $18–$23/hour, dependent on experience

Role Overview

The Syrups & Chai Lead owns the development, production, and quality of Thump Coffee’s house-made syrups and chai. This role is responsible for ensuring our cafes receive consistently excellent products that elevate the drink experience for guests and support barista confidence behind the bar.

This position is both hands-on and creative. In addition to production, the Syrups & Chai Lead plays a key role in refining recipes, developing new flavors, and collaborating with cafe leadership on drink formulation as we scale these offerings across all Thump cafes.

This is an ideal role for someone who loves craft, takes pride in consistency, and is excited to own and grow a meaningful part of the business.

Key Responsibilities

Production & Fulfillment

• Prepare and fulfill all house-made syrups and chai for Thump Coffee cafes
• Scale production thoughtfully as additional cafes are added
• Review production needs and ensure cafes are stocked accurately and on time
• Package, label, and store products according to food safety standards
• Wash, maintain, and organize all tools, equipment and dishes used in production
• Heavy lifting up to 50lbs

Quality & Consistency

• Maintain a high standard of consistency across all batches
• Track recipes, yields, and production notes to ensure repeatability
• Monitor inventory levels and minimize waste through thoughtful planning
• Ensure all products meet internal quality and cleanliness and health code standards (i.e., recording Brix levels in syrups)

Recipe Development & Drink Support

• Develop and refine syrup and chai recipes in alignment with Thump’s flavor philosophy
• Collaborate with leadership on seasonal offerings and new drink concepts
• Support drink formulation for cafes so syrups translate well behind the bar
• Bring curiosity and creativity to improving the guest experience through beverages

Ownership & Communication

• Take ownership of this program as it grows in scale and importance
• Communicate clearly with the roastery and cafe teams about needs, changes, or improvements
• Contribute to a positive, calm, and efficient work environment
• Complete shift checklists and documentation reliably

Who We’re Looking For

Our ideal Syrups & Chai Lead:

• Is intrinsically motivated and takes pride in owning their work
• Has drink-making experience (barista or beverage background strongly preferred)
• Cares deeply about flavor, balance, and consistency
• Is organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable working independently
• Communicates clearly and receives feedback well
• Enjoys refining systems as volume grows
• Believes ordinary ingredients can be used for extraordinary good

Why This Role Matters

As we expand house-made syrups and chai to all nine cafes, this role becomes a cornerstone of our beverage program. The person in this position will directly shape how guests experience our drinks and how confidently our baristas serve them.

This is not a static production role — it’s an opportunity to grow alongside the business and help define a key part of Thump Backporch Coffee’s future.