Programme & Engagement Coordinator in Cardiff

This is an exciting, varied, and highly rewarding full‑time role at the heart of Boss & Brew's day‑to‑day delivery. As Programme & Engagement Coordinator, you will be central to everything we do – from pulling espresso shots at a catering event, to mentoring a young person preparing for their first job interview, to capturing the magic of it all through a fun and engaging Instagram story. You will bring your knowledge of specialty coffee and a genuine commitment to supporting young people, combining both passions into a role that is truly unique. We're looking for someone with a creative approach – someone who spots new possibilities, isn't afraid to try new things, and helps Boss & Brew evolve and grow. If you care about building a coffee industry that is truly welcoming for everyone, and representative of our vibrant city, then perhaps this role is just for you!

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• BARISTA TRAINING & COFFEE CATERING: Deliver high‑quality, engaging barista training sessions for young people across our Barista Traineeship & Employability Programme, covering the history & origins of coffee, espresso extraction, mastering milk, and supporting trainees in delivering pop‑up shops. Maintain the highest standards of specialty coffee knowledge and practice, keeping training content current with industry best practice. Plan and deliver coffee catering at events at our home in Wales Millennium Centre and across Cardiff, representing Boss & Brew professionally and giving young people real‑world work experience. Support the ongoing development of our training curriculum and resources, bringing a creative and evolving approach to how we teach and inspire.
• MENTORING & WORKING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE: Build genuine, trusting relationships with young people aged 16 to 24, many of whom face significant barriers to employment including mental health challenges, lack of qualifications, care‑experience, and/or socioeconomic disadvantage. Provide one‑to‑one mentoring and pastoral support, helping young people build confidence, navigate barriers, set goals, and take their next steps with greater ambition and wider horizons. Champion a trauma‑informed, person‑centred, and anti‑racist approach in all interactions with young people. Celebrate every individual’s progress, however small, and help them see their own potential.
• DROP‑IN PROJECT & COFFEE CLUB: Plan, coordinate, and facilitate our regular drop‑in sessions, creating a welcoming, safe, and productive space for Boss & Brew graduates to access ongoing support and community. Provide tailored employability support at drop‑ins, including CV writing, interview preparation, job searching, and signposting to further services. Oversee the Boss & Brew Coffee Club – our exclusive membership for our BB graduate community offering discounts across Cardiff’s coffee shops – encouraging young people to explore specialty coffee, support local independent businesses, and build a sense of belonging in the industry. Facilitate peer learning and community‑building among graduates, encouraging them to share experiences, lessons, and successes with one another. Maintain accurate records of attendance, engagement, and outcomes.
• WORK EXPERIENCE PLACEMENT PROGRAMME: Coordinate structured work experience placements for young people with our partner coffee shops and venues, including Wales Millennium Centre, Training Ground Cafe, Mec Coffee, and Waterloo Tea. Prepare young people for placements through practical briefings, goal setting, and confidence‑building activities. Maintain close communication with placement hosts, collecting feedback and addressing challenges promptly. Track and record placement hours, outcomes, and young person feedback.
• EMPLOYER LIAISON & JOB OUTCOMES: Proactively build and maintain relationships with employers across Cardiff’s coffee and hospitality sectors to create meaningful employment pathways for BB graduates. Match graduates with appropriate job opportunities and support them through the application and interview process. Advocate for graduates, communicating their skills and potential to employers with confidence and enthusiasm. Track and report on employment outcomes and measure the impact of employer partnerships.
• EVENTS, PARTNERSHIPS & GROWTH: Attend and support coffee community events – competitions, cuppings and educational workshops, coffee festivals, and networking opportunities that expand graduates’ horizons and professional connections, and be the friendly familiar face in the room. Identify, approach, and cultivate new partnerships with organisations in the third sector, education, hospitality, coffee industry, and local community. Bring a creative and entrepreneurial spirit to developing new ideas, projects, and initiatives that help Boss & Brew grow and deepen its impact. Represent Boss & Brew at external events and meetings, communicating our mission compellingly to a wide range of audiences.
• SOCIAL MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS: Capture and share the story of Boss & Brew’s work through engaging social media content – posts, reels, and stories across our Instagram and Facebook channels. Create content that authentically showcases the journeys of our young people (with appropriate consent), our programmes, events, and community, for audiences including the public, young people, funders, and partner organisations. Bring creativity and a fresh eye to how Boss & Brew presents itself online, helping to build our profile and reach in the specialty coffee sector and beyond.

WHY THIS ROLE IS DIFFERENT: This isn’t a desk job. One day you’ll be running a barista masterclass, the next you’ll be cheering on a young person at their first latte art competition, and the day after that you’ll be filming a reel that brings the whole Boss & Brew community to life. If you want a role where your love of coffee and your commitment to people make a real, measurable difference every single day – this is it.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

ESSENTIAL: Demonstrable experience working in specialty coffee, with strong practical barista skills (espresso, milk texturing, brew methods) and solid coffee theory knowledge. Proven ability to teach, coach, or train others in a practical setting – in coffee or similar environment or vocational context. Genuine passion for and commitment to working with young people who face barriers to employment. Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust with young people, colleagues, employers, and community partners. Experience in or strong aptitude for mentoring, youth work, or pastoral support roles. Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, including an active anti‑racist approach in all aspects of the role. Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple programmes and workstreams simultaneously. Confident working independently, using initiative, and problem‑solving under pressure. A creative thinker who brings fresh ideas and looks for ways to improve, evolve, and innovate in their work. Comfortable creating social media content and communicating an organisation’s story visually and in writing. Understanding of issues affecting young people experiencing barriers to employment, such as poverty, mental health, care‑experience, or lack of qualifications. Confident communicator, comfortable representing Boss & Brew externally to employers, partners, and funders.

DESIRABLE: Direct experience of working in the third sector, social enterprise, charity, or youth work setting. SCA (Specialty Coffee Association) qualification or equivalent formal coffee training certification. Formal youth work qualification, or experience equivalent to a youth work or community education role. Knowledge of Cardiff’s third sector landscape, youth services, and local coffee community. Experience of coordinating work experience or employment programmes. Experience of impact measurement, data collection, or reporting. Food Safety Level 2 certificate (or willingness to obtain). Full UK driving licence (desirable but not essential).

HOW TO APPLY: To apply, please send the following to: jobs@bossandbrewacademy.co.uk 1. Your CV – no more than two pages, clearly setting out your experience and skills. 2. A cover letter – no more than two pages explaining why you are interested in the role and how your skills and experience make you a good fit for Boss & Brew. Please note: all offers of employment are subject to satisfactory DBS checks, proof of right to work in the UK, and two references. We warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly those from communities currently underrepresented in the coffee and hospitality industries. Boss & Brew Academy is committed to equal opportunities and to building a team that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. If you would like an informal conversation about the role before applying, please do not hesitate to get in touch - we'd love to hear from you!