At a Glance
- Tasks: Ensure high-quality coffee products through technical governance and supplier performance management.
- Company: Join Costa Coffee, a global leader in coffee experiences and part of the Coca-Cola System.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive perks like share ownership, bonuses, discounts, and private medical cover.
- Other info: Flexible work environment with exciting future developments in St Albans.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on coffee quality and safety while working with passionate teams.
- Qualifications: Experience in technical management within food or beverage manufacturing, especially coffee roasting.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
At Costa Coffee, we are what we craft. We’re reimagining coffee experiences in over 50 countries and counting as a key part of the Coca‑Cola System. Our teams make a difference, from creating industry‑leading technology for the perfect pour to supporting our global supply chain – every role helps us stir up success.
Being a Technical Manager at Costa is about ensuring our products are consistently safe, high‑quality and delivered to market with excellence. You’ll be the technical lead for your region, shaping governance, risk management and supplier performance across our end to end supply chain. This role also requires specialist expertise in coffee roasting and beverage manufacturing, ensuring Costa maintains the highest technical standards across all roastery partners.
We didn’t become a global coffee brand by sitting back. When you work here, you join a community that values passion, progression and integrity, with some pretty brilliant perks to sweeten the deal:
- Own a piece of Costa’s success by becoming a share owner in Coca-Cola with our Share Investment Plan (SIP).
- An annual discretionary bonus scheme, based on business results and individual contribution.
- A smart pension that saves you money on tax and national insurance, and matches your contributions up to 10%.
- The Costa Financial Support Fund, supporting team members who find themselves in unexpected financial pressure.
- 50% discount in all Costa-owned stores, and 25% off in other participating stores.
- Private medical cover thanks to our Private Healthcare scheme.
We’re passionate about being a great place to work, where you can bring your unique self into our mix. We firmly support diversity, equity and inclusion, and continue to work with our teams to shape the future of our culture and values: Disciplined to Deliver, Passion for Progress, Win with Warmth, Courage to Challenge and Trusted Team Players.
What you’ll do:
- Deliver robust Technical governance across regional platforms, ensuring compliance with Costa, legal and regulatory standards.
- Lead Technical oversight of coffee roasteries, providing expert assessment of roasting processes, food safety controls, and supplier capability.
- Approve and monitor supplier performance, reviewing KPIs, supporting quarterly business reviews, and escalating risk where required.
- Manage the Technical commercialisation process for new and renovated beverage products — supporting development from concept through to launch, attending production trials and factory visits.
- Identify, assess and manage food safety and quality risks, applying strong judgement to mitigate or escalate as needed.
- Conduct and lead Technical investigations, driving root cause analysis (RCA), ensuring corrective and preventative actions are implemented, and holding suppliers to account.
- Pre‑approve new suppliers through detailed Technical review, ensuring they meet Costa’s stringent standards before onboarding.
- Act as Costa’s expert representative when visiting manufacturing sites, identifying best practice and ensuring products remain within agreed specification throughout their lifecycle.
Who you are:
- Strong, hands‑on experience in technical management within food or beverage manufacturing.
- An expert in coffee roasting or beverage processing, with practical understanding of how roasteries operate from a technical, safety and quality perspective.
- Expert knowledge of Food Safety, Quality Management, Regulatory Requirements and Risk Management.
- A detail‑driven mindset with experience evaluating factories, suppliers and production processes.
- Strong incident management capability- able to lead investigations, drive RCA and ensure supplier accountability.
- A confident communicator who influences effectively and builds strong cross‑functional relationships across Marketing, Procurement, Innovation and Supply Chain.
- A self‑starter who can hit the ground running with minimal support, bringing immediate expertise into the team.
Where you’ll work:
Our Support Centre teams work flexibly, blending home working with purposeful in‑person collaboration. We’re excited to be moving into our new brand home in St Albans in January 2027 – an inspiring space where teams will come together three days a week to connect and innovate.
Beverage Technical Manager in St Albans employer: Costa Coffee
Costa Coffee in Sutton Coldfield offers a vibrant work culture where team collaboration and customer satisfaction are at the heart of everything we do. As an Assistant Store Manager, you will benefit from comprehensive training and development opportunities, ensuring your growth within the company while enjoying the unique advantage of working in a community-focused environment that values coffee excellence and exceptional service.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Beverage Technical Manager in St Albans
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Costa Coffee on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by diving deep into Costa's values and recent projects. Show us how your experience aligns with their mission and how you can contribute to their success in the beverage industry.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your STAR technique for answering behavioural questions. We want to hear about specific situations where you've demonstrated your skills in technical management and problem-solving.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you're genuinely interested in joining the Costa team.
We think you need these skills to ace Beverage Technical Manager in St Albans
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Coffee:When you’re writing your application, let your love for coffee shine through! Share any personal experiences or insights you have about the beverage industry, especially if you’ve worked with coffee roasting or beverage manufacturing before.
Be Specific About Your Experience:We want to know what makes you the perfect fit for the Technical Manager role. Highlight your hands-on experience in technical management and be specific about your achievements in food safety, quality management, and risk management.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to tailor your application to Costa Coffee’s values and the job description. Use keywords from the job listing to show that you understand what we’re looking for and how you can contribute to our success.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about what we do at Costa.
How to prepare for a job interview at Costa Coffee
✨Know Your Coffee Inside Out
As a Technical Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your expertise in coffee roasting and beverage manufacturing. Brush up on the latest trends in coffee technology and be ready to discuss specific processes and standards that ensure quality and safety.
✨Showcase Your Technical Governance Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully implemented technical governance in previous roles. Be ready to discuss your experience with compliance, risk management, and supplier performance, as these are crucial for the role at Costa.
✨Communicate Effectively
Strong communication skills are key for this position. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently, especially when discussing complex technical concepts. Think about how you can influence cross-functional teams and build relationships.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your incident management capabilities. Prepare to discuss how you've handled past challenges, driven root cause analysis, and ensured accountability among suppliers. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
