UK Beverage Program Manager

Blank Street is on a mission to become the defining food & beverage brand of our generation. At 100+ locations, we’ve built one of the fastest-growing consumer brands in the US and UK, and are quickly becoming the go-to spot for the next generation of coffee and matcha drinkers. With a large global roadmap ahead, we’re shaping the future through elevated beverages, thoughtful store designs, and hospitality-driven experiences. 

As our UK Beverage Program Manager, you will oversee our core beverage program for the UK market, ensuring that core ingredients (coffee, tea, dairy, alt milks, water, etc.) meet quality standards, are operationally viable, and remain sustainable. They work across supply chain, training, operations, quality, and strategy to align all teams. You will serve as the subject matter expert on all things beverage quality, and be the guardian of Blank Street’s commitment to consistently serving the highest quality beverages no matter where or how we scale.

As both a strategic steward and a guide, you will ensure today’s beverages are delivered consistently and that the program’s standards are set, scaled, and future-proofed. Protect the beverage culture, connect global and local needs, and ensure our core product thrives.

This role is accountable for ensuring we consistently meet the highest bar of product quality across our store footprint. 

This includes:

• Defining and measuring Product Mastery standards (e.g., espresso recipes and store routines, matcha storage guidelines)
• Building and monitoring infrastructure for keeping us aware of health in the field (e.g., GM product tasting routines and reporting accountabilities, tracking telemetry details)
• QC/QA: Stepping into stores or regions where standards are off-track and partnering closely with our roasting partner and matcha vendors (e.g. cuppings, blend quality)

This is the creative engine of the role. It’s about identifying product gaps and creating innovative solutions that elevate quality and experience. And, presenting these to the Global Product Director and founding team. 

This includes:

• Leading innovation for our classics menu (e.g., water filtration, blend component optimization, core product premiumization)
• Defining experience-led ideas (e.g. hand-whisking, manual espresso service)
• Leading operational improvement projects from concept to launch (e.g. matcha batching improvements)
• Sitting on Innovation committee to serve as the voice for product quality in the UK
• Staying close to the next frontier and bringing in external inspiration (travel, fairs, other industries)

Build, scale, and deliver beverage knowledge to our operations and training teams. 

This comes to life through:

• Structured monthly training sessions
• Ongoing coaching and capability building
• Creating cultural moments that champion product (e.g. tastings, rituals, office engagement)
• Playing an active role in new menu rollouts, immersions, and field training

• Clear passion and an encyclopaedic knowledge of coffee and/or tea
• 10-15+ years of experience in the coffee and/or tea industry (across cafe and HQ settings) with at least 2-3 years focusing on core product sourcing and QC/QA
• Interest and experience in building out teams (good selector of talent, good coach)
• Ability to balance multiple priorities independently (keep timeline, stay on track)
• Refined, yet adaptable palate (can taste intricate differences between different blends of coffee and tea) with a keen ability to define and maintain qualitative product specs
• Willingness to learn even more (if your background is in coffee, you should want to also become a matcha expert. if your background is in matcha, then vice versa)