Application for the Third Class of NKG PACE Partners Opens Oct. 23!
At Neumann Gruppe USA, we’re committed to fostering racial equity and creating a more inclusive coffee industry. Further, we believe that meaningful change begins with collaboration and a shared dedication to positive transformation. With that in mind, we’re thrilled to announce that applications for the third class of NKG PACE Partners opens October 23!
The application window will remain open through Nov. 30 at 5 p.m. (Heads up! As in past years, it includes a request for a Letter of Recommendation from a supervisor, colleague or friend, so please don’t delay in beginning the process. The letter should work for you, not against you!)
Please visit the NKG PACE site, click Apply in the header and scroll to the bottom to access the application!
What: NKG PACE
NKG PACE was created by Neumann Gruppe USA, in close cooperation with the Coffee Coalition for Racial Equity (CCRE).
As a paid, one-year program (with healthcare insurance and other benefits) NKG PACE offers up to three individuals per year a comprehensive education in the workings of a green coffee importer with a deep emphasis on Quality Control.
By sharing the expertise of Neumann Kaffee Gruppe companies and illuminating lesser-understood areas of the coffee supply chain, the program’s goals are to meaningfully advance the careers of under-represented coffee professionals and create lasting change in the U.S. coffee industry.
Through the CCRE, NKG PACE Partners are also paired with a professional mentor — a coffee veteran committed to supporting the Partner in their journey and to helping build a more inclusive industry.
How: What the Experience Looks Like
The program offers a blend of daily lab work, assisting QC managers; collaborative online learning; and independent study projects. While its educational foundation is in Quality Control, Partners also spend extensive time with Trade, Logistics and Customer Service teams. Partners are usually assigned to different labs around the country but come together at a few points in the program as well as near-daily online.
Program highlights include:
• A week-long orientation in Hoboken, where Partners get to know each other, as well as the program coordinator, education lead and QC managers.
• A bi-monthly online Speaker Series with NKG colleagues around the world, including NKG services, exporters and farms in England, Brazil, Kenya, Honduras and Papua New Guinea.
• Visits to warehouses, coffee events and customer locations.
• A week-long visit to a different NKG U.S. office, to experience another team and the area of focus of another QC lab.
• If desired, travel to a Q Grader testing site to take the week-long test at no fee, thanks to the generous support of the Coffee Quality Institute.
• A week-long visit with an NKG export company, such as Ceca in Costa Rica, to learn about export operations, processing and farms.
Who: Is this Right for You?
We invite Black Americans with an interest in coffee to apply.
Potential applicants are more likely to thrive in the role, and enjoy it, if they’d describe themselves as being: highly organized, having a strong attention to detail, self-motivated, able to demonstrate sensory skills, and able to balance the exciting work of sensory assessment with more routine responsibilities such as weighing samples and mailing sample packages.
Candidates must have a high school diploma, GED or equivalent, be at least 21 years of age and be a citizen of the United States.
If you’re contemplating this position, chances are it’s right for you!
When: Some Important Dates
Please apply between now and Nov. 30 at 5 p.m. ET.
Semi-finalists will be contacted for an interview by Friday, Dec. 15.
By Feb. 9, 2024, final selections will be made and individuals will be contacted and encouraged to make moving plans, if necessary.
The 2024-2025 NKG PACE Partners will be publicly announced Feb. 26. On May 6, they’ll join their colleagues for their first days in their respective offices!
Why: Please Join Us
The coffee industry has a rich history and a bright future, but there’s much work to be done in terms of racial equity. Together, we can begin to create change.
If you’re a coffee business wanting to support this program, we offer we several sponsorship opportunities. Please contact us!
If you’re a services company, an educator or have resources or an opportunity to contribute to the curriculum experience: Please contact us!
If you’re part of the coffee community in any capacity, we hope you’ll join us in our mission to create a more inclusive, diverse and equitable coffee industry.
And lastly, if you’re someone who wants to understand the full coffee value chain that precedes retail, and is interested in a career in coffee, we warmly invite you to apply. We can’t wait to welcome our third class of NKG PACE Partners! •