Research Especialist

Role Overview

We have an exciting opportunity for someone to join us as a Research Especialist to work in a truly global environment to to join its Research & Market Intelligence team, turning first-hand field information into insights that support commercial, trading, and risk management decisions reporting jointly to GM Volcafe Brasil and Head of Research, Volcafe Global Research.

Volcafe Ltd is one of the world's leading international green coffee trading companies, operating in over 20 countries globally. Our expertise spans green coffee procurement and preparation, sustainability, blending, quality control, risk management and export as well as importing and distribution. We supply the world's major coffee roasters and retail distributors with their green coffee requirements, with significant strategic growth ambitions for the future.

Volcafe works across the whole green coffee supply chain to make coffee business better, together with our partners and employees. We have built and operate sustainable coffee supply chains across all our origins, addressing key economic, social and environmental issues in coffee farming communities. Our Volcafe Way farmer support programme engages with thousands of coffee farmers and provides a holistic response to the challenges they face.

This role will be working for Volcafe Brasil, base is Santos/SP; the job is substantially on the road. This is a highly hands-on position, with approximately 40–50% of working time spent travelling across Brazil's coffee-producing regions, conducting farm visits, crop tours, farmer interviews, surveys, and crop assessments. Possibility to also be based in Varginha/MG.

We are part of Hartree Partners, LP a leading global merchant commodities firm facilitating the flow of energy, metals, agriculture, and environmental products across the full commodity supply chain, connecting producers and consumers. Hartree was founded in 1997, is jointly owned by senior management and funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, LP, and employs around 5,000 individuals worldwide.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead and actively participate in crop tours and crop assessments across Brazil's main producing regions;
• Conduct farm visits and interviews with farmers, cooperatives, agronomists, and other key stakeholders;
• Develop Arabica and Conilon production estimates and supply & demand analysis;
• Monitor stocks, exports, logistics flows, and key coffee market developments;
• Assess the impact of weather, frost, drought, pests, diseases, and other production risks;
• Coordinate and guide field researchers and structured research programs;
• Produce market intelligence reports and analysis for the Trading desk and senior management;
• Develop dashboards, structured datasets, and automated workflows using tools such as Power BI, Python, SQL, and AI solutions.

Skills and Experience

• Degree in Agronomy or Agricultural Engineering; other quantitative backgrounds may be considered with strong and proven field research experience;
• 5+ years of experience in agricultural commodity research, market analysis, or a trading-adjacent analytical role;
• Recent and sustained hands-on experience with field visits, farmer surveys, and crop assessments;
• Experience with production forecasting, supply & demand analysis, and market intelligence;
• Advanced Excel skills and working knowledge of Power BI and Python or SQL;
• Fluent Portuguese and English, both written and spoken;
• Availability to travel approximately 40–50% of working time.

Preferred Experience

Experience in the coffee market, Brazil crop forecasting, field team coordination, exposure to trading desks and market risk discussions, Spanish language skills, and the application of AI tools to research automation.

We are looking for someone who combines strong agronomic knowledge, active field presence, and analytical capability, transforming information from producing regions into high-quality intelligence for business and trading decisions.

We recognise that talent comes in many forms, and we value potential just as much as experience. If this role excites you but you don't meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply.

Our Offer

We provide a fast-paced, stimulating and truly global environment, which will stretch your abilities and channel your talents. We also offer competitive salary and benefits combined with outstanding career development opportunities in one of the global leaders in soft commodity trading.

Our Values

Respect, Integrity, Meritocracy, Client Focus, Entrepreneurship

Volcafe shares the values of our parent company, ED&F Man Commodities. Our values define who we are. They are the fundamental beliefs that determine our actions and guide our behaviour. They influence the way we communicate and collaborate, and define the way we engage with our clients, partners, and communities.

Our Commitment

We are committed to maintaining a work environment where all employees are treated with dignity and respect. We provide equal opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, colour, sex, gender, age, religion, ethnic or national origin, marital or civil partner status, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

We are willing to make any reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process.

To apply you must have the right to work for the provided location.