QP3 Capstone Project Mentor 

Background: 

The Coffee Quality Institute is a nonprofit organization committed to improving coffee quality and the lives of the people who produce it. As part of our ongoing efforts to support professional development of post-harvest coffee professionals, we will run a yearlong course called Q Processing Level 3. This course intends to foster industry leaders who contribute to the state-of-the-art in coffee processing, share knowledge across the supply stream, and improve coffee quality through innovative and effective post-harvest practices.

This high-level course encompasses three parts: A remote semester, a field intensive, and a capstone project. All participants must complete a capstone project which serves the coffee community. The Capstone Project is an individual project that directly improves the quality of coffee or the lives of those who produce it through post-harvest processing. It can be a research project, training, or scientific experiment, depending on the learner and their background.

To support this initiative, we are seeking qualified consultants to serve as capstone mentors. These mentors will guide learners as they design, implement, and complete applied projects aligned with their professional goals and the needs of their communities. Each mentor will have responsibility for between 5-8 learners for the duration of the contract.

Position Summary: We are seeking experienced mentors to support adult learners completing these applied projects focused on coffee post-harvest processing. These consultants will serve as a guide and advisor throughout the capstone process, helping learners apply technical knowledge to real-world challenges in the coffee sector. The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in coffee processing, quality, or value stream development, along with a passion for adult education and mentorship.

Responsibilities:

• Provide mentorship and coaching to adult learners conducting applied capstone projects on topics related to coffee post-harvest processing, including but not limited to drying, fermentation, storage, quality improvement, equipment use, and sustainability.
• Support learners in refining their project scope, research questions, and implementation plans.
• Offer timely, constructive feedback on project proposals, progress reports, data collection strategies, and final deliverables.
• Read and provide written feedback on all proposals by assigned learners.
• Facilitate regular check-ins (individual or group-based) with learners via virtual platforms.
• Encourage critical thinking, professional growth, and practical problem-solving throughout the capstone process.
• Coordinate with CQI staff to ensure alignment with overall learning outcomes and standards.
• Submit brief summary reports on participant progress, as needed.
• Read and grade final versions of all learner project proposals.

Estimated time commitment

• Meeting with learners and mentoring, answering questions (2 days)
• Reading all project proposals when submitted (2 days)
• Providing written feedback on all project proposals after submission (2 days)
• Meeting with learners to discuss feedback and coach on next steps (2 days)
• Reading all completed project reports (3 days)
• Reviewing and grading all final project reports (3 days)

Desired Skills and Experience

• Master’s degree required; PhD preferred in post-harvest processing, agricultural sciences, engineering, food technology, environmental sciences, or related fields.
• Institutional relationships with Universities, Research Centers, or Governmental bodies.
• Demonstrated experience mentoring or coaching adult learners, producers, or technical staff.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with sensitivity to cross-cultural contexts.
• Fluency in multiple languages is highly desirable.
• Ability to work independently, manage time across multiple learners, and provide high-quality guidance remotely.

Timeline of the application:

Application window: August 10th to September 10th, 2025

Selection process: September 10th to 18th

Communication of selection: September 19th, 2025