OOika Careers

Our Vision

Ooika is committed to preserving Japanese heritage Matcha. We operate some of the only full-scale matcha mill stones, known as Ishi Usu in the United States.

  • Location: Princeton, New Jersey

    Our Barista staff help support authentic Matcha by providing efficient operations and deeply personal, warm service. Our team is known for going "above and beyond" for our customers, and your positive and genuine attitude will be key to maintain that. As Ooika manufactures Matcha in house, staff must have the highest caliber standards with cleanliness. As a mission driven company, you're excited to deepen your Matcha education and share it with our customers.

    RESPONSIBILITIES:

    • Provide an "unreasonably high" level of customer service.

    • Ensure all served products meet "social media ready" quality.

    • Keep working and the service area clean.

    • Maintain hygienic food handling practices.

    • Handing payment options including: card, cash, and cryptocurrency.

    • Following all Ooika recipes and standard operating procedures (SOPs.)

    • Maintain a welcoming, but professional, relationship with co-workers.

    • Ability to communicate openly and frequently with Ooika staff and management.

    • Assist Ooika staff with training and development of new hires.

    • As Ooika is a high volume business, you'll have the capacity to work quickly and efficiently.

    MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

    • Ability to work in a high volume, fast-paced environment.

    • Reliable transportation to Ooika Matcha in Lawrenceville, New Jersey.

    • Willingness and flexibility to work during our open hours, which may include weekends and holidays.

    • Strength to lift at least 40lbs, ideally 60lbs.

    • Ability to remain calm and collected in rapidly changing circumstances.

    • Consistent and thorough communication skills.

    TO APPLY:

    Please email your resume and cover letter to hello@ooika.co

  • As Ooika’s Matcha Industry Journalist & Content Writer, you will be at the forefront of providing Matcha education to the West. In many cases, for the first time.

    Through interviews with our tea farmers, your own in-depth technical research, and first hand experience you’ll inspire Ooika’s customers to understand, and ultimately, appreciate the value of heritage Matcha production.

    As a Japanese speaker based in Japan, with experience in the Tea Industry, you’ve dreamed of the opportunity to write about your passion. Your efforts will spark the next generation of Matcha lovers, and demystify the often over-romanticized world of Japanese tea.

    RESPONSIBILITIES

    • Content Creation: Write sourced blog posts, breaking news, articles, and scripts for social media reels.

    • Form a Network: Connect with other Tea industry members including scholars at governmental tea research institutes, farmer co-ops, university programs and more to provide insights and first-hand sources.

    • Farmer Relations: Conduct both in-person and email interviews with our tea farmers and producers to help preserve their stories and contributions to the Matcha industry.

    • Industry Research: Stay up-to-date on Matcha trends, market developments, and cultivation techniques through thorough research and analysis.

    • Scientific Exploration: Dive into scientific journals to uncover insights about Matcha's health benefits, chemical composition, and cultivation methods.

    • SEO & Digital Presence: Optimize content for search engines and ensure all writing resonates with both traditional and digital audiences.

    MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

    • Native English and a high degree of fluency in Japanese.

    • Previous experience within the Japanese Tea Industry.

    • Exceptional writing and storytelling skills with a strong portfolio of written work OR proven experience within the Japanese Tea Industry.

    • Strong research abilities, with experience in sourcing and analyzing academic and scientific materials.

    • Ability to travel as needed to meet with farmers, attend industry events, or gather on-site content.

    • A passion for Japanese tea culture and Matcha, with a willingness to continuously learn.

    • Organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

    • Proficiency in social media platforms and familiarity with creating content for digital audiences.

    BONUS QUALIFICATIONS

    • SEO writing experience. We will teach you if you don’t have this skill-set. 

    • Photography or videography skills to support content creation.