Food & Beverage Expert - Remote job All others at Obsidian

Role Description

Mercor is collaborating with a leading AI lab to engage Food & Beverage experts as independent contractors. You’ll turn real shopper briefs into clear, confident picks—pantry staples and specialty ingredients, cheese/charcuterie, coffee/tea, chocolate, and wine/beer/spirits—for a range of tastes, diets, and budgets. Your job is to make great buys obvious and explain why . This is short-term, project-based work with full flexibility to set your own hours.

We’re seeking buyer-facing curators—think the best associate at a specialty grocer, bottle shop, cheese counter, or café.

Key Responsibilities

• Translate shopper needs (taste, diet/allergens, occasion, budget) into well-justified recommendations with links, prices, pros/cons, and “who this is for.”
• Compare across price tiers and retailers; flag value picks and premium standouts and note availability/shipability.
• Consider dietary and authenticity cues (e.g., vegan/halal/kosher, gluten-free/allergens, PDO/PGI/DOP, regional styles) and suggest smart substitutions.
• Create buyer’s guides (weekday wine under $20, beginner espresso setup, cheeses for a picnic, gifts for home cooks).
• Review and refine AI-suggested picks; correct gaps and add missing context.
• Source from reputable retailers; avoid counterfeit/grey-market.

Qualifications

• Hands-on, buyer-facing background: specialty grocery, cheese/charcuterie counter, wine/spirits retail, coffee/tea, category merchandising, or credible editorial/reviewer experience.
• Serious enthusiasts with track records are also welcome (e.g., wine / chocolate / cheese expert).
• Ability to follow technical instructions with stellar written communication skills.
• Practical judgment on diet/allergens, storage/shipping of perishables, and basic label literacy.
• Nice to have: sommelier / cicerone / barista certifications; menu or pairing experience.

More About the Opportunity

• Remote and asynchronous — work on your own schedule.
• Flexible weekly commitment; project flow may vary.
• Short-term and project-based, with potential for ongoing work.
• You control your methods and schedule; Mercor support team available for inquiries.

Compensation & Contract Terms

• $40–$80/hour (USD), depending on demonstrated expertise, education, and depth of work.
• Payments for services rendered issued weekly via Stripe Connect.
• Independent contractor classification; set your own hours.
• Scope and rates may vary by project.

Application Process

• Submit your resume to get started.
• Complete a short 20-minute AI interview.
• Optional: one-question form to highlight your expertise (especially useful for serious enthusiasts without direct professional experience).
• Mercor will follow up with next steps based on project availability.