Careers

High Wire Distilling Co. is looking for an experienced and innovative Production Manager to lead our growing distillery operations. This person provides hands-on leadership, oversight, and execution of day-to-day distillation, malting, barrel maturation, blending, and bottling operations. The position reports directly to the owners and will play a lead role in executing the long-term plan that includes management of spirit inventories to meet growing demand, new product development, implementing an enhanced quality control program, and oversight of regulatory compliance.

Compensation: $65,000-75,000 annual salary with bonus opportunity

Production Duties

• Provide leadership and direct oversight to the production team
• Publish daily / weekly / monthly / quarterly Production calendar that meets production, barreling, and bottling objectives based on budget and forecast 
• Provide guidance during day-to-day production for critical operations of grain handling, mashing, fermentation, distillation, barreling, blending, and bottling
• Ensure adherence to CIP and safety protocols
• Oversee blending of spirits for barreling and bottling operations
• Manage spent stillage removal by way of coordination of approved farmers 
• Maintain utilities that support production such as compressed air, steam and chilled glycol – coordinate with owners and third-party vendors to ensure sufficient capabilities to meet demand

QC / R&D / Regulatory Duties

• Continue to develop and lead Quality Control (QC) program that ensures product integrity, consumer protection and adheres to local, state, and federal guidelines
  • Oversee all sensory analysis of bottling batches, new products, QC, etc.
  • Maintain archive library to ensure product quality and integrity
• Oversight and responsibility for Research & Development programs
  • Direct oversight of special releases along with the Private Barrel program
  • Lead in development of innovative spirits and specialty releases that leverage and expand on the brand’s national recognition and super premium price points
• Oversee Whiskey Systems software to ensure all TTB required data is reported daily/weekly/monthly and meets record and reporting requirements
• Develop, refine, and implement enhanced protocols/SOPs and ensure compliance in the following areas:
  • Safety Program that meets OSHA and other local, state, and federal guidelines
  • Cleaning-In-Place (CIP), Pest Control, and Preventive Maintenance programs
  • Filtration program for distillation, blending, and bottling
  • Gauging of proof gallons in distillation, barreling, storage, blending, and bottling stages (ensure adequate and calibrated equipment to meet this requirement)

Budget / Inventory / Project Management Duties

• Forecast and schedule procurement of product and raw material requirements – coordinate directly with Farmers, Vendors, Accounting, and Owners
• Work closely with owners on long range forecast of raw materials, proof gallon production, and maturation for annual budgets
  • Oversee spirit matrix to ensure sufficient spirit inventories to meet near and long-term demand based on long range budget
  • Coordinate with farm partners to develop agricultural plan to meet future needs through seed increases and yield planning
• Manage technically oriented spare production equipment parts (motors, valves, pump seals, etc) and maintain database of supplier and maintenance contacts
• Data entry and batch tracking of KPIs such as quality indicators, production logs, production output averages, efficiencies, lab data, barrel metrics, and spirit inventories

Minimum

• 5-plus years of brewing/distilling experience that includes management of production personnel
• Excellent sensory skills
• In-depth knowledge of state and federal alcohol laws and TTB regulations
• Strong organization, communication, and time management skills
• Ability to interface with various levels of management
• Self-motivated and ability to work with limited amount of direction; ability to work both independently and within a team to accomplish goals
• Exceptional analytical and problem solving skills
• Knowledge of good manufacturing practices
• Ability to work on your feet for upwards of an 8-hour shift
• Ability to climb ladders and work at heights
• Ability to lift 55 pounds and maneuver up to 170 pounds