Job: Director of Operations (Wine production)

Our Client

Our client is a well known regional winery in the Asheville, NC area.

Objective

The Director of Operations provides leadership for wine production activities and teams, including winery fruit supply chain management, maintaining west coast vineyard and processing facility partnerships, the local vineyard, cellar/winemaking, barrel program, bottling/packaging, warehousing, inventory control, and distribution for both still and sparkling wine production. Duties include providing strategic direction for beverage production, quality control, regulatory compliance, capacity management, facility sanitation, and team development. The Director of Operations will form a strategic partnership with the VP of Beverage Marketing & Sales to ensure optimal supply/demand inventory balance is maintained. Duties will also include similar responsibilities for a craft distillery on the estate and the production of select spirits, once it is open in around 2 or 3 years from now.

This position is responsible for developing and executing production goals to optimize efficiency and capacity utilization, increasing capacity as needed, fostering collaboration and innovation, and increasing sustainable value for employees, guests, operations, enterprise, and society, aligned with the company’s Value Cycle. In leadership of winemakers and distillers, the GM will ensure consistent quality of all company’s wine/(spirits) SKU’s while maintaining the company’s beverage style and taste profile.

Direct reports for this position include Winemakers, Cellar Manager, Bottling & Warehouse Manager, and dotted-line leadership of the Beverage Controller.  The organization currently includes ~35-40 positions and produces ~160,000 cases annually.

Requirements

• Four-year degree preferred.  Specialized training, education, or certification(s) helpful, but not required. 
• Ten (10) years experience in beverage operations leadership, preferably at a senior level.  Previous experience in wine/spirits/beer production helpful.   
• Demonstrated commitment to delivery of world class internal/external guest service; proven leadership experience; ability to build/develop/motivate teams. 
• Outstanding interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills; develops and proactively seeks positive working relationships internally/externally; effective public speaker.
• Excellent organizational and planning skills; capable of developing and executing plans as well as taking initiative and responsibility for outcomes, and can motivate peers and staff to do the same
• Knowledge of three-tier sales system required. 
• Proficiency in Word, Excel; knowledge of PowerPoint helpful; ability to quickly learn the company’s history, systems, products/services, protocols, and culture.
• Excellent planning, project/time management skills; creative and highly adaptable; multi-tasks and prioritizes.
• Professional; maintains integrity and high ethical standards; reflects company core values at all times. Exercises good judgment and is proactive.