Operations Manager - Granite State Distilling

Build your career at Sazerac! Sazerac Company produces and markets the most award-winning bourbons and whiskeys in the world, including Buffalo Trace, Pappy Van Winkle, Eagle Rare, Blanton’s, and Sazerac Rye. Additionally, Sazerac owns many popular brands across a range of spirits, including Fireball, Southern Comfort, Seagram’s V.O., Myers’s, Goldschläger, Parrot Bay, 99 Brand, and Platinum Vodka.

We’re proud of our award-winning culture and distilleries. Our Louisville office has been named one of the “Best Places to Work in Kentucky” four times, and our Buffalo Trace Distillery has earned the title of “world’s most award-winning distillery” through the dedication of our craftsmen for well over 200 years. During COVID-19, Sazerac distilleries began producing hand sanitizer for some of the world’s largest organizations in healthcare, government, military, retail, distribution, airline, pharma, and banking. Also, during this time, while many companies are wading through uncertainty, Sazerac is poised for acquisition and growth – recently acquiring 18 more brands, two companies and a distillery.

Since 1850, Sazerac Company has thrived as an independent, American family-owned company with operations in the United States and around the world. Since the 2000s, Sazerac has averaged double digit growth every year! We attribute our success to a unique blend of our history, culture, brands, relationships, innovation, technology, and most importantly, our people. Whether you’re a recent graduate or an experienced professional, Sazerac provides extraordinary opportunities for growth with competitive salaries and benefits in an exciting, entrepreneurial industry.

Sazerac of New Hampshire, a distilled spirits bottling facility nestled in Londonderry, New Hampshire, got a new name this year. The operation will now be called Granite State Distilling, which pays homage to the natural beauty and numerous granite quarries scattered throughout the state.

Sazerac originally acquired this Londonderry location in 2014, although it has long been established, providing a “stable and consistent source of work for those employees [who] have been here for 20 plus years,” says plant manager. Currently, the facility employs six to eight people full-time, but opportunity to expand down the line is not out of the question. Plant manager went on to say that the new, more localized name will be one the team can rally around, helping to bolster employees’ sense of pride in the company and their hometown. 

The Operations Manager is responsible for leading operations for the entire New Hampshire facility. This person will create a culture of that values teamwork and winning. The direct impact will be the improvement of safety, food safety, quality, efficiency, and service through the implementation of rigorous standards and focused problem solving. This position will be part of the MBBM leadership team and received function guidance for MBBM department managers.

• Lead the safety programs for GSD towards the goal of zero OSHA Recordable injuries. Ensure processes are designed for safe execution of work roles, and the right equipment to do a job safely is available. Ensure that safety is engineered into every project and new equipment installation with the development of written operational procedures and the completion of employee training prior to start of operation. Lead the processing and bottling departments through the rollout and improvement of safety programs, safety policies, and safety improvements.
• Lead operations to accomplish production requirements within guidelines for safety, quality, budgetary, service and regulation which meet plant goals. Plan and implement operational improvements working with supervisors and employees on joint problem solving techniques. Drive production efficiency and costs; plans and organizes, directs improvements utilizing corrective action techniques. Establish best in class methods which drive established efficiency and quality goals. Ensure department employees adhere to all Personal Safety, Food Safety, Quality and Environmental Policies and Practices.
• Conducts PDS reviews with Direct Reports on identified competencies. Ensure system correctly reflects performance & development needs. Implement PDS for myself that will move me towards improving at least one competency per year, and improve performance against position description outcomes.
• Drive department to achieve a Best in Class operation through the implementation of rigorous standards and processes. Plan, organize and direct improvements and corrective action plans. Implement structured data collection and analysis program. Work with the MBBM Leadership team to successfully implement new initiatives. Lead the utilization of structured problem solving to identify the root causes of issues and put in place standards and processes to ensure sustainability.
• Lead Bottling Operations in 5S initiatives which are focused on keeping work areas and job sites orderly and clear of debris making them safer and more conducive to efficient work practices. Develop and implement a daily cleaning process (OSW) for all employees.
• Maintain and update priorities to assist with daily issues and projects. Leverage PPT to complete projects on time and efficiently. Leverage business systems to improve project and task management by direct reports.

Must

• Strong analytical and technical skills
• Bachelor's Degree
• Yes Supervisory experience
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Working knowledge of MS Office Products (Word, Excel and Outlook)
• Strong planning and organizational skills
• Yes experience in a fast paced environment
• Yes Experience driving change in an organization
• Ability to handle multiple tasks at one time

Preferred

• APICS Certification or Six Sigma Certification
• Yes Familiar with beverage processing and its associated equipment
• Experience and certification in Lean/6s and/or TPM

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work overtime if necessary
• Ability to pick up and/or move objects up to 25 pounds without assistance
• Ability to work 8 hour shift
• In-person job attendance
• Strong communication skills
• Ability to read and write
• Ability to work near moving mechanical parts
• Ability to pay attention to detail
• Ability to pay attention to detail
• Noise level at work station is loud (metal can manufacturing, large earth moving equipment)