Director of Operations - Jeptha Creed : Job Details

Our Story: From Ground to Glass

Owned and operated by the dynamic mother-and-daughter duo Joyce and Autumn Nethery, Jeptha Creed sits on 64 acres of farmland where we grow the Bloody Butcher Corn we use in all our products. One of the things we're most proud of here at Jeptha Creed is our commitment to the ground-to-glass concept. Whenever we can, we grow the ingredients that we use in our spirits.

What we don't produce ourselves, we get from other local farms in the area, so we can do our part to support local agriculture. These are things that have been ingrained into our family's way of doing things for centuries—and will continue to be as we grow and expand. Since its inception, Jeptha Creed has been proud to serve its customers with unmatched spirits and unforgettable experiences. With an unwavering commitment to honoring our heritage, we make old-fashioned new by giving it just a little extra kick.

Who are you, and what can we achieve?

As the Director of Operations, you will be responsible for independently running and managing our estate-produced products, which include: vodka, whiskey, brandy, and seasonal moonshines. Duties will include all aspects of the day-to-day running of the distillery, encompassing, but not limited to: efficiently operating fermentation, distillation, power and steam generation, utilities (ex., air compressor, RO, etc.)

This candidate should be able to manage labor efficiently, perform minor repairs and maintenance of equipment, strategic planning, budgeting & record keeping. This position requires a strong, practical knowledge of distillation and management. In order to be considered for the role, applicants will need to have relevant distillery production and management experience with a solid track record and the ability to work independently as well as manage a distillery team.

You are an authentic communicator who still believes in picking up a phone, getting in the car or on a plane, understands the importance of open communication, and can handle hard conversations face-to-face. You have the drive to continue developing and honing your skills while contributing dynamic, strategic ideas and leadership to your team.

You have the unwavering desire to “win daily and be part of a proud team of creative, disrupting, and innovative industry professionals; you're ready to join the adventure, achieve big goals, and grow a brand.

Position Summary

Jeptha Creed Distillery is looking for a strong operations manager from the spirits industry with experience managing distilleries of at least 100,000 proof gallons capacity. As the Head of Operations, you will lead performance by providing leadership and developing an overall production and operations strategy. You will oversee the management and growth of your 10-person team, from recruitment to talent development. Your responsibilities will also include leading efforts to implement 24/7 operations. Your success will depend on effective leadership, planning, execution, strong team performance, and ensuring profitability management.

The individual in this role is a self-starter who thrives in an entrepreneurial, results-oriented environment. You possess the ambition to build something authentic and use your strong interpersonal skills to develop and sustain relationships with your team, the entire company, and industry partners. You and your production team will be responsible for creating and executing the company's yearly production operating plan, which the whole organization will rely on, and helping to achieve it with Ownership.

Our Expectations

• Be a crucial collaborator in the long-term strategic planning and forecasting to develop a plan spanning 1 to 15 years.
• Motivate production personnel to achieve goals and drive profit.
• Ensure effective execution of strategic plans.
• Provide strong leadership within the company by setting an example, offering guidance, and inspiring all key stakeholders to contribute to company profitability.
• Allocate approximately 80% of your time in the plant, with the balance spent on our campus and farm.

Responsibilities (including but not limited to)

Production

• Responsible for developing, leading, and sustaining focused improvement activities across distilling and maturation to generate a pipeline of profit improvement from regular loss and waste analysis, and to eliminate systemic process problems.
• Responsible for developing and driving process improvements to provide maximum possible levels of productivity.
• Responsible for all appraisals for direct reports, ensuring skills and competencies are in place to meet the requirements of their roles, and where gaps are identified, ensuring that training and development needs are managed accordingly in line with budget requirements.
• Responsible for ensuring that the site facilities & distilling budgets are operated effectively with maximum return on spend being achieved, and that areas for best return are identified for CapEx, in conjunction with Ownership.
• Responsible for ensuring that systems are in place to maintain and improve the quality of production of new make spirit, as well as the storage of our stock, and that of 3rd parties, so that they best meet the needs of our customers (both internal and external).
• Responsible for developing a working culture within the framework of our values.
• Responsible for managing any employee relations issues and performance management cases, working in conjunction with HR.
• Ensure effective maintenance of site and equipment, and develop plans for capital project spending and improvements.
• Develop relationships with key suppliers (e.g., malt, grains, yeast, enzymes, barrels, key equipment and service providers, logistics, etc.) to ensure return on investments and maximum levels of service.
• Identify and implement process controls and manufacturing standard operating procedures in distilling, maturation, and bottling to ensure conformance of product to meet or exceed required performance in yield, quality, and cost. Examples of KPIs to evaluate and include in your bonus potential:

o OPG output

o Proof gallons produced per labor hour

o Bottling line

o Overall operational schedule efficiency

o Margin/COGs

• Responsible for working with Ownership on setting relevant operational and capital budgets. Review and monitor on an ongoing basis to ensure budgets are delivered.
• Complete all requirements for vendor management and for month-end financial reporting to the required timelines.
• Carry out problem-solving to identify root causes and implement engineering corrective actions in the process plant and throughout the facility.
• Establish and implement process plant hygiene standards.
• Work with Ownership to ensure effective maintenance of site and equipment, and to develop plans for capital project spending and improvements.

General

• Co-develop and participate in quarterly production reviews for the company's board and owners.
• Maintain a monthly report to the Ownership, including, but not limited to:

o Performance versus plan (quality, production yield, efficiency, and safety)

o Contract and strategic opportunities

o Competitive activity

o Changes in the market environment

• Assist Ownership with information and other special projects as required.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with marketing, operations, and finance teams to ensure alignment of sales efforts with overall business objectives.

What we look for in an employee

· You love what you do; a distillery is your workshop

· You are trustworthy and exercise great humility. Integrity always.

· Professional and personable

· Team-driven, you are helpful and service-driven

· Readily available but appreciates heavy autonomy

· Very diligent and detail-oriented

· Deadline-focused and goal-driven

· Resourceful

· A sincere individual with strong ethics

· You are eager to learn

· You are an excellent communicator who values face-to-face conversations

· A strong executor who gets things done

Required Qualifications

· Strong technical experience within a Brewing/Distilling environment

· Five years of management experience in manufacturing is required

· To carry out this role successfully, a minimum of five years of practical experience working in a managerial role within a mechanical/chemical process environment or related process industry is required.

· Significant experience in delivering multi-disciplined mechanical/chemical engineering projects and general facilities management.

· Use of a data-driven approach to problem-solving

· Self-motivated individual, thriving in both autonomous and team environments

· Strong interpersonal skills with excellent written and oral communication

· Financial and business acumen in the areas of data analysis, budgeting, reporting, and planning

· Self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced environment and can contribute strategically to the bottom-line objectives of the company

· Excellent organization skills, multi-tasking, and project management skills are required, including the ability to manage multiple competing priorities

· Must possess a valid driver's license and secure and maintain auto liability insurance by state laws

· Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Teams, PowerPoint, Excel, Word); Adobe;

Benefits

· Full benefits including health, dental, and vision

· Match 401k

· Paid time off, Bonus

Physical Demands & Work Environment

· Prolonged periods of standing and walking

· Ability to lift up to 50 pounds