Distillery Maintenance Manager - Sazerac Company : Job Details

Sazerac Company Overview

Build your career at Sazerac! With almost 400 years of rich history, 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! 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. 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.

Company/Location Overview

Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 and continues today as the oldest fully-operating distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. Situated in the heart of bourbon country on 196 acres, the distillery boasts 29 barrel aging warehouses, 22 other buildings including an impressive still house, and the legendary Tom Moore Spring. Barton 1792 Distillery is named in honor of the year Kentucky joined the United States.

Job Description/Responsibilities

The Distillery and Facilities Maintenance Manager is responsible for managing maintenance and reliability across the plant (~200 acres, including the Distillery and Barrel Warehouses). Duties include coordinating and directing the Maintenance and Engineering departments to identify and resolve problems and develop and execute effective and efficient processes. Work side-by-side with Engineering on capital projects & planning, ensuring plant performance meets and exceeds KPIs. This facility operates 24/7, and this role will flex to work all shifts.

• Manage plant-wide preventative and restorative maintenance to ensure high efficiency and quality of operations, including the Distillery, Barrel Warehouse, Processing, Power Plant, and Shipping. Track and reduce unplanned equipment downtime, analyze and resolve problems, and drive continuous improvement using lean principles.
• Manage Maintenance Supervisors to achieve target & stretch plans. Support department managers in safety, quality, and production goals within budgets. Train, monitor, evaluate, and develop maintenance team members. Provide technical assistance for safety, quality, and performance issues.
• Enforce OSHA and company safety regulations. Lead safety programs, develop safe practices, and investigate incidents. Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, and TTB regulations.
• Achieve 95% operational uptime to meet quality standards and deliver products on time and within budget.
• Oversee capital projects, lead continuous improvement efforts, develop team members, and evaluate production efficiency and costs. Develop operational procedures and support PM programs, CMMS, and downtime tracking systems.
• Conduct performance reviews with Maintenance Supervisors to improve skills and performance.
• Maintain positive relationships with the Union, manage grievance processes, and ensure grounds and facility conditions are maintained and improved.

Qualifications/Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or related discipline
• 5+ years relevant experience
• Supervisory experience required
• Root cause analysis, problem-solving skills, and tools
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
• Ability to collaborate with operations, quality, and safety teams
• Excellent communication skills
• Strong analytical and technical skills

Preferred

• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles
• 10+ years relevant experience
• Master's Degree in related field
• Familiarity with beverage processing equipment

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