Director, Cellar Operations

This position reports to the Chief Officer of Winemaking. Travel requirements are based on business needs (7-10%). FLSA Status: Exempt. Employment Category: Full-Time Regular.

About the role

The Director of Cellar Operations is a forward-thinking department leader with a continuous improvement mindset. The Cellar Director practices lean and Servant Leadership and is responsible for leading the Cellar leadership/management team and front-line teams in the production of Bronco wines at the headquarters in Ceres, CA. This critical role is a champion of and practices Safety, Accountability and Quality Leadership. The Director promotes and sustains a positive culture of engagement for all employees and champions change to improve people, processes and systems.

Responsibilities

• Coaches Cellar Operations Managers and Supervisors in safety leadership, takes immediate action on unsafe conditions, and is available off-hours for emergencies.
• Partners with the EH&S team to ensure compliance with OSHA and state/federal workplace regulations, that Emergency Response/Action Plan procedures and drills are followed, and leads timely completion of injury/illness incident reports.
• Key contributor to annual Cellar strategy, budget, and Operations/Supply Chain HR Planning.
• Builds and tracks the department's annual operating plan and KPIs, partners with Finance on gaps and risks, and develops weekly/monthly performance reports.
• Drives Lean/Continuous Improvement transformation using Value Stream Mapping, Lean and Shingo tools, and kaizen events; identifies improvement opportunities across Safety, People, Quality, Environment, Delivery and Cost; and develops cost justifications for CI initiatives.
• Builds Cellar Department engagement and culture, modeling High-Performance Work Team practices; recognizes superior performance and holds the team accountable for substandard performance.
• Partners with Winemaking to develop and execute Cellar operating strategy and production schedules, including tactical contingency planning to keep schedules on track.
• Partners with Maintenance teams to resolve infrastructure and equipment problems with corrective, sustainable solutions; supports new product development initiatives.
• Champions product quality, plant sanitation, and GMP/ISO compliance across Cellar Production, including Food Safety standards and orderly housekeeping.
• Leads Cellar CAPEX efforts and prepares technical reports and presentations as needed.
• Creates and executes career and personal development plans for salaried staff; conducts timely performance reviews and recommends salary increases, promotions, and bonuses.
• Plans and delivers training and development for hourly and salaried staff; ensures Cellar Standard Work, SOP, and GMP procedures stay current.
• Ensures HR processes are understood and followed; facilitates communication events, including presenting or leading discussion at Town Halls.
• Remains current on industry technology and trends, including trade show attendance.

Requirements

• BA/BS degree in Engineering, Operations, Business/Management, Industrial Technologies, or equivalent required.
• 3-5 years of hands-on production experience with increasing responsibility, plus 5+ years of production management experience (exempt Manager or above) and a minimum of 5 years of salaried exempt supervisory experience leading a large, diverse workforce.
• Food & beverage or wine and spirits industry experience preferred.
• Cellar leadership experience preferred, including knowledge of cellar operations, wine production, or a related food manufacturing area.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and budget/P&L management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and group facilitation skills; proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and in producing accurate performance reports and presentations.
• Bilingual (Spanish) a plus.
• Lean or Continuous Improvement formal training and experience required (Practitioner, Green or Black Belt a plus), with demonstrated skill identifying process and system problems.

Physical Requirements

• Lift up to 55 lbs.
• Occasional overhead reach.
• Occasional stoop, squat position.
• Frequently walking.
• Elevated work.

Work Environment

• Moving machinery.
• Occasional exposure to dust, fumes, smoke or other substances.
• Moderate noise level.
• Outdoor climate.
• Some travel required.

Personal Protective Equipment Required

• Side shield safety glasses, safety vest, head/ear protection and proper footwear when in production facility.

Pay

$134,700 to $179,700

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life and AD&D
• Voluntary life and AD&D
• Group Short-Term Disability
• Group Long-Term Disability
• Voluntary Critical Illness
• Voluntary Accident & Injury
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• 401K
• Paid time off