Distillery Operations Director

Full Job Description

Gunnar’s Bourbon Company is situated in the heart of Wheat Country, Sedan, Kansas. Sedan is surrounded by the Chautauqua hills, fields of wheat, and many nearby picturesque small towns. These towns offer a quality of life on the simple side, with low crime, a lower cost of living, less traffic, and far less stress. Kansas is known as the Wheat State, and at Gunnar’s, our specialty is Wheated Bourbon, both as a brand and as a bulk source for other brands.

Who are you, and what can we achieve?

As the Distillery Operations Director, you are committed to quality and desire to collaborate with our team to make something truly remarkable. This is a unique opportunity to be part of a young company and participate from the ground up as we build the business and the brand. You enjoy being challenged and are looking for an opportunity to utilize your skills, grow with the company, and participate as part of our founding team.

You possess a growth mindset and a strong desire to help develop all aspects of Gunnar’s production to align with the company’s goals. You are a person of high integrity who is focused on the success of Gunnar’s brand while fostering our company culture of respect, safety, customer focus, value creation, and continuous learning.

Position Summary

In this role, the Distillery Operations Director will work closely with the owners and oversee all aspects of production and operations. Taking on the active responsibilities of a Head Distiller, they will utilize their distilling experience, including extensive knowledge of grain handling, fermentation, distillation, and barrel aging on a daily basis. As a process-oriented person, they will manage the distillation process and the operations team to meet monthly production goals. They will be responsible for maintaining inventory to fill purchase orders and managing the bottling process.

The Distillery Operations Director will work closely with the hospitality manager to help accommodate distillery tours and participate in weekly meetings to be apprised of all aspects of Gunnar’s Bourbon Company. This position will also create SOPs that include routine maintenance on all distillation equipment.

They will manage a growing team of associates and have a public-facing role in promoting the product and brand. This is an exciting role for an ambitious professional to help craft the style, vision, product, and culture of an early-phase distillery and brand.

Detail of Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of production (including milling, mashing, fermentation, distillation, barreling, barrel management, blending, and bottling).
• Accurately forecast demand. This role will communicate the production plan, forecast, and results to leadership and all necessary team members.
• Manage departmental expense budgets and influence CAPEX budget to ensure continuous improvement.
• Develop and manage the distillery operating budget regarding volume, yield, and spending to ensure the distillery meets operating and forecast plans.
• Develop and monitor processes and procedures as necessary to achieve distillery goals, meet training requirements, and adhere to company standards.
• Publish directives for management and operators to follow daily
• Plan operator and shift manager scheduling and coverage requirements
• Lead all production scheduling to achieve distillery goals
• Manage inventory levels and aging warehouse(s).
• Manage the day-to-day operations of the distillery, including employee management and key vendor coordination.
• Logging and record keeping to ensure product consistency and TTB compliance
• Assist in new product formulation and development
• Provide ongoing process optimization and production efficiency feedback
• Oversee maintenance schedule for equipment and related process infrastructure
• Ensure compliance with relevant health and safety regulations
• Assist in sourcing and supply chain management for ingredients and other related product and production sourcing needs
• Assist in shipping to retailers and distributors
• Represent the distillery to the public
• Maintain strict oversight of quality controls and product excellence
• Implement and foster a safe culture for our operations team
• This person will also be ultimately responsible for the hospitality side of the business, working through a subordinate Hospitality Manager who’s directly in charge of items that include a cocktail program, retail store, and food service provided by a subcontractor

What we look for in an employee

• Commitment to quality and desire to create a genuinely great product
• Commitment to innovation and ongoing product and process improvement
• Relentless curiosity and desire to continue education and professional development
• Commitment to collaboration in a team environment
• Ability to problem-solve and improvise

Required Qualifications

• The ideal candidate has 8+ years of professional experience in distilling (preferably in bourbon).
• A deep understanding of fermentation and distillation techniques.
• All areas of distilled spirits production, including equipment setup, grain milling, mashing, fermentation, distillation, barreling, aging, blending, and bottling.
• Developing and accentuating specific flavor profiles through ingredient choices and fermentation techniques.
• Experience with both batch distillation and continuous distillation.
• Comfort with troubleshooting and a light understanding of engineering.
• Managing and motivating a team, including hiring, training, and scheduling
• Familiarity with TTB regulations and requirements, as well as operational safety compliance.
• Forklift operation.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as brewing, microbiology, food science, fermentation or chemistry, chemical engineering, or job history-based knowledge.
• 5+ years’ experience managing people in a production capacity, preferably within ethanol production.
• Experience troubleshooting the following equipment and systems: piping, valves, pumps, control instrumentation, computer control system, conveyor systems, and general machine knowledge.
• Strong computer skills, Microsoft Excel, Word, calendar management, etc.
• Preferred knowledge in the operation, optimization, and troubleshooting of the following equipment and processes: grain handling, milling, fermentation, distillation towers, evaporation, rotary dryers, steam boilers, air compressors, and wastewater treatment.
• 5 -10 years of process experience in production, preferably in the chemical or ethanol industries, 3-5 of those years in management.

Benefits

· Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance

· 401K

· Paid time off

· Flexible work environment

· Incentive plans will be based on production goals and profitability; these are reviewed annually.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

· Prolonged periods of standing and walking

· Ability to lift up to 50 pounds

Our Story

WHEATED BOURBON FROM THE WHEAT STATE

Kansas is known as the Wheat State, and at Gunnar's, our specialty is wheated bourbon. Wheated bourbon is a style of bourbon in which wheat is the secondary grain in its mash bill rather than the much spicier rye. Without the spice or heat of rye, this style of bourbon is exceptionally smooth and easy to enjoy neat or on the rocks. We take pride in using grain from local farmers we call friends not too far from where we call home. Join the wheat revolution.

Gunnar’s Bourbon Company is situated in the heart of wheat country, Sedan, Kansas, surrounded by the Chautauqua hills and fields of wheat. Kansas is a place where a handshake is your bond, and your word still means something. There is a long and rich tradition of entrepreneurship, agriculture, and a Kansan work ethic that’s second to none.

ENTREPRENEURS WITH SHARED PURPOSE AND VALUES

At Gunnar's Bourbon, we're not just a company-we're a symbol of American entrepreneurship. We're proud to be an all-American, privately held company, free from foreign ownership or public trading. We have a shared passion for bourbon and a drive to build something independently. We salute the entrepreneurial spirit of those like us who are willing to take risks and make a difference.

Our Culture

A 1964 Congressional resolution declared bourbon America’s native spirit. That spirit is represented not only in our bourbon but also in our values as a company. Freedom, self-reliance, hard work, and the opportunity to compete motivate us to bring you the best bourbon possible. Thanks for being a part of our American Dream.