Cellar Operator I

Constellation Brands•Lompoc, CA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Cellar Operator I performs routine cellar and barrel-room work with direction and support from the Operations Supervisor and authorized winery leadership. The role develops foundational cellar skills while following work orders, standard operating procedures, and Sea Smoke quality and safety expectations. Key work includes sanitation, supported wine and juice movements, barrel work, harvest activities, bottling support, and accurate recordkeeping. Work must remain within the employee’s demonstrated training and authorization; questions, unusual conditions, and deviations are referred to the supervisor before proceeding. The position is based in Lompoc, California, and reports to the Operations Supervisor. It is a full-time operations and production role. Employees work indoors and outdoors in conditions that may be warm, cold, or wet, and around noise, fumes, chemicals, moving mechanical equipment, elevated work areas, and lift-truck traffic. The job may require varied shifts, extended hours, weekends, holidays, and overtime, particularly during harvest and bottling.

Requirements

Must be at least 21 years of age.
High school diploma or GED.
At least six months of winery production experience, or an equivalent combination of relevant training and experience.
Ability to work varied shifts, extended hours, weekends, holidays, and overtime as needed, particularly during harvest and bottling.
Ability to follow written and verbal work instructions, use production machinery and common hand tools safely after training, and seek assistance when needed.
Basic math skills, including measurement, multiplication, division, percentages, and unit conversions.
Ability to use computers, scanners, and production systems for work orders and recordkeeping.
Ability to wear required personal protective equipment, including a half- or full-face respirator when medically cleared and fit-tested.
Ability to enter permit-required confined spaces only when trained, authorized, and working under the site confined-space program.
Willingness to learn foundational cellar skills, receive feedback, and adjust to changing production priorities and assignments.
Valid California driver’s license.
Ability to stand and walk for extended periods and sit as needed.
Ability to lift, carry, push, pull, and move up to 55 pounds.
Frequent use of hands and arms for handling, reaching, gripping, and operating tools and equipment.
Ability to climb stairs and ladders and to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl as required by assigned work.
Ability to work indoors and outdoors in warm, cold, and wet conditions, including around loud noise, fumes, chemicals, moving mechanical equipment, elevated work areas, and lift-truck traffic.
Vision sufficient for assigned work, including close, distance, peripheral, and focus adjustment.

Nice To Haves

One year or more of winery cellar or comparable beverage-production experience.
Forklift certification and experience handling barrel racks, macro bins, and winery materials; operation remains subject to site training and authorization.
Experience with barrel work, wine transfers, additions, sanitation, and bottling support.
Bilingual English and Spanish communication skills.

Responsibilities

Clean and sanitize tanks, hoses, pumps, fittings, fixed process lines, barrels, and grape and wine processing equipment; prepare and verify cleaning solutions according to approved procedures and report sanitation defects.
Assist with setup and execution of wine and juice transfers, rackings, and tanker movements, confirming lot identity, source, destination, and equipment setup with an authorized person before starting.
Measure and prepare wine and juice additions as directed, obtaining confirmation of calculations, product identity, quantities, and instructions before making additions.
Select and assemble hoses, fittings, valves, and gaskets with support, and operate assigned pumps after training; stop and seek help if setup or operation is uncertain.
Use basic winery math to measure volumes, weigh materials, and record routine production data; request verification when calculations or instructions are unclear.
Use dissolved oxygen and other assigned cellar meters after training, record results accurately, and promptly report readings outside established parameters.
Handle compressed gases, sulfur dioxide, cleaning chemicals, and processing aids only within training and authorization, following labels, safety data sheets, and site procedures.
Follow work orders and complete production records, barrel scanning, and other required documentation accurately and promptly; report discrepancies before continuing affected work.
Support grape receiving, crush, fermentation activities, pressing, and harvest transfers under direction.
Assist with barrel filling, topping, racking, cleaning, and empty-barrel care according to assigned procedures.
Support bottling preparation and operations, including wine readiness, equipment setup, sanitation, material handling, and cleanup as assigned.
Maintain organized work areas and participate in 5S practices: Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain.
Perform assigned pre-use equipment checks, recognize abnormal conditions, and report safety, quality, maintenance, or sanitation concerns; do not perform repairs or troubleshooting beyond training and authorization.
Use required personal protective equipment, follow safe operating procedures, and promptly report hazards, incidents, and near misses; perform confined-space or other restricted work only when separately trained and authorized.
Support Constellation Brands sustainability programs, including conservation, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and recycling.
Communicate task status, questions, and handoff information clearly to the Operations Supervisor and winery team; collaborate, follow daily priorities, and develop cellar skills through training and feedback.