General Manager- Lingua Franca Wines

Constellation Brands • Salem, OR

6d • Onsite

About The Position

General Manager, Lingua Franca Position Summary The General Manager (GM), Lingua Franca, is responsible for overseeing grape supply, wine production, operations, and providing brand leadership. The GM must demonstrate credibility through senior leadership roles in the wine industry, ideally with direct experience running a wine business, and possess both regional and global exposure. This role requires effective leadership and collaboration within a matrix organization, as well as the ability to foster a positive, high-performing team environment that attracts and retains top talent. The GM is charged with creating a workplace culture where people are excited to contribute and proud to be part of the organization. The GM partners cross-functionally ensuring seamless operations, maintaining ethical relationships with third parties, and leading teams to meet strategic objectives while upholding quality, safety, and compliance standards. As the public face of Lingua Franca, the GM represents the brand at industry events and among high-level stakeholders, consistently embodying and promoting the Lingua Franca brand ethos—championing authenticity, excellence, and a sense of place in all aspects of the winery’s operations and outreach.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Engineering, Food Science, Fermentation Science, Viticulture, or related field (advanced degree preferred).
• Demonstrated expertise in producing cool climate wines in multiple regions, with a deep understanding of the unique viticultural and winemaking challenges associated with cooler regions.
• Proven ability to craft wines that express varietal character, balance, and sense of place, utilizing best practices for vineyard management, fermentation, and aging.
• Minimum 12+ years of progressive experience in winery operations including at least 7+ years in senior leadership positions.
• Demonstrated credibility and influence within the regional and global marketplace.
• Proven track record of running reportable P&L, business units, or family-owned enterprises.
• Proven leadership across winery, vineyard, multi-site, and third-party relationships, with a track record of successfully managing diverse teams and complex production environments.
• Strong technical understanding, with hands-on experience utilizing winemaking analytics and advanced technology tools to drive quality and efficiency throughout the production process.
• Excellent financial acumen, project management, and communication skills.
• Proven ability to lead teams, develop talent, and foster collaboration.
• Experience representing brands in market and at industry events.
• Ability to work in varied physical conditions (lifting, exposure to climate and production environments).
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel as needed.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Operations Oversee and direct all estate and third-party wineries and vineyard operations, ensuring alignment with Lingua Franca’s strategic plans, annual goals, and quality standards.
• Develop and manage operational and capital budgets, monitor performance, and implement effective cost controls.
• Optimize production processes to achieve cost, quality, and adherence to safety KPI’s.
• Preserve and protect winery assets, including facilities, equipment, and inventory.
• Leverage prior experience of running a winery to ensure sound decision-making and operational excellence.
• Apply a global perspective to operations, supply chains, and business development.
• Effectively operate within a corporate matrixed environment, collaborating and aligning with cross-functional leaders—including hospitality, brand, supply chain, finance, HR, and EHS—even when not the primary decision maker, to ensure cohesive execution of company-wide strategies.
• Work independently and report to off-site leadership, maintaining high levels of accountability, transparency, and performance in all aspects of the business.
• Uphold and model the highest standards of ethical conduct, integrity, and professionalism in all decision-making, relationships, and business practices, ensuring full compliance with company policies and industry regulations.
• Winemaking & Vineyard Management Lead the winemaking team in producing high quality cool climate wines that reflect Lingua Franca’s style, varietal integrity, and regional characteristics.
• Guide all phases of production, from grape harvest through fermentation, barreling, aging, and bottling.
• Collaborate with winemaking leadership on sensory evaluation, cost, blending, and quality assurance.
• Oversee vineyard management to ensure grape quality, cost and supply meets production needs.
• Evaluate and implement innovative technologies and analysis tools (e.g., Wine X-ray analytics) to support winemaking decisions.
• Team Leadership & Development Provide leadership and mentorship, fostering a high-performance and inclusive culture.
• Recruit, select, train, and supervise winery, vineyard, and operations staff; foster a culture of excellence, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Foster collaboration with hospitality and operations teams to deliver a seamless, world-class customer experience, ensuring that all guest interactions reflect Lingua Franca’s values and standards of excellence.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, environmental, and safety policies.
• Brand Representation & External Relations Act as the primary ambassador for Lingua Franca, representing the brand at industry events, winemaker dinners, trade organizations, and key market activations.
• Demonstrate credibility and influence in the region and global marketplace by representing the brand at the highest levels.
• Collaborate with Brand Marketing and Sales to develop and execute marketing strategies, support inventory management, and drive sales.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with external partners, including vendors, third-party producers, and distributors.
• Continuous Improvement & Innovation Champion continuous improvement initiatives in winemaking and operations.
• Proactively identify opportunities to enhance operational efficiency, product quality, and brand value.

Benefits

• We offer comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance, 401(k), and any other benefits to eligible employees.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive