Operations Manager-Distillery

Campari Group•Chaplin, KY

9d•Onsite

About The Position

A rare opportunity to bring a new distillery to life — for one of bourbon's most iconic brands. Greenfield opportunities like this don't come around often. Wild Turkey is expanding in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, and we're looking for an Operations Manager to own the startup end to end — from commissioning and validation to Day-1 readiness and ramp-up. You'll be the single point of operational ownership for a brand-new distillery, with high visibility across global and local stakeholders and the kind of scope most operations managers never get. If you've been waiting for the chance to say "I started that plant up" — this is it. General Description of the Role The Operations Manager is accountable for the end-to-end operational readiness, commissioning, and execution of the Lawrenceburg Wild Turkey Distillery. This role serves as the single operational integrator across engineering, operations, quality, and support functions to ensure safe and compliant operations of the Distillery.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or related field
5+ years of experience in manufacturing
Experience in the distilled spirits or beverage industry is required
Proven experience in operations management
Strong cross-functional leadership in complex, multi-stakeholder environments, both internal and external
Strong understanding of processing and manufacturing
High proficiency in Microsoft Office suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
Strong organizational and multitasking skills with keen attention to detail
Knowledge of commissioning frameworks (FAT, SAT, IQ/OQ/PQ)
Familiarity with SAP, production planning, safety systems and quality systems
Proven ability to work collaboratively across departments and influence at all organizational levels
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
Ability to navigate and work on the site (outdoor), including but not limited to walking on uneven surfaces (construction site), working at heights, and working on ladders
Adhere to all safety protocols and procedures to maintain a safe and compliant work environment

Nice To Haves

distillation experience is preferred
Experience working in a union environment is preferred

Responsibilities

Structured execution from commissioning governance, including system turnover, punch-list closure, and validation sign-offs, then owning the day-to-day post start-up
Coordinate activities to ensure rapid stabilization of production in the Distillery
Ensure all process systems meet defined performance, safety, and quality standards
Act as the single point of operational ownership bridging engineering, production, quality, HR, and supply chain in the Distillery
Coordinate external vendors, OEMs, and contractors to ensure readiness and system validation through day-to-day production
Ensure SOPs, work instructions, and process documentation are complete and validated prior to startup
Build and execute training plans, competency matrices, and onboarding for operations teams
Validate staffing plans and organizational readiness for new capacity
Drive rapid ramp-up to target throughput, yield, and efficiency
Monitor startup KPIs (safety, quality, output, reliability) and lead stabilization efforts
Identify and mitigate operational risks impacting capacity delivery
Reduce startup risks, delays, and rework through centralized ownership and structured issue tracking
Lead daily startup governance routines (war rooms, issue logs, escalation paths)
Ensure compliance with safety, regulatory (TTB), and quality standards
Collaborate with internal stakeholders (PMO, Operations, Engineering, Procurement, QRD) and external partners (e.g., Design Builder) to align project goals, timelines, and deliverables
Escalate critical decisions through defined governance paths and ensure alignment across global and local stakeholders
Manage daily activities/resources to ensure maximized efficiency in the Distillery
Maintain and organize technical submittments, including engineering drawings, specifications, equipment data sheets, and validation records
Facilitate and document meeting minutes for core project team meetings, including follow-up communications
Ensure communication with relevant internal stakeholders on activities impacting daily operations
Perform other duties as assigned to support project success