Cellar Operations Director - Ripon

An industry leader, The Wine Group is one of the world’s foremost producers of award-winning wines across more than 60 wine brands and many winery facilities in California, New York, and Australia. Headquartered in Livermore, California, TWG is an industry innovator when it comes to developing, marketing, and selling wine brands beloved by consumers around the world, including Cupcake, Franzia, Benziger, Imagery, Tribute, 7 Deadly, Cooper & Thief, The Dreaming Tree, Charles Smith Wines, and more. The Wine Group believes in producing wine using sustainable and earth-friendly practices to foster healthy land and agriculture for generations to come. The company demonstrates environmental stewardship through its commitment to clean energy and by ensuring that all its owned vineyards are certified sustainable or biodynamic. To learn more, please visit: www.thewinegroup.com.

JOB SUMMARY

Under the direction of Plant Manager Sr. Director, the Director, Cellar Operations plays a significant leadership role in managing all aspects of the winery’s cellar operations. This includes development of the cellar culture through leadership, execution of core values and personal engagement. Additional aspects of this position include budgetary and financial responsibilities, employee Safety, and compliance (environmental, safety, and TTB). This position shall also coordinate and oversee the execution for all repetitive and discrete manufacturing functions in the cellar, mentoring and developing people to function in a culture of empowered employees that are values driven effective decision makers who value quality, safety, and performance.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Strategic – Liaison with top management. Assist in the development and execution of strategic plans for operational activity. Implement and manage operational plans through strong leadership skills. Be an active member of the Ripon Leadership Team, supporting Ripon’s larger Operations Mission and Key Operations Strategies in Cellar and across entire facility.
• Financial – Leverage financial reports and data to improve profitability. Prepare and manage the operations and capital budgets. Manage cash flow through inventory control. Plan and execute effective strategies for sustainable performance.
• Best Practices – Drive Process Improvements and policies in support of operational goals and create an environment where all Team Members improve and drive continuous improvement (Performance Culture).
• Human Resources – Plan and maximize human resources. Organize recruitment and placement of required staff in concert with HR. Establish effective organizational structures. Delegate tasks while maintaining accountability through organization. Establish work schedules and supervise staff. Drive improvement through clear expectations regular performance feedback.
• Operations – Lead, Coordinate, and Manage the work of the cellar, and support functions. Manage performance and drive improvements. Ensure product quality throughout all processes. Work closely with the Facility Maintenance Manager and Team to ensure all equipment, cooperage, and systems assigned to the cellar and manufacturing departments are maintained in good, sanitary, safe, and cost-effective working order to ensure quality of wine produced and safe maintenance of the bulk inventory.
• Compliance – Ensure all aspects of Health and Safety, Environmental, and TTB compliance.
• Communication – Develop positive communication throughout the cellar at all levels of the organization. Manage and improve the efficiency of support services such as IT, HR, and Finance. Facilitate coordination and communication between support functions.
• Develop the production supervision staff (including Cellar Supervisors, and Foremen/Leads), establishing key performance indicators, and other measurable metrics to gauge the efficiency of the staff.
• Coordinates, prioritizes, and implements cellar activities including, but not limited to supervision, training, and cross-training, job assignments, learning assistance, individual employee development, counseling, safety awareness, and discipline of Team Members to help them reach the overall objective of creating a great product for minimal cost. 
• Ensure a culture of Safety is created and maintained withing the facility. Ensures compliance with all safety, personnel procedures, policies and is responsible for keeping all SOP’s current.
• Create and manage large scale capital projects for the cellar operations.
• Must embrace and demonstrate The Wine Group's Vision, Mission, and Values of Be a Steward, See Possibilities, Find a Way, and Stay Grounded.
• This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for their job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 10-15 years’ experience in Operations within food/beverage manufacturing and/or wine industry is required.
• 5+ years’ experience in a senior management level role is required.
• Experience with safety and compliance is required.
• Experience with managing operating budgets and costs is required.
• Bachelor of Science or higher in appropriate field preferred.
• Knowledge of standard and advanced winery equipment is preferred.
• Strong business acumen and fiscal responsibility.
• Ability to work in an environment that has changing priorities and multiple projects.
• Ability to create and sustain a positive, engaged, and team-based culture.
• Ability to lead, communicate, and motivate at all levels of the organization.
• Working knowledge of industry regulations.
• Provide good verbal and written communications to all levels of management, both internally and externally.
• Excellent critical thinking, analytical, organizational, and interpersonal skills with attention to detail.
• Comprehensive knowledge of HACCP, GMP, and FSMA.
• Proficient in the following computer applications: Microsoft Word, Excel, and ability to learn new programs.
• Must possess strong verbal, written, analytical and interpersonal skills.
• Highly motivated, reliable and enjoy working in a team oriented innovative work environment.
• Must possess strong attention to detail, initiative, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work in a setting that is fast paced has changing priorities and multiple projects.
• Demonstrated reliability and punctuality, work effectively in team/crew environment, adherence to all safety regulations and operating procedures.
• Ability to always exemplify TWG Core Values.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Position operates in a professional office environment and a production environment.
• Must be able to frequently lift and carry weights of up to 50 pounds at varying frequencies.
• Ability to work at heights up to 45 feet.
• Working environment is both indoors and outdoors, with exposure to related equipment and noise levels.
• Ability to perform tasks requiring bending, stooping, standing, and twisting in the production environment.

COMPENSATION

• Hiring Salary Range Posted: $142,400 - $213,600.

• Actual compensation will be based on factors such as experience; skills, knowledge, and abilities; education; and other position related factors.

At The Wine Group, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and we are committed to an environment of mutual respect, diversity, and inclusion. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristic protected by law.

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