Production & Operations Manager

Production & Operations Manager

With a modern production and bottling facility, a growing portfolio of premium Irish whiskeys and an expanding presence across international markets, we are entering an exciting phase of growth and operational development.

We are seeking an experienced, hands-on Production & Operations Manager to lead our production operations, build a high-performing team and drive measurable improvements in productivity, efficiency, quality and cost control.

The Role

The Production & Operations Manager will have overall responsibility for the safe, efficient and cost-effective operation of our production facilities, covering the complete post distillation process from cask disgorging and liquid preparation through to bottling, packaging, warehousing and finished goods dispatch.

This is a key operational leadership position requiring a strong technical and commercial mindset, excellent people management skills and a proven ability to improve manufacturing performance.

The successful candidate will take ownership of production planning, equipment performance, workforce productivity, inventory management and operational quality, while establishing a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Our objective is simple: to deliver consistently high-quality finished products, on time, at the required volumes and at the lowest sustainable cost.

Key Responsibilities

Production Management & Operational Excellence

• Lead and manage all production activities, including cask disgorging, liquid preparation, bottling, packaging and dispatch.
• Develop and implement efficient production schedules aligned with customer orders and business requirements.
• Maximise production throughput, equipment utilisation and labour productivity.
• Identify and eliminate operational bottlenecks, downtime, waste and inefficient working practices.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators, including Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), production output, labour efficiency, waste and cost per finished case.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity, quality, reliability and cost efficiency.

Bottling, Packaging & Liquid Preparation

• Take responsibility for the performance and optimisation of the Polaris bottling line and associated packaging operations.
• Oversee cask disgorging, liquid transfers, batching, blending, dilution, filtration and preparation for bottling.
• Ensure accurate liquid measurement, reconciliation, traceability and adherence to approved product specifications.
• Improve line efficiency, changeover times, equipment availability and production output.
• Minimise liquid losses, packaging waste, defects and rework.
• Maintain consistently high standards of liquid and finished product quality.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, build, motivate and develop a skilled, flexible and accountable production team.
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, operating procedures and performance expectations.
• Plan staffing and resources to maximise productivity and operational efficiency.
• Develop employee capabilities through training, coaching and performance management.
• Foster a positive, proactive culture of teamwork, ownership and continuous improvement.
• Lead by example with a visible, hands-on approach to daily operations.

Warehouse, Inventory & Logistics

• Oversee the management of production warehouses, dry goods, bulk liquid and finished goods inventory.
• Implement robust stock control, recording and reconciliation procedures.
• Ensure accurate recording of materials consumed, production output, wastage and stock movements.
• Optimise warehouse organisation, material handling and stock rotation.
• Manage picking, packing, palletisation and dispatch to ensure accurate, on-time fulfilment of customer orders.
• Coordinate shipping requirements and work with logistics partners to improve service and control distribution costs.

Purchasing & Cost Control

• Manage purchasing of dry goods, packaging materials and production consumables.
• Maintain effective supplier relationships, negotiate competitive pricing and ensure material availability.
• Monitor purchasing costs, inventory levels, production expenditure and material usage.
• Identify opportunities to reduce manufacturing costs, improve purchasing efficiency and minimise working capital tied up in inventory.
• Work closely with Finance to ensure accurate stock valuations, material reconciliation and production cost reporting.

Site, Equipment & Maintenance

• Take operational responsibility for the production facilities, equipment, warehouses and associated site infrastructure.
• Develop and maintain effective preventative maintenance programmes to maximise equipment reliability and minimise downtime.
• Coordinate equipment servicing, repairs, external contractors and technical suppliers.
• Monitor energy, water and utility consumption, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency.
• Maintain high standards of site organisation, housekeeping and operational safety.
• Identify and recommend capital improvements supported by clear operational and financial benefits.

Quality, Compliance & Health & Safety

• Maintain robust quality control procedures throughout liquid preparation, bottling, packaging and dispatch.
• Ensure accurate production, stock movement, traceability and excise records in accordance with HMRC requirements.
• Maintain compliance with applicable food safety, health and safety, environmental and regulatory standards.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, risk assessments and appropriate staff training.
• Ensure the production operation is prepared for internal, customer and regulatory audits.

Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Establish clear daily, weekly and monthly production reporting.
• Monitor operational performance against agreed targets and implement corrective actions where required.
• Report regularly to the Managing Director on production output, efficiency, quality, costs and operational performance.
• Lead improvement projects that deliver measurable productivity gains, reduced waste and enhanced operational reliability.

About You

We are looking for a proactive, commercially minded production leader with a strong track record of delivering operational improvements in a manufacturing environment.

Essential Experience & Skills

• Proven experience in production or operations management within beverage bottling, food manufacturing, FMCG, packaging or a comparable manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrable success improving production efficiency, output, quality and cost performance.
• Strong people management skills with experience leading and developing production teams.
• Practical understanding of automated production equipment, production planning and manufacturing processes.
• Experience in warehouse management, inventory control, purchasing and logistics.
• Strong understanding of equipment reliability, preventative maintenance and operational performance metrics.
• Experience implementing continuous improvement initiatives and improving operating procedures.
• Excellent organisational, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to manage competing operational priorities.
• A hands-on, decisive leadership style with a commitment to accountability and results.

Desirable Experience

• Experience in spirits, wine, beer or other beverage bottling operations.
• Knowledge of liquid processing, filtration, blending or filling operations.
• Familiarity with HMRC excise requirements and bonded warehouse procedures.
• Experience with Cin7 or comparable ERP/inventory management systems.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, 5S or OEE methodologies.
• Experience in international shipping and export logistics.
• Relevant engineering, manufacturing or operations management qualifications.

Previous distilling experience is not required.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary.
• Company pension.
• The opportunity to lead and shape production operations.
• A high-impact leadership position with significant responsibility, autonomy and the opportunity to deliver meaningful operational improvements.