Production & Operations Manager

Hinch Distillery | County Down, Northern Ireland

Location: Hinch Distillery, Ballynahinch, County Down, Northern Ireland

Job Type: Full-time, permanent

Reporting to: Managing Director

About Hinch Distillery

Hinch Distillery is a “grain to glass” operation and an ambitious, independently owned Irish whiskey company based in County Down, Northern Ireland.

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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Previous distilling experience is not required.

What We Offer

• Competitive basic salary.
• Company pension.
• The opportunity to lead and shape production operations within a growing, independently owned Irish whiskey company.
• A high-impact leadership position with significant responsibility, autonomy and the opportunity to deliver meaningful operational improvements.
• The opportunity to contribute to the continued growth of an Irish whiskey brand with an expanding international presence.

Hinch Distillery is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates from all backgrounds.

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