Senior Operations Manager

Location: Basalt, CO

Terms: Salary/Full-time

Requirements: Typical work hours are between 7am and 6pm.

Company Overview:

Woody Creek Distillers (WCD) is a craft spirits distillery located in the Roaring Fork Valley of Colorado, known for its commitment to quality and tradition. WCD is driven to achieve new heights by scaling our brands and increasing production capacity while maintaining safety and quality standards.

About the Role:

We’re looking for a highly experienced Operations Manager to take the reins of our distillery’s operations and drive it forward with speed, structure, and purpose. This is not a status quo role—it’s for a leader who sees inefficiency and fixes it, who knows how to turn a craft facility into a manufacturing machine without losing the soul of the product.

As Operations Manager, you’ll lead all aspects of day-to-day production, implement scalable systems, and optimize output while maintaining the highest standards of safety, quality, and compliance. You’ll play a critical role in transforming our distillery into a modern beverage manufacturing facility ready to grow fast and perform even faster.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead, plan, and execute all facets of production including fermentation, distillation, blending, bottling, and packaging
• Create and maintain a production schedule that balances quality, efficiency, and forecasted demand
• Implement systems and SOPs to streamline operations, reduce waste, and improve throughput
• Develop KPIs and reporting tools to monitor productivity, downtime, and yields
• Collaborate closely with supply chain, sales, and finance to align production with inventory and demand planning
• Manage and train the production team to ensure accountability, cross-training, and operational discipline
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, FDA, and TTB regulations, maintaining meticulous production and safety records
• Oversee maintenance schedules and ensure equipment is operating at peak efficiency
• Evaluate and select equipment or process improvements to scale production
• Drive a continuous improvement culture across the plant floor

Qualifications:

• 7+ years of experience in a beverage, food manufacturing, or distilling environment, with at least 3 years in a production leadership role
• Demonstrated experience scaling a production environment with measurable operational improvements
• Deep knowledge of manufacturing best practices: lean principles, GMP, preventive maintenance, etc.
• Strong technical understanding of distillation or beverage manufacturing processes
• Proven ability to lead teams through cultural and procedural change
• Exceptional organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Proficiency in production scheduling, ERP/MRP systems, and manufacturing software
• Ability to lift 50 lbs, work on your feet, and navigate a manufacturing facility daily

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Food Science, or related field
• Familiarity with beverage alcohol compliance and TTB reporting
• Forklift certification, OSHA 30, or Six Sigma/Lean certification
• Experience implementing automation or process controls in a beverage facility

 Compensation:

• $100,000-$120,000

Please send all resumes to jobs@woodycreekdistillers.com