Distillery Manager

Scotch Whisky; Glenrothes; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

InchDairnie Distillery in Glenrothes, Fife, is seeking a Distillery Manager with strong leadership to own the safe, compliant operation of the distillery and warehousing.

You will lead production, quality and process safety, manage budgets and procurement, develop people, and drive continuous improvement while expanding a growing Scotch whisky operation.

Qualifications

• Five+ years’ experience in distillery operational management.
• Degree-level qualification in engineering, chemical engineering, brewing and distilling, or relevant science, or equivalent experience.
• Strong technical understanding of distillation and whisky production.
• Proven ability to lead, develop and hold teams accountable for safe, high-quality performance.
• Knowledge of health & safety, process safety and regulatory compliance in distillery settings.

Responsibilities

• Lead safe and compliant operation of the distillery and warehouses, including COMAH considerations.
• Ensure HMRC compliance and manage operational transactions and returns.
• Deliver production plans and warehouse activities within budget.
• Maintain consistency and quality of new make spirit.
• Develop people and foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Drive operational excellence and efficiency without compromising safety or quality.
• Collaborate with finance on budgets and procurement.
• Support business development and critical external partnerships.

Skills

Distillery leadership

Operational management

Safety & compliance

Budgeting & finance

Stakeholder management

Education

Engineering degree

Brewing & Distilling

Regulatory knowledge

Job description

Distillery Manager - InchDairnie Distillery

Be part of shaping the future of one of Scotland's most innovative distilleries.

Do you believe that the whisky industry is the most fascinating industry in the world?

Are you an experienced distillery leader who combines strong technical knowledge with hands-on leadership and commercial awareness? Are you passionate about making exceptional spirit while continuously challenging how things can be done better?

If so, you might be the person we are looking for as our new Distillery Manager at InchDairnie Distillery.

About the role:

At InchDairnie, innovation is not something we add to tradition – it is part of how we distil.

As Distillery Manager, you will take overall responsibility for the safe, compliant and effective operation of our distillery and warehousing activities. You will lead the team responsible for turning our ambitious production plans into high-quality new make spirit, while ensuring that safety, quality, efficiency and compliance remain uncompromising standards.

This is a broad leadership role with genuine ownership. You will have responsibility for day-to-day operations while also helping to shape the future development of the distillery. From people, production and process safety to safety, quality, budgets, procurement and regulatory compliance, you will be at the center of our distilling operation.

You will join a dedicated and forward-thinking team that cares deeply about quality, craft and collaboration. We are proud of what we have built, but equally interested in what we can improve next.

Key Responsibilities:

As our Distillery Manager, you will take ownership of the performance of the distillery and warehouses. Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading the safe and compliant operation of the distillery and our lower tier COMAH warehouse site, ensuring that health, safety and process safety are embedded in how we work every day. You will also support the planning and compliance work required if additional warehousing moves the site to upper-tier COMAH status.
• Ensuring the distillery and warehouses operate in full compliance with HMRC requirements, including responsibility for operational transactions in DRAMS and all required monthly, quarterly and annual HMRC returns.
• Delivering the agreed distillery production plan and warehouse activities safely, efficiently and within agreed budgets.
• Maintaining the quality and consistency of our new make spirit, ensuring our exacting standards are achieved throughout production.
• Leading, supporting and developing the people working across the distillery and warehouses, creating a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement and pride in what we produce.
• Driving operational excellence, identifying opportunities to improve reliability, efficiency, yield, resource utilisation and ways of working without compromising safety or quality.
• Sourcing raw materials, utilities and consumables in collaboration with the finance function, ensuring operational requirements are met while maintaining appropriate commercial oversight.
• Developing annual operating budgets together with the finance team and taking responsibility for delivering operations at or below agreed budgets.
• Playing a key role in new fillings sales to third parties, with the scope to take significant ownership of this area, working closely with senior management and relevant internal and external stakeholders.
• Participating in the on-call rota to support the safe operation of the distillery and warehouse outside normal working hours.
• Support brand development through active participation in masterclasses, tastings, trade events, and consumer engagement activities, representing the distillery and sharing technical production expertise.
• Building strong working relationships across the organisation and with relevant external partners, regulators and suppliers.
• Contributing to the continued development of InchDairnie, bringing ideas, technical insight and practical leadership to how we operate and grow.

About you:

You are first and foremost an experienced distillery professional and people leader.

You are comfortable taking responsibility for a complex operation where safety, compliance and quality are non-negotiable. At the same time, you are curious about how processes can be improved and are prepared to challenge established ways of working when there is a better solution.

You are visible, practical and comfortable being close to the operation. You can move confidently between technical discussions on the production floor, developing your team, working through budgets and operational priorities, and representing the distillery to external stakeholders.

You bring:

• At least five years’ experience in distillery operational management.
• A degree-level qualification in engineering, chemical engineering, brewing and distilling, or a relevant scientific discipline, or equivalent relevant professional experience
• Strong technical understanding of distillation and whisky production.
• Demonstrable experience of leading, developing and holding operational teams accountable for safe, high quality performance.
• A strong understanding of health & safety, process safety and regulatory compliance within a distillery, spirits manufacturing or comparable process environment.
• A quality-focused mindset and a commitment to maintaining consistency in new make spirit.
• Strong operational and financial awareness, including experience working with production plans and budgets.
• The ability to balance immediate operational priorities with longer-term improvement and development.
• A proactive, hands-on leadership style and the confidence to take ownership and make decisions.
• Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills.
• A genuine interest in innovation, continuous improvement and the future of Scotch whisky.

How do we meet?

InchDairnie Whisky is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to providing a fair, inclusive and supportive recruitment process and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

Expected start date: no later than 1st January 2027, or as soon as possible.
The role is based at the distillery in Glenrothes, Fife.

Because of the operational and on-call responsibilities associated with the position, you will need to live within approximately 45 minutes’ driving distance of the distillery, or be willing to relocate, within an agreed timeframe.

About InchDairnie Distillery:

Founded in 2011 by the industry veteran, Ian Palmer, InchDairnie was built on a clear ambition: to push the boundaries of Scotch whisky while respecting its traditions. Since 2015, we have produced spirit using custom-designed, innovative equipment that allows us to explore flavour in ways few others can. As a certified B Corporation, we are equally committed to ensuring that innovation and commercial success go hand in hand with responsible and sustainable business practices.

We aim to create whiskies that are modern, distinct, and uncompromising in quality. RyeLaw released in 2023 and KinGlassie Single Malt, released in 2025 have already earned multiple prestigious awards and established InchDairnie as a name to watch in modern Scotch whisky.

InchDairnie Distillery is part of InchDairnie Whisky Limited, which also owns the historic blended Scotch brands Lauder's and Islay Mist, enjoyed by loyal consumers around the world.

You can read more about InchDairnie Distillery and InchDairnie Whisky Limited at our websites: https://www.inchdairniedistillery.com/ & https://inchdairniewhisky.com/.