Blending Manager

West Cork Distillers; Skibbereen; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Salary

Pension

Health Insurance

Educational Support

Employee Discount

On-site Parking

Bike to Work

Employee Wellness Events

Job summary

West Cork Distillers in Skibbereen, Co. Cork, seeks an experienced Blending Manager to lead blending and liquid production within the Bottling Department.

You will oversee formulation, liquid preparation, transfer, chill filtration, and bulk ingredient management, ensuring accuracy and timely delivery to bottling. Reporting to the Head of Bottling and collaborating with Production Planning, Quality, Logistics and Maintenance, you will drive safe, efficient operations, develop the blending team,

Qualifications

• Experience managing a production, blending, processing or manufacturing operation.
• Strong people-management and leadership skills.
• Excellent organizational and planning ability.
• Experience with formulations, recipes, ingredients or liquid processing would be advantageous.
• A strong focus on Health & Safety, quality and compliance.
• The ability to analyse production performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively across Production, Quality, Logistics, Maintenance and Planning.
• A hands-on and proactive approach to operational management.
• Good attention to detail, particularly around batch control, traceability and material usage.

Responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day blending and liquid production operation.
• Manage and develop the Blending team.
• Oversee the manufacture of whiskey, gin, liqueurs and formulated products.
• Ensure products are manufactured accurately and in accordance with approved formulations and specifications.
• Manage liquid preparation, blending, filtration, handling and transfer through to the bottling process.
• Oversee whiskey chill filtration and ensure finished liquid is available in line with the bottling schedule.
• Manage the intake, storage, traceability and availability of bulk ingredients used in production.
• Work closely with production planning to ensure blending activities align with the bottling schedule.
• Monitor production performance, yields, losses, downtime and schedule adherence.
• Maintain high standards of quality, traceability, hygiene and right-first-time production.
• Liaise with Maintenance to ensure plant and equipment remain reliable and fit for production.
• Ensure high standards of Health & Safety across the blending operation.
• Drive continuous improvement in productivity, efficiency, reliability and production capability.
• Support the implementation and effective use of Business Central and production systems.

Skills

People management

Leadership

Planning

Quality control

Safety compliance

Production processes

Formulations knowledge

Problem solving

Communication

ERP systems

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

About Us

West Cork Distillers was founded in 2003 by John O'Connell, Denis McCarthy and Ger McCarthy and has since grown to a team of 200 people based in our distillery in Skibbereen, Co. Cork and our Waterford site Donohoe Drinks. We are built on an entrepreneurial energy and a passion for the science and art of spirit and whiskey production.

We have been recognised for our innovative approach, and credited with maturing, distilling and bottling some of the finest craft Irish Whiskey on the global market today

The Role

West Cork Distillers is seeking an experienced and hands-on Blending Manager to lead our blending and liquid production operations within the Bottling Department.

This is a key operational management role with responsibility for the blending and formulation activities, liquid preparation and transfer, whiskey chill filtration, and the intake and management of bulk ingredients supporting production.

The Blending Manager will ensure that the right liquid, in the right quantity and to the required specification, is available at the right time to support our bottling operations.

Working closely with the Head of Bottling, Production Planning, Bottling, Quality, Logistics and Maintenance teams, the successful candidate will play a central role in ensuring safe, efficient and reliable liquid production.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the day-to-day blending and liquid production operation.
• Manage and develop the Blending team.
• Oversee the manufacture of whiskey, gin, liqueurs and formulated products.
• Ensure products are manufactured accurately and in accordance with approved formulations and specifications.
• Manage liquid preparation, blending, filtration, handling and transfer through to the bottling process.
• Oversee whiskey chill filtration and ensure finished liquid is available in line with the bottling schedule.
• Manage the intake, storage, traceability and availability of bulk ingredients used in production.
• Work closely with production planning to ensure blending activities align with the bottling schedule.
• Monitor production performance, yields, losses, downtime and schedule adherence.
• Maintain high standards of quality, traceability, hygiene and right-first-time production.
• Liaise with Maintenance to ensure plant and equipment remain reliable and fit for production.
• Ensure high standards of Health & Safety across the blending operation.
• Drive continuous improvement in productivity, efficiency, reliability and production capability.
• Support the implementation and effective use of Business Central and production systems.

What You’ll Bring

The successful candidate will have:

• Experience managing a production, blending, processing or manufacturing operation
• Strong people-management and leadership skills
• Excellent organisational and planning ability
• A strong understanding of production processes, quality and process discipline
• Experience working with formulations, recipes, ingredients or liquid processing would be advantageous
• A strong focus on Health & Safety, quality and compliance
• The ability to analyse production performance and identify opportunities for improvement
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively across Production, Quality, Logistics, Maintenance and Planning
• A hands-on and proactive approach to operational management
• Good attention to detail, particularly around batch control, traceability and material usage
• Experience with ERP or production management systems would be advantageous

We Offer

• Competitive Salary
• Pension
• Health Insurance
• Increased annual leave with service
• Educational Support
• Employee Discount
• Free Lunch on Thursdays
• Free Fruit Deliveries twice per week
• €1000 Refer a Friend Bonus
• On-site Parking
• On-site Kitchen Facilities with vending machines and great coffee!
• Bike to Work
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Employee Events
• Employee Wellness Events