Brewery & Distillery Manager – The Cargo Collective

Brewers Guild; New Zealand; On-site; NZD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Cargo Collective is seeking a Brewery & Distillery Manager to own production and product development in a hands-on role at our on-site Brew Hall. You’ll lead end-to-end beer and spirits production, quality, stock management, and exciting new formats while collaborating with the leadership team.

Bring proven brewing and distilling experience, a passion for craft, and a knack for turning ideas into market-ready products. Queenstown lifestyle awaits.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a brewer; distilling experience is a strong advantage.
• Track record of developing new products from idea to market.
• Solid grounding in production planning, quality control, and process discipline.
• Comfortable with compliance—excise, food safety, FCP, record-keeping.
• Confident leading workshops and engaging with customers.
• Hands-on, practical, and calm in a busy operational environment.
• Commercially aware: production serves the wider business.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end production of beer and spirits from planning through to delivery.
• Lead new product development, recipe trials, and launch paths with the owner.
• Manage stock, kegs, packaging, inventory, and supplier relationships.
• Run tours, gin workshops, and public experiences with high customer engagement.
• Ensure compliance, health & safety, and audit-ready records.

Job description

Brewery & Distillery Manager – The Cargo Collective

This is a rare opportunity for a creative, hands‑on brewer and distiller to take ownership of a working production operation — and to actively shape the products we bring to market.

The Cargo Collective’s brewery and distillery sits at the centre of our business, supplying our Brew Hall venue, supporting events, and feeding our growing range of public experiences. As Brewery & Distillery Manager, you’ll own the production side of the business — making sure our current products are exceptional, our operations are tight, and a steady stream of new and exciting products keeps the range evolving.

This is a hands‑on role with real creative scope. You’ll be supported on the commercial, brand, and marketing side by the wider leadership team, leaving you free to focus on what you do best — producing outstanding beer and spirits, and inventing what comes next.

The Venue

The Cargo Brew Hall is a brand new, modern and highly versatile space — a working brewery, distillery, events venue, and customer experience hub all in one.

From corporate events and private functions to public opening days, tastings, and workshops, the space is constantly evolving and being activated in different ways. It’s also simply a great place to work — open, dynamic, and designed to be as enjoyable for the team as it is for customers.

This role is based on‑site and is central to how the beverage offering comes to life within the space.

Product & Brand Opportunity

At Cargo, we’re not just running a brewery — we’re building a portfolio of beverage brands and experiences.

Our venue is set up to produce and develop a wide range of alcoholic and non‑alcoholic beverages, with plenty of scope to explore what comes next. From new product ideas and seasonal releases to one‑off collaborations and entirely new formats — there is real scope to shape what we create.

We’re looking for someone who gets energy from building — a brewer and distiller who can turn ideas into products that people actually want to drink.

Role Purpose

This role is focused on production, product development, and the public experiences that flow from them.

You will be responsible for the end‑to‑end production of our beer and spirits — from planning and execution through to compliance, quality, stock management, and the delivery of tours and workshops. Alongside this, you’ll lead new product development, working with the director on brand direction but owning the creative and technical side of bringing new products to life.

The goal is a production operation that runs efficiently, consistently delivers high‑quality products and experiences, and keeps the Cargo range fresh, surprising, and commercially relevant.

Key Responsibilities

Production, Quality & Operations

• Plan and execute brewing and distillation schedules across all current products
• Ensure consistent product quality across beer and spirits
• Maintain and manage brewery and distillery equipment and facilities
• Align production with demand across venue, events, and trade
• Support local trade relationships through account visits and deliveries

New Product Development

• Lead the creation of new beers, spirits, and other beverages — alcoholic and non‑alcoholic
• Develop seasonal releases, one‑off collaborations, and new sub‑brand opportunities
• Work with the owner and General Manager on brand alignment, while owning recipe development, trial batches, and the path to launch
• Bring ideas, energy, and a strong sense of what customers want to drink

Stock Management

• Manage stock levels, kegs, packaging, and inventory systems
• Own raw material ordering and supplier relationships on the production side
• Coordinate equipment servicing, maintenance, and operational readiness

Tours, Workshops & Experiences

• Lead gin workshops and brewery tours, including content and delivery
• Develop new public‑facing experiences that showcase our products and process
• Deliver a high‑quality, engaging customer experience every time

Compliance & Systems

• Own FCP and all regulatory requirements
• Manage excise reporting and audit‑ready production records
• Maintain health & safety standards across the production area
• Build systems and processes that are efficient, repeatable, and scalable

Leadership

• Set clear standards and expectations across the production area
• Build a culture of ownership, initiative, and craft
• Work closely with the General Manager, Venue Manager, and Head of Events & Partnerships to ensure production supports what’s happening across the business

Key Requirements

• Proven experience as a brewer, with distilling experience a strong advantage (or genuine ability and appetite to learn the spirits side from a strong brewing base)
• A track record of developing new products — recipes that have gone from idea to market
• Solid grounding in production planning, quality control, and process discipline
• Comfortable with compliance — excise, food safety, FCP, record‑keeping
• Confident leading workshops and engaging with customers — this isn’t a back‑of‑house‑only role
• Hands‑on, practical, and calm in a busy operational environment
• Commercially aware: understands that production needs to serve the wider business

Success in This Role Looks Like

• Consistent product quality and reliable production
• No stock shortages and well‑managed supply
• Fully compliant, audit‑ready operations
• A steady pipeline of new products keeping the Cargo range fresh and exciting
• High‑quality tours and workshops that customers talk about
• A production area that runs smoothly and independently

Why Join Us

• Take ownership of the production and creative engine of a unique and growing business
• Real creative scope — beer, spirits, alcoholic, non‑alcoholic, seasonal, experimental
• Brand new, well‑equipped brewery and distillery to work in
• Strong wider team handling sales, venue, events, and brand — so you can focus on craft
• Be part of an ambitious company with strong growth plans
• Queenstown lifestyle — mountains, lakes, and one of the best places in the country to live and work

We offer a competitive salary package aligned with experience, along with a performance‑based bonus structure tied to product quality, new product launches, and overall business performance.