Senior Cellar Hand

VinLink Marlborough; Blenheim; On-site; NZD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

VinLink Marlborough in Blenheim, South Island, is seeking a Senior Cellar Hand to oversee cellar staff during the vintage period, ensuring quality wine production and adherence to SOPs.

The role requires strong supervisory experience in a large-scale winery, deep knowledge of cellar equipment, and excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills. You will lead a production team, maintain safety standards, and drive continuous improvement in operations.

Qualifications

• Minimum 4 years supervisory experience in wine production.
• Experience in large scale wine production (20000+ ton winery).
• Strong team leadership skills.
• Excellent technical knowledge of cellar equipment (presses, crushers/destemmers, floatation units, RDVs, pumps).
• Advanced written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills with the ability to multi-task and meet deadlines.
• Self-motivated, with an ability to work as part of a team, and independently.

Responsibilities

• Oversee cellar workers during vintage and ensure timely, compliant production.
• Follow SOPs for safe operation and maintenance of VinLink plant.
• Maintain wine quality and integrity across processing operations.
• Train and supervise new and seasonal workers.
• Provide leadership to junior production team members.
• Maintain winery readiness and cleanliness.
• Ensure health and safety compliance and report issues.
• Participate in problem solving and continuous improvement.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Wine production knowledge

Team leadership

Health & safety awareness

Communication skills

Ability to work under pressure

Tools

Winery equipment knowledge

Job description

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VinLink Marlborough - Blenheim, South Island

The Senior Cellar Hand will turn winemaking direction into timely and appropriate actions and results through our Marlborough winery. The Senior Cellar Hand is responsible for overseeing cellar workers in their areas during the vintage period, following company systems and procedures, and bring any issues that might decrease the quality of wine production to the attention of the Cellar Supervisor, Cellar Manager. Demonstrate through own actions a commitment to Health and Safety at work when undertaking work or observing others in the workplace. Proactively report any concerns promptly and ensure all H&S requirements are met.

Key responsibilities

• Carry out all winery procedures in a safe, efficient manner within agreed time frames to documented quality standards as directed by the company's winemakers
• Perform all winery duties in accordance with detailed SOPs for the safe, effective operation and maintenance of all VinLink plant
• Ensure that all processing operations are carried out in a manner that maintains the quality and integrity of the wine
• Assist with the training and supervision of new and seasonal workers in cellar procedures
• Provide leadership and direction to junior members of the production team when required
• Maintain the winery in excellent readiness and cleanliness
• Be proactive in ensuring the cellar remains a safe and healthy working environment and that an active H&S program is maintained
• Undertake all activities required in your role to maintain compliance with company and client programs including but not limited to BRCGS
• Participate in problem solving and continuous improvement strategies
• Establish clear and effective communications to enable and foster a clear understanding of the client's and company's requirements to all workers

A minimum of forty (40) hours per week to be worked between 7:30am and 5pm Monday
to Friday (or as agreed with your manager), with flexibility to start up to one hour earlier
and finish up to one hour later by prior agreement and arrangement with your manager
up to a maximum of 74 hours per week during the vintage period.

About you

• Minimum 4 years supervisory experience in wine production
• Experience in large scale Wine Production (20000 plus Ton winery)
• Strong team leadership skills
• Excellent technical knowledge of cellar equipment (including but not limited to presses, crusher/destemmers, floatation units, RDVs, pumps, flowmeters etc.)
• Advanced written and oral communication skills
• Excellent time management and organizational skills with the ability to multi-task and work to multiple deadlines
• Self-motivated, with an ability to work as part of a team, and independently, when required and works well under pressure
• Experience managing teams up to 20 plus people

About us

VinLink is a privately owned wine company based in Blenheim, Marlborough. The company began in 2012 as one of the largest startup contract wineries that New Zealand had ever seen and has since grown to a current capacity of 25,000 T per vintage. In 2021 the business continued its growth strategy by entering into a long-term export supply agreement for bottled wine and expanding into vineyard leasing and grape supply agreements. VinLink is not a brand owner, we are a specialist wine company providing world class winemaking services to brand owners.