Operations Supervisor - Brown Forman Distillery

Brown-Forman Australia Pty. Ltd.; Louisville (KY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Premium benefits

Equitable pay structures

Job summary

Brown-Forman Australia Pty. Ltd. is looking for an Operations Supervisor for the Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky. This role involves overseeing productivity, cost, quality, and safety while managing a team of operators. The successful candidate will have a Bachelor's degree in Engineering or a related field and 2-5 years of people management experience in manufacturing. Key responsibilities include scheduling production, monitoring quality, and ensuring compliance with safety standards. The position requires flexibility with shifts and the ability to work weekends.

Qualifications

• 2-5 years of people management experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Ability to work across various shifts and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for productivity, cost, quality, and employee morale.
• Schedule daily and weekly production activities.
• Monitor and address downtime for all employees.

Skills

People management experience

Safety processes knowledge

Quality processes familiarity

Operational understanding

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Biology, or Related Field

Chemical Engineering

Tools

Inventory Management systems

Electrical distribution systems

Process related equipment

Job description

Operations Supervisor - Brown Forman Distillery

We believe great people build great brands. And we know there is Nothing Better in the Market than a career at Brown-Forman. Being a part of Brown-Forman means you will grow both personally and professionally. You will have the opportunity to solve problems, seize opportunities, and generate bold ideas. You will belong to a place where teamwork matters and where you are encouraged to bring your best self to work.

This position will work on the night shift, 11 pm – 7 am, Sunday through Thursday. Weekends as required.

Meaningful Work From Day One:

Responsible for productivity, cost, quality, on time delivery, safety, and employee morale in the Distillery and Cistern room operations. Schedule daily and weekly production activities and assign duties and responsibilities for up to 9 Distillery and 9 Cistern Room Operators as required. Lead and coach employees in the proper performance of duties, provide training and address performance issues. Provide for employee administration and support including vacation and absence programs, monitoring time and attendance. Control labor costs and expenditures and supervise operations within department productivity targets and budget. Supervise operations to achieve established standards for sanitation, quality, and safety. Partner with Distillery Maintenance for the specification and prioritization of plant’s maintenance repair parts, the plant work order system, the plant preventive maintenance program, the scheduling, and coordination of capital and major maintenance projects. Responsible for understanding the current Collective Bargaining Agreement and managing to its guidelines.

What You Can Expect:

Safety/Environmental: Maintain a safe work environment and promote accident prevention by eliminating potential hazards. Knowledge of and adherence to federal, state, and local regulations. Provides a work environment that complies with all safety and regulatory requirements in relationship to employee’s contractors, products, and customers. Manages environmental and safety issues ethically. Requires partnership with Plant Safety Coordinator, Plant Pillars, Corporate Safety leaders, employees, and Environmental departments.

Quality: Monitor the quality of production and supervise operations to achieve targeted standards and parameters for quality and sanitation. Has ability to understand/interpret results as it relates to business impact; has ability to interpret/understand raw material, in process material, and finished product. Requires partnership with Quality Control and Maintenance department leaders to achieve success.

Productivity: Monitor, address, and record downtime for all employees in Distillery areas; ability to investigate equipment and system failures; do root cause analysis and develop and implement continuous improvement solutions; ensure product quality and provide supervision and direction of off‑shift mechanics and electricians as required through partnership with Maintenance Team and work order system. Handle multiple tasks on a daily basis including projects, cost saving measures, and advance planning. Understands and is able to provide guidance to operators and mechanics on distillery equipment, by‑products equipment, grain handling systems, environmental control systems, and building and grounds systems. Has the ability to design, modify, and optimize/implement existing plant work processes. Requires partnership with Maintenance, Operations, and Finance. Requires flexing to Day Shift support as needed.

Delivery: Oversees production and delivery of Cistern Tanks to warehouse operations as well as mash deliveries to the Old Forester Distillery. Manage monthly and annual inventory counts.

Cost: Monitor and provide data and analysis to the Distillery and Warehouse Management the usage of materials, labor requirements, capital needs and overhead associated with operations. Participate in budget development, labor/overhead budget, scope development, justification, and cost savings projects. Requires partnership with Finance and Plant Director.

What You Bring to the Table:

• Have a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Biology, or Related Field and 2-5 years people management experience in a manufacturing environment. Combination of education and experience will be considered.
• Ability to work across various shifts but may vary.
• Ability to work weekends and be on‑call for the facility.
• Familiarity with Safety and Quality processes.

What Makes You Unique:

• Education: College/University (Bachelors or Equivalent); Chemical Engineering.
• Experience: 5 or more years of manufacturing experience in a union environment.
• Specific Distillery Manufacturing Experience:
  • Knowledge of operation/maintenance of boilers, familiarity with motors, pumps, and associated process related equipment.
  • Inventory Management of grains and chemicals.
  • Barrel filling/cistern experience.
  • Knowledge of electrical distribution and control systems.
  • Knowledge of chemistry and physics as applied to distillery, plant, and power.

What We Offer:

Total Rewards at Brown-Forman is designed to engage our people to ensure sustainable and profitable growth for generations to come. As a premium spirits company, we offer equitable pay structures for individual and company performance alongside a premium employee experience. We offer a range of premium benefits that reflect our company values and meet the needs of our diverse workforce.

Brown-Forman Corporation is committed to equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment. It is the policy of Brown-Forman Corporation to provide full and equal employment opportunities to all employees and potential employees without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, veteran status, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, physical or mental disability or any other legally protected status.