Packaging Manager

Nombase Education; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Beer stipend

Paid time off (PTO)

Employee discount

Growth opportunities

Job summary

The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery (OMB) is seeking a Packaging Manager to oversee all packaging operations, lead the packaging team, and coordinate runs across kegging, bottling, and canning. You will manage materials, inventory, and QA/QC to ensure timely delivery of products to distribution and taprooms.

Ideal candidates will have 3+ years in packaging/production, strong leadership and communication skills, and the ability to work in a fast-paced brewery environment with weekend availability.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in packaging, production, or distribution operations, preferably in craft beverage or food manufacturing.
• Proven ability to lead and develop a team in a fast-paced production environment.
• Ability to follow directions, problem-solve, and make sound operational decisions.
• Ability to safely operate machinery and recognize and respond to equipment malfunctions and safety hazards.
• Strong communication skills and a safety-first mindset.
• Experience in forklift operation preferred.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. and perform physically demanding work.
• Willingness to work weekends and flexible hours as needed.

Responsibilities

• Oversee packaging operations, scheduling runs and leading the packaging team.
• Manage materials and inventory; ensure on-time delivery of cans, bottles, and kegs.
• Maintain a clean, sanitary, and safe work environment; enforce QAQC and safety protocols.
• Coordinate packaging runs across kegging, bottling, canning, and growler-filling equipment.
• Maintain packaging inventories in Excel and Ekos; log production in Ekos.

Skills

Team leadership

Safety-first mindset

Operational decision making

Strong communication

Problem solving

Forklift operation

Tools

Machinery operation

Job description

REPORTS TO

General Manager

LOCATION

LoSo

ABOUT OMB

The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery (OMB) is one of Charlotte’s premier destinations for craft beer. Founded in 2009, OMB brews exclusively to the German Purity Law of 1516 — Reinheitsgebot — which requires every beer be made with only four ingredients: water, barley, hops, and yeast. That standard of tradition and authenticity runs through everything we do.

Our original location sits in Charlotte’s Lower South End (LoSo) and features a state‑of‑the‑art production facility, a full‑service restaurant, and a one‑acre biergarten. In Spring 2024, we expanded with a second location in Ballantyne — a two‑story, 14,000‑square‑foot restaurant and biergarten built to host even more of our community. Our beers are distributed across North Carolina through an independent wholesaler network.

OMB is proud of its community involvement and its place in Charlotte’s beer scene — an iconic representation of German brewing tradition in the South.

ABOUT THE ROLE

THE ROLE AT A GLANCE

The Packaging Manager oversees all packaging operations at OMB — scheduling runs, leading the packaging team, managing materials and inventory, and ensuring every can, bottle, and keg reaches its destination on time and to standard.

PACKAGING MANAGER RESPONSIBILITIES

Packaging Operations

• Assess bulk beer requirements necessary to meet packaging needs.
• Evaluate packaging materials needed for the week and coordinate orders from the warehouse.
• Participate in on-floor execution of packaging runs and ensure all runs are completed on schedule.
• Review efficiency and consistency of packaging operations and drive continuous improvement.
• Assign packaging personnel to execute scheduled work effectively.
• Maintain an organized, clean, sanitary, and safe working environment at all times.
• Solve operational problems with appropriate escalation to management.
• Coordinate packaging runs on kegging, bottling, canning, and growler-filling equipment to meet the weekly production plan.
• Maintain packaging inventories in Excel and Ekos, and enter packaging production in Ekos to ensure materials are accurately depleted from inventory.
• Complete QAQC, loss, and production logs for all packaging runs daily.
• Maintain preventative maintenance and PM logs for all packaging equipment, including regular operator checks and lubrication of machinery.
• Ensure safety, mechanical, and electrical issues reported by operators are resolved in a timely manner.
• Track inventory and losses, and complete an End of Month inventory count of all packaging materials.
• Ensure all areas of packaging are cleaned daily and weekly, with sanitization SOPs strictly followed per QAQC Manager guidelines.
• Coordinate distribution requirements across taproom and wholesale channels.
• Work with the production team to ensure product readiness and availability for all distribution needs.
• Partner with the warehouse team to align inventory, materials, and logistics.
• Monitor distribution schedules and proactively address any supply or delivery gaps.
• Order needed packaging materials for daily delivery from the warehouse facility.
• Ensure inventory levels accurate and managed to meet scheduled production.
• Work directly with Brewing, Cellaring, Warehouse, Taproom, and Sales teams to ensure all packaging goals are met.
• Lead, coach, and develop packaging team members with a focus on safety, quality, and efficiency.
• Complete onboarding training for all new packaging employees and provide ongoing development for existing team members.
• Foster a positive, accountable, and collaborative team culture.
• Conduct performance check-ins and support team growth and retention.
• Attend and actively engage in regular L10 meetings with the production team.
• Provide and welcome constructive feedback to support ongoing team growth.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 3+ years of experience in packaging, production, or distribution operations, preferably in craft beverage or food manufacturing.
• Proven ability to lead and develop a team in a fast-paced production environment.
• Ability to follow directions, problem-solve, and make sound operational decisions.
• Ability to safely operate machinery and recognize and respond to equipment malfunctions and safety hazards.
• Strong communication skills and a safety-first mindset.
• Experience in forklift operation preferred.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. and perform physically demanding work.
• Willingness to work on and around potentially dangerous equipment and in high-noise environments.
• Willingness to work weekends and flexible hours as needed.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to think critically, act and think independently, and make sound decisions quickly, even with limited information.
• Trustworthy, reliable, and punctual, with a strong work ethic and sense of urgency.
• Ability to read and follow written English instructions.
• Ability to stand, walk, and be on your feet for 8-12 hours per day, and to regularly twist, turn, kneel, climb, stoop, bend, crawl, and ascend/descend stairs and ladders throughout a shift.
• Ability to work in hot, humid, cold, and loud environments.
• Understanding of cleaning and sanitation technology in food and beverage manufacturing, with the ability to manage quality requirements including product specifications and sensory evaluation.
• Ability to give and receive constructive feedback, and to manage proprietary information and processes with discretion.

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU

HEALTH COVERAGE

• Medical, dental, and vision.

PTO

• Paid time off.

BEER STIPEND

• Free beer stipend for OMB staff.
• Retirement plan with company match.

EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT

• On food, merchandise, and beer.

GROWTH

• Room to grow across both locations and departments.

OMB CORE VALUES

• Integrity, do the right thing
• Service-minded
• Point of pride in the community
• Team

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Other duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or be assigned at any time, with or without notice. All candidates must pass a pre-employment / post-offer background check. Applications are reviewed regularly for both locations; if we’d like to move forward, HR will reach out via phone or email. Positions are posted and maintained regularly — if you have not received communication from HR, we may not have an open position at this time, but may contact you for a future one. OMB participates in E-Verify for employment verification. OMB is an equal opportunity employer that hires individuals based on job‑related qualifications and abilities.