Process Operator

Next Century Spirits Inc; Zebulon (NC); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

401(k) matching

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Health savings account

Life insurance

Paid time off

Vision insurance

Job summary

Next Century Spirits in Raleigh, NC seeks a Processing Operator to batch, blend and prepare raw ingredients per formulas, ensuring product quality and manufacturing safety. Responsibilities include distillation, blending, filtration, bottling, and sensory checks to meet standards.

You will monitor equipment, read instructions, and maintain logs while supporting CIP operations and clean, safe production practices. Team collaboration and GMP compliance are essential for daily duties.

Qualifications

• Proficiency in basic math and measurements.
• Ability to lift and move up to 60 lbs repeatedly.
• Strong organizational, detail-oriented, and observational skills.
• Ability to read and follow English instructions.
• Capable of working in a fast-paced setting with limited supervision.

Responsibilities

• Batch and blend ingredients following recipes to produce spirit-based beverages with specified flavor, color, clarity, and alcohol content.
• Perform distillation, proofing, blending, filtration, barreling, canning, bottling, carbonation, and sensory analysis per production requirements.
• Read and follow batching instructions accurately to ensure correct weights and measurements.
• Monitor gauges, valves, and thermometers to ensure processing stays within limits.
• Identify and report malfunctions or deviations in equipment to supervisor or manager.
• Set up, operate, and maintain equipment for blending and processing of raw ingredients.
• Maintain logs, inventory, and lot-control records; transfer critical control data as directed.
• Monitor inventory in batching to ensure resources meet production needs.
• Receive ingredients and manage bulk materials per lot-control instructions.
• Clean in place (CIP) operations and maintain a clean production area.
• Operate forklifts to supply production materials as needed.
• Participate in shift exchanges and team meetings; follow GMP and safety standards.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Basic math

Lifting 60 lbs

Organizational skills

Reading comprehension (English)

Fast-paced environment

Education

High School or Equivalency Diploma

Tools

PC proficiency (Outlook, Word, Excel)

Forklift experience

Job description

Processing Operator – Next Century Spirits

Who we are: Established in Raleigh, NC in 2018, Next Century Spirits blends traditional techniques and unique finishing technologies to create enhanced distilled spirits. Our patented post distillation filtering and finishing technology creates a tool for the traditional distiller to expand their repertoire of achievable flavors and aromas while improving quality, maintaining consistency, and reducing supply chain issues. This technology allows for tight control over the entire production process, resulting in the ability to create bold and unique flavor customization options for brands to choose from to expand product portfolios and fulfill market needs. As we have matured so to have our aspirations of developing our own portfolio of brands.

Benefits

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Primary Duty

Reporting to the Processing Lead, the Processing Operator is primarily responsible for batching, blending and preparing raw ingredients according to product formulas and required processing standards. This position is also responsible for ensuring that product is processed to the highest standards of quality, safety and efficiency.

Job Responsibilities

Blend & batch ingredients following provided recipes to produce spirit-based beverages of specified flavor, color, clarity, and alcohol concentration.

Conduct and perform duties associated with production of distilled spirits products including but not limited to the following: distillation, proofing, blending, filtration, barreling, canning, bottling, carbonation, and performing sensory analysis.

Responsible for carefully reading and following batching instructions to ensure appropriate materials are weighed and measured to recipe specifications.

Observe gauges, valves, and thermometers to determine if processing parameters are within specified limits and ranges.

Observe and listen to equipment in order to detect possible malfunctions, such as leaks or plugging. Reports malfunctions or undesirable results to Processing Lead or Operations Manager.

Set up, operate, and maintain equipment that blends, mixes or processes raw ingredients in the production of alcoholic beverages, according to designated formulas and recipes.

Maintain accurate and detailed equipment work log, inventory, and lot control records. Responsible for properly transferring batching forms and other critical control information as instructed by Processing Lead and Operations Manager.

Monitor and review inventory levels in batching department to ensure resources are available at all times to achieve the most efficient operating conditions.

Receive all ingredients including bulk materials and follow all lot control instructions.

Responsible for cleaning and running Clean in Place (CIP) equipment and follow all applicable procedures.

Maintain assigned work area and production environment in clean and orderly condition.

Safely operates forklifts as needed to keep assigned work area supplied with necessary production materials.

Actively participate in shift exchanges and work team meetings.

Ensure compliance with safety standards and with applicable regulatory requirements while following the company’s Good Manufacturing Practices.

Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Basic mathematical calculations skills
• Ability to lift, carry and empty containers weighing up to 60 lbs repeatedly
• Demonstrated organizational, detail orientation and observational skills
• Ability to read and follow oral and written instructions in the English language
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, often with limited supervision

Preferred Qualifications

• High School or Equivalency Diploma
• One year experience in a manufacturing environment, ideally in the beverage industry
• Previous forklift experience
• Proficiency using a personal computer (PC) and related software, ideally Microsoft Office Tools (Outlook, Word, Excel)
• Technical knowledge of distillation, batching, blending, and beverage cellar maintenance.

Physical Activity

Regularly: Lift/Carry 60 lbs; Frequently: Push/Pull 60 lbs, Reach Overhead, Stand, Walk/Move About; Occasionally: Climb, Squat/Bend/Kneel, Sit. Comments: Frequent time spent up and down stairs to platform with height above 6 ft.

Equipment Operated

Hand trucks, pallet jacks, lifts, scales and forklifts

Job Type

Full-time

Location

Work Location: In person