Operations and Facilities Coordinator

Durham Distillery is seeking a hands-on, highly organized Operations & Facilities Coordinator to help own the planning, organization, and daily physical flow of our distillery operations, with a strong focus on warehouse management, bottling readiness, finished goods movement, facilities support, and logistics coordination across our Durham distillery and Graham warehouse locations. This role does not own forecasting, demand planning, inventory strategy, production scheduling, or cross-functional operational planning.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys hands-on work but also thinks ahead. The right candidate will take ownership of keeping materials, equipment, warehouse spaces, finished goods, and operational priorities organized so production and bottling can run smoothly.

This is not just a “jump in where needed” role. It requires someone who can plan, prepare, coordinate, execute, and follow through.

What You’ll Own

Warehouse Organization & Logistics Planning (30%)

• Own the day-to-day organization and readiness of warehouse and storage areas.
• Plan and coordinate the physical flow of raw materials, packaging supplies, work-in-process items, finished goods, pallets, and shipment staging.
• Keep warehouse spaces organized, labeled, safe, and ready for efficient movement of materials.
• Prepare for upcoming bottling runs by confirming that required materials, packaging, pallets, space, and equipment are available and staged.
• Coordinate finished goods movement from bottling through storage, staging, loading, and transfer.
• Support transfers to our Graham warehouse, including staging, loading, documentation support, timing, transportation, and completion follow-through.
• Drive or be willing to be trained to drive the company box truck for transfers, pickups, deliveries, and operational logistics.
• Identify space constraints, inventory movement issues, or workflow problems before they disrupt production or bottling.
• Help build and maintain practical warehouse systems, checklists, staging areas, and routines that reduce last-minute scrambling.

Bottling & Production Readiness (30%)

• Help prepare for successful bottling runs by ensuring people, materials, equipment, packaging, pallets, and workspace are ready.
• Support bottling and packaging work, including line support, case assembly, quality checks, palletizing, cleanup, and post-run reset.
• Track what needs to happen before, during, and after bottling so work is completed cleanly and nothing falls through the cracks.
• Communicate issues early and help coordinate practical solutions.
• Maintain a clean, safe, organized production support environment.

Facilities & Maintenance Support (30%)

• Execute hands-on facilities and maintenance priorities across production, warehouse, storage, and support areas.
• Perform basic routine maintenance such as cleaning, tightening, lubrication, functional checks, simple repairs, and equipment readiness support.
• Help identify maintenance or facility issues before they become larger problems.
• Coordinate and follow up on vendor work for repairs, service calls, maintenance, and facility improvements.
• Support facility resets, layout improvements, seasonal needs, and operational projects.

Vendor, Shipment & Operations Handoffs (10%)

• Coordinate clearly with internal team members on vendor follow-up, shipment visibility, delivery status, transfer completion, and documentation needs.
• Communicate when shipments are received, transfers are complete, vendor work is finished, or additional follow-up is required.
• Maintain practical notes, checklists, records, and follow-up items.
• Help ensure that physical operations connect cleanly to administrative follow-up, including shipment confirmation and invoicing handoffs.

What We’re Looking For

• Someone who takes ownership of warehouse readiness, logistics planning, and physical flow.
• A practical doer who can also think ahead, organize moving parts, and close loops.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Mechanical aptitude and comfort with basic facilities or equipment troubleshooting.
• Clear communication and strong follow-through.
• Comfort working independently while staying aligned with the team.
• Ability to spot problems early and bring forward solutions.
• Willingness to physically jump in when needed.
• Comfort driving or learning to drive a company box truck for operational needs.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED equivalent required.
• Minimum 2 years of experience in a hands-on operational environment such as warehouse operations, logistics, production, facilities, maintenance, manufacturing, beverage production, property operations, or construction support.
• Minimum 1 year of hands-on experience with facilities maintenance, building operations, property operations, construction support, or related work.
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment that requires collaboration, communication, organization, and vendor or contractor coordination.
• Ability to organize materials, plan staging needs, and support the safe physical movement of goods.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, work independently, and follow through on open items.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to follow safety procedures, standard operating procedures, checklists, and quality expectations.
• Working knowledge of OSHA regulations and facility safety standards, or willingness to develop and maintain this knowledge as part of the role.
• Proficiency with computers and Google Workspace applications.
• Ability and willingness to drive, or be trained to drive, a company box truck for warehouse transfers, pickups, deliveries, and operational logistics.
• Valid North Carolina driver’s license and clean driving record required to operate company vehicles.
• Reliable transportation.
• Ability to work full-time on site, with approximately four days per week in Durham, North Carolina, and one day per week at our warehouse location in Graham, North Carolina.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in Facilities Management, Construction Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field.
• 2–4 years of progressively responsible experience in a high-volume operational setting.
• Experience in a distillery, brewery, winery, food/beverage production, manufacturing, warehouse, or hospitality operations environment.
• Experience with bottling, canning, packaging, palletizing, loading docks, warehouse movement, shipment preparation, inventory staging, or warehouse layout.
• Prior experience driving a box truck or similar non-CDL commercial vehicle.
• Forklift, pallet jack, loading dock, or warehouse equipment experience.
• General handyperson, maintenance, facilities, or mechanical troubleshooting experience.
• Experience coordinating vendors, contractors, repairs, maintenance work, deliveries, transfers, or operational projects.
• Familiarity with basic plumbing, electrical, HVAC, refrigeration, restaurant equipment, production equipment, or other facility systems.
• Comfort using workplace communication tools such as Slack, Microsoft Office, inventory tools, or basic project tracking systems.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, climb, stoop, kneel, lift, carry, push, and pull as needed in a production and warehouse environment.
• Ability to regularly lift and move up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to work safely around production equipment, warehouse materials, pallets, tools, vehicles, and facility systems.
• Ability to work in a hands-on environment with shifting daily priorities.

About Durham Distillery

Founded in Durham, North Carolina, Durham Distillery is the home of Conniption Gin and Damn Fine spirits. We are an award-winning craft spirits company known for innovation, quality, hospitality, and a deep commitment to our community.

We operate with a small, dedicated team where collaboration, accountability, and problem-solving matter. This role is for someone who takes pride in making the work happen — safely, smoothly, and with care for the people around them.

To Apply

Please submit:

• A current resume
• A brief and friendly letter of introduction

No phone calls, please.

Durham Distillery is committed to equal employment opportunity and welcomes applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. Women, People of Color, LGBTQ individuals, and members of historically underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person