What are the responsibilities and job description for the Distillery Maintenance Manager position at Sazerac Company?
Company/Location Overview
About Buffalo Trace Distillery
Buffalo Trace Distillery has been producing bourbon on the banks of the Kentucky River since 1773 — making it one of the oldest continually operating distilleries in the United States. It's home to some of the most coveted bottles in the world: Pappy Van Winkle, Blanton's, Eagle Rare, and the distillery's namesake, Buffalo Trace Bourbon.
The distillery has earned more than 300 awards and 17 'Distillery of the Year' titles. It is a National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As part of the Sazerac family of companies — one of the fastest-growing spirits companies in the world — Buffalo Trace combines heritage craftsmanship with modern, ambitious growth.
Job Description/Responsibilities
About the Role
This is a high-impact, hands-on leadership role at the heart of Buffalo Trace Distillery — a National Historic Landmark that has been crafting award-winning bourbon since 1773. As Maintenance Manager, you'll own the reliability, safety, and continuous improvement of all distillery, barrel warehousing, and distribution maintenance operations.
You'll lead a team of up to 10 skilled technicians, drive toward 95% equipment uptime, and partner across production, safety, and engineering to solve problems before they become shutdowns. This role requires strong technical instincts, managerial courage, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
What You'll Do
- Own maintenance operations across the distillery, barrel warehousing, and distribution — planning, scheduling, budgeting, and execution
- Lead and develop a team of up to 10 skilled maintenance technicians; evaluate performance, identify skill gaps, and build improvement plans
- Drive 95% equipment uptime through a disciplined mix of preventive, predictive, and reactive maintenance
- Manage CMMS utilization and work order systems; reduce MTTR and increase MTBF across critical equipment
- Ensure safety is engineered into every project — review safety work orders, partner with the Safety Department, and maintain contractor compliance
- Oversee capital projects and new installations from design through commissioning; write and cost-justify CARs
- Develop and maintain SOPs for MRO inventory and PM scheduling; ensure GMP and quality standard adherence
- Champion the 5S initiative and build a culture of continuous improvement within the maintenance team
- Support a positive, self-directed team culture consistent with Sazerac's values and Collective Bargaining Agreements
What to Expect
This role operates in an active manufacturing environment and requires physical presence on the floor. Candidates should be prepared for:
- A demanding schedule with flexibility for evenings, weekends, and on-call response as production needs arise
- Physical requirements including standing for extended periods, climbing stairs and ladders, bending, kneeling, and working in varying conditions
- A fast-moving, high-accountability culture where problems get solved — not escalated
Qualifications/Requirements
REQUIRED
PREFERRED
✓ 5–10 years of maintenance management experience
✓ Distillery, brewing, or CPG manufacturing experience
✓ Bachelor's Degree
✓ Experience in an alcohol beverage environment
✓ Proven record of 95% equipment uptime
✓ Union environment management
✓ Experience leading skilled trades teams (union a plus)
✓ MBA or advanced degree
✓ CMMS/work order systems proficiency
✓ Organizational development background
✓ Project management from concept through commissioning
✓ 5S / Lean manufacturing experience
✓ Strong MS Office skills (Word, Excel, Outlook)
✓ Ability to communicate across all organizational levels
✓ Physical ability to work on-site: standing, climbing, bending
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