Operations Manager

Since 1912, Phillips Distilling Company (PDC) has been producing high-quality spirits and popular brands. As one of America's oldest family-owned spirits companies, we pride ourselves on our independent spirit and our commitment to innovation, quality, and community. Phillips Distilling Company is currently inviting candidates to apply for a full-time Operations Manager opportunity. The candidate selected for this role will enjoy competitive compensation, annual bonus potential, development opportunities, and a comprehensive benefits package!

Classification: Exempt
Department: Production Management
Reports To: Director of Plant Operations                                              

Summary:
The Operations Manager is responsible for overseeing all operations activities, with direct accountability for key areas such as production, and other functions as assigned. This role serves as a key operational leader, ensuring that safety, quality, and performance targets are achieved by optimizing staffing, training and development, inventory management, sanitation practices, and equipment reliability. The Operations Manager also plays a critical role in driving operational excellence and fostering cross-functional collaboration to meet business objectives.

Essential Functions:

• Participate in frontline leadership responsibilities to build trust, deepen operational knowledge, and ensure alignment with team leadership.
• Lead daily operations for assigned departments, ensuring alignment with production schedules, safety standards, quality expectations, and efficiency goals.
• Provide strong leadership, coaching, and direction to frontline supervisors and hourly team members, ensuring effective staffing, workflow execution, and accountability.
• Foster a high-performance culture through regular feedback, recognition, coaching, and formal performance reviews.
• Develop and execute short- and long-term goals that support company objectives and promote a culture of continuous improvement.
• Monitor and analyze daily efficiency reports and operational KPIs to identify trends, resolve issues, and drive improvements.
• Ensure accurate and timely completion of required operational reporting, including downtime logs, batch reporting, and shift handoff summaries.
• Partner with the Shift Supervisor and Shift Manager to ensure seamless shift transitions and strong communication across teams.
• Collaborate with scheduling and planning teams to optimize production schedules and workforce planning.
• Support the development and execution of annual operating budgets in partnership with the Director of Operations; review key financial and operational metrics to ensure alignment with company goals.
• Promote cost control, resource efficiency, and waste reduction.
• Lead or contribute to cross-functional initiatives, including lean manufacturing and process improvement initiatives.
• Partner with Maintenance to support equipment reliability through timely repairs and preventive maintenance of production and bottle blowing equipment.
• Work closely with Safety and Quality to ensure a clean, safe, and compliant environment in accordance with OSHA regulations, company policies, internal procedures, GMPs, and sanitation standards.
• Maintain a strong focus on safety by promoting best practices, conducting audits, and leading incident investigations as needed.
• Make hiring, disciplinary, and performance-related decisions in accordance with company policies and procedures.
• Administer company policies consistently, fairly, and in alignment with company values.
• Partner with HR on employee relations, development planning, and training initiatives.
• Stay informed on industry trends, technologies, and best practices, and apply them to improve processes and performance.
• Performs all other related duties as assigned.

Additional Functions:

• Living and abiding by the Phillips Way and the company’s core values: Communication & Collaboration, Dignity & Respect, Accountability, Customer Service and Community.

Required Competencies:

• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to motivate and inspire teams, foster accountability, and build positive relationships across all levels of the organization.
• Approachability that encourages open communication and collaboration with team members at all levels.
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills with a strategic mindset.
• In-depth knowledge of manufacturing principles, processes, and technologies, including lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologie