Distillery Maintenance Manager

Sazerac Company OverviewBuild your career at Sazerac! With almost 400 years of rich history, Sazerac Company has thrived as an independent, American family-owned company with operations in the United States and around the world. Since the 2000s, Sazerac has averaged double digit growth every year! Sazerac Company produces and markets the most award-winning bourbons and whiskeys in the world, including Buffalo Trace, Pappy Van Winkle, Eagle Rare, Blanton’s, and Sazerac Rye. Additionally, Sazerac owns many popular brands across a range of spirits, including Fireball, Southern Comfort, Seagram’s V.O., Myers’s, Goldschläger, Parrot Bay, 99 Brand, and Platinum Vodka. We’re proud of our award-winning culture and distilleries. Our Louisville office has been named one of the “Best Places to Work in Kentucky” four times, and our Buffalo Trace Distillery has earned the title of “world’s most award-winning distillery” through the dedication of our craftsmen for well over 200 years. Whether you’re a recent graduate or an experienced professional, Sazerac provides extraordinary opportunities for growth with competitive salaries and benefits in an exciting, entrepreneurial industry.Company/Location OverviewAbout Buffalo Trace DistilleryBuffalo 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/ResponsibilitiesAbout the RoleThis 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 DoOwn maintenance operations across the distillery, barrel warehousing, and distribution — planning, scheduling, budgeting, and executionLead and develop a team of up to 10 skilled maintenance technicians; evaluate performance, identify skill gaps, and build improvement plansDrive 95%+ equipment uptime through a disciplined mix of preventive, predictive, and reactive maintenanceManage CMMS utilization and work order systems; reduce MTTR and increase MTBF across critical equipmentEnsure safety is engineered into every project — review safety work orders, partner with the Safety Department, and maintain contractor complianceOversee capital projects and new installations from design through commissioning; write and cost-justify CARsDevelop and maintain SOPs for MRO inventory and PM scheduling; ensure GMP and quality standard adherenceChampion the 5S initiative and build a culture of continuous improvement within the maintenance teamSupport a positive, self-directed team culture consistent with Sazerac's values and Collective Bargaining AgreementsWhat to ExpectThis 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 arisePhysical requirements including standing for extended periods, climbing stairs and ladders, bending, kneeling, and working in varying conditionsA fast-moving, high-accountability culture where problems get solved — not escalatedQualifications/RequirementsREQUIREDPREFERRED 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#LI-JC1Job Summary# of Openings: 1Job Locations: US-KY-FrankfortCategory: Manufacturing/Production/WarehouseType: Regular Full-Time