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: 8915 Production Management Reports To: Director of Plant Operations


Summary: The Operations Manager is responsible for leading and optimizing all production and warehouse operations to ensure the safe, efficient, and cost-effective manufacturing and distribution of company products. This role provides strategic and operational leadership across production, logistics, and warehouse functions, ensuring that safety, quality, service, and financial performance objectives are consistently achieved.

This position is accountable for improving operational performance through workforce development, continuous improvement initiatives, production planning, inventory management, equipment reliability, and cross-functional collaboration.

Essential Functions:

Operational Leadership

• Provides strategic and day-to-day leadership for production and warehouse operations, ensuring alignment with company goals, production schedules, and customer service expectations.
• Develops and executes operational strategies that improve productivity, efficiency, and operational performance.
• Builds and maintains a high-performance culture focused on safety, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Serves as a visible and engaged leader on the production floor and within the warehouse to support operational teams and reinforce the Phillips Way.

Production & Manufacturing Operations

• Leads daily production operations to meet safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.
• Ensures operational alignment with production schedules, labor planning, and equipment capacity.
• Monitors operational performance through key performance indicators (KPIs) including run time efficiency, Redzone downtime, yields, waste, and labor efficiency and variance.
• Identifies operational improvement opportunities and lead initiatives that enhance throughput, reduce downtime, and improve process consistency.
• Partners with maintenance to ensure equipment reliability through preventive maintenance programs and timely repairs.

Warehouse & Distribution Operations

• Oversees all warehouse functions including receiving, storage, inventory control, and product distribution.
• Ensures accurate inventory management for raw materials and finished goods.
• Establishes and maintains processes that ensure inventory accuracy, product traceability, and efficient warehouse layout and material flow.
• Optimizes warehouse productivity, storage utilization, and logistics processes.
• Oversees freight management and carrier negotiations to secure cost-effective and reliable transportation.

Safety, Quality & Regulatory Compliance

• Promotes a strong safety culture by ensuring adherence to OSHA regulations, company safety policies, GMPs, sanitation practices, and quality standards.
• Partners with environmental health & safety and quality teams to maintain a compliant and safe work environment.
• Assists with incident investigations, implements corrective actions, and ensures continuous safety improvement.
• Ensures operational processes support regulatory and quality management systems such as SQF, BRCGS, and GFSI standards.

Financial & Performance Management

• Supports development and execution of departmental operating budgets.
• Monitors operational financial performance, labor efficiency, and cost metrics to ensure alignment with company objectives.
• Identifies opportunities to reduce operational costs while maintaining safety, quality, and service levels.
• Promotes resource efficiency, waste reduction, and cost-effective operational practices.

Workforce Leadership & Development

• Leads and develops supervisors and frontline teams through coaching, mentoring, and performance management.
• Oversees workforce planning, hiring, and talent development to ensure adequate staffing and leadership pipeline.
• Partners with human resources on employee relations, training initiatives, and development planning.
• Fosters employee engagement and accountability through consistent communication and leadership presence.

Continuous Improvement & Process Optimization

• Leads continuous improvement initiatives using lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and operational excellence principles.
• Analyzes operational data to identify trends, root causes, and opportunities for improvement.
• Implements process improvements that increase efficiency, quality, and productivity.
• Stays informed of industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices to strengthen operational capabilities.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborates with planning, maintenance, quality, safety, human resources, and finance to ensure alignment across operational priorities.
• Partners with leadership teams to support company initiatives and operational goals.
• Maintains clear and consistent communication across departments to support operational effectiveness.

Reporting & Operational Documentation

• Ensures timely and accurate operational reporting including production metrics, inventory reports, downtime tracking, and shift communication.
• Develops and maintains standard operating procedures (SOPs), safety documentation, and operational processes.

All other 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.
• Must have the ability to work and participate in an environment that expects all employees to support wellness, safety, quality, and environmental responsibility.
• Must have strong analytical skills and the ability to think critically, problem solve and choose appropriate course of action based on priority and relative factors.
• Must have strong leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to motivate and inspire high-performing teams.
• Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to influence across all levels of the organization.
• Must have strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be highly adaptable, accountable, and have an operational focus.
• Must have a strong understanding of manufacturing and warehouse operations, including production processes, logistics, and supply chain operations.
• Must have knowledge of lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Must have proficiency with ERP systems, warehouse management systems, and operational analytics tools.
• Must have knowledge of OSHA regulations, GMP standards, and quality management systems.

Required Education & Experience:

• Must have the ability to maintain current knowledge, skills and/or certifications relevant to assigned job responsibilities.
• Bachelor's degree in business, operations management, engineering, manufacturing, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in manufacturing or operations leadership.
• Demonstrated experience in leading operational teams in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience managing operational performance metrics and budgets.
• Experience with an ERP system or warehouse management system.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Education & Experience:

• Experience in highly regulated manufacturing environments such as food and beverage.
• Experience with high-speed bottling operations.
• Experience working with Oracle systems.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Provides leadership and direction to production supervisors, warehouse leadership, and operational support teams.

Work Location & Travel Required: This position works on-site reporting to the Princeton location. Occasional travel may be required (>10%).

Work Environment & Physical Demands: Work is performed in a manufacturing setting (office, warehouse and production areas). This position requires regular standing and sitting with the ability to sit and use a computer for extended periods of time. Regular presence in production areas is required, which involves working in a loud environment. Utilization of proper PPE is required in designated areas. Must have the ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

Other Considerations: The intent of this job description is not to state or imply that the duties listed are the only duties that will be performed. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform any other job-related duties as requested by management. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

Phillips Distilling Company is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workforce. We consider all qualified individuals for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status, among other factors.

Starting Pay Range: 115,000 - 135,000 Annually

Where a candidate falls within the pay range will vary based on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, geographic location, education, skills and experience.

Benefits Overview: PDC offers a comprehensive benefits package to support the health, well-being, and financial security of our employees and their families. Our benefits package includes:

• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision plans to meet individual/family needs.
• Financial Well-being: 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match, flexible spending accounts (FSAs), and health savings accounts (HSAs).
• Income Protection: Employer-paid life insurance, accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability coverage.
• Paid Time Off: Includes 9 paid holidays, annual PTO accrual, bereavement leave, and parental leave.
• Additional Voluntary Benefits: Options for supplemental life insurance, critical illness, and accident insurance.
• Wellness Program: Incentives and resources to support physical and mental well-being.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential access to counseling, financial & legal planning, estate planning, wellness resources, and more to support employees and their families.
• Bonus Potential: Annual bonus opportunities based on individual and/or company performance.

This summary provides a general overview of available benefits. Specific details, including eligibility criteria and plan options, will be provided during the recruitment/onboarding process.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.