Beverage Packaging Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Beverage Packaging Manager

Department: Packaging
Reports to: VP of Operations
FLSA Status: Exempt

Position Summary:

The Beverage Packaging Manager leads the entire packaging department and is accountable for the safe, efficient, and high-quality execution of all canning and kegging operations. This role provides direct leadership for Uinta Brewing Co’s Packaging Leads, Technicians, and Operators, setting expectations, building capability, and ensuring the team is equipped to meet the teams production goals. The Manager oversees staffing decisions, including hiring, performance management, and separation, while also guiding, training, and mentoring team members to support growth and advancement. This position partners cross-functionally with Brewing, Cellaring, Scheduling, Quality, and Maintenance to continuously improve performance, anticipate production needs, and maintain a clean, organized, and tour-ready packaging environment. This role is defined as a “Player-Coach” role and involves time on the floor along with administrative responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

Department Leadership: Lead the full packaging operation across canning and kegging, aligning labor, equipment, materials, and priorities to meet production objectives.

People Management: Directly manage Packaging Leads, Technicians, and Operators, including hiring, onboarding, coaching, performance management, disciplinary action, and separation decisions.

Training & Development: Build team capability through hands-on instruction, mentoring, and clear development plans that support internal growth and succession.

Operational Execution: Oversee daily start-up, run, changeover, and shut-down activities for packaging lines, ensuring schedules are achieved with minimal downtime and waste.

Cross-Functional Coordination: Partner with operations, scheduling, maintenance, and quality teams to respond quickly to changing priorities, resolve issues, and maintain production flow.

Process Improvement: Identify opportunities to improve safety, quality, throughput, and reliability, and lead initiatives that strengthen packaging performance over time.

Quality & Compliance: Ensure finished goods meet company quality standards and that packaging activities comply with GMP, food safety, and internal operating procedures.

Safety & Sanitation: Maintain a safe, clean, and organized department, including proper chemical handling, sanitation practices, and adherence to all safety requirements.

Inventory & Reporting: Support accurate material usage, finished goods counts, production records, and operational reporting to keep packaging activities on plan.

Qualifications & Requirements

Age: Must be 21+ years of age.

Experience: 5+ years of beverage packaging or high-speed food manufacturing experience, with progressive leadership responsibility.

Packaging Expertise: Strong working knowledge of canning and kegging operations, packaging workflows, and production scheduling in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Technical Knowledge: Advanced understanding of packaging equipment, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, carbonation, and brite tank processes.

Leadership: Demonstrated success leading teams, setting expectations, holding employees accountable, and developing others through coaching and feedback.

Compliance: Working knowledge of GMP’s, food safety, and safe chemical handling practices.

Licensing: Forklift operating experience required. Will be certified on-site.

Software: Proficiency in Excel and production-related data entry/reporting.

Communication: Strong written, verbal, and digital communication skills with the ability to work across departments and lead through changing priorities.

Physical & Environmental Demands

Active Production Environment: Ability to stand, walk, bend, crouch, and move throughout a loud, fast-paced manufacturing environment for extended periods.

Strength: Ability to lift up to 75-100 lbs. and safely maneuver packaging materials and kegs as needed.

Conditions: Comfortable working around water, steam, moving equipment, and cleaning chemicals in varying temperatures.

Core Competencies

Operational Leadership: Keeps complex packaging operations organized, on schedule, and aligned to production goals.

People Development: Builds trust, develops talent, and creates an environment where team members can grow and perform at a high level.

Problem Solving: Anticipates issues, analyzes root causes, and makes sound decisions to protect safety, quality, and throughput.

Accountability: Sets clear expectations, follows through on standards, and uses data and observation to drive results.

Continuous Improvement: Looks for practical ways to simplify work, reduce waste, and improve line performance.