A rare opportunity to bring a new distillery to life - for one of bourbon's most iconic brands.Greenfield opportunities like this don't come around often. Wild Turkey is expanding in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, and we're looking for an Operations Manager to own the startup end to end - from commissioning and validation to Day-1 readiness and ramp-up. You'll be the single point of operational ownership for a brand-new distillery, with high visibility across global and local stakeholders and the kind of scope most operations managers never get. If you've been waiting for the chance to say "I started that plant up" - this is it.
General Description of the RoleThe Operations Manager is accountable for the end-to-end operational readiness, commissioning, and execution of the Lawrenceburg Wild Turkey Distillery. This role serves as the single operational integrator across engineering, operations, quality, and support functions to ensure safe and compliant operations of the Distillery.
Key Responsibilities and Activities- Structured execution from commissioning governance, including system turnover, punch-list closure, and validation sign-offs, then owning the day-to-day post start-up
- Coordinate activities to ensure rapid stabilization of production in the Distillery
- Ensure all process systems meet defined performance, safety, and quality standards
- Act as the single point of operational ownership bridging engineering, production, quality, HR, and supply chain in the Distillery
- Coordinate external vendors, OEMs, and contractors to ensure readiness and system validation through day-to-day production
- Ensure SOPs, work instructions, and process documentation are complete and validated prior to startup
- Build and execute training plans, competency matrices, and onboarding for operations teams
- Validate staffing plans and organizational readiness for new capacity
- Drive rapid ramp-up to target throughput, yield, and efficiency
- Monitor startup KPIs (safety, quality, output, reliability) and lead stabilization efforts
- Identify and mitigate operational risks impacting capacity delivery
- Reduce startup risks, delays, and rework through centralized ownership and structured issue tracking
- Lead daily startup governance routines (war rooms, issue logs, escalation paths)
- Ensure compliance with safety, regulatory (TTB), and quality standards
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders (PMO, Operations, Engineering, Procurement, QRD) and external partners (e.g., Design Builder) to align project goals, timelines, and deliverables
- Escalate critical decisions through defined governance paths and ensure alignment across global and local stakeholders
- Manage daily activities/resources to ensure maximized efficiency in the Distillery
- Maintain and organize technical submittals, including engineering drawings, specifications, equipment data sheets, and validation records
- Facilitate and document meeting minutes for core project team meetings, including follow-up communications
- Ensure communication with relevant internal stakeholders on activities impacting daily operations
- Perform other duties as assigned to support project success
Key Deliverables- Achievement of Day-1 operational readiness across people, processes, and systems
- Rapid stabilization to planned capacity and performance targets
- Closed commissioning and verification including punch list through improvement ideas
- Documented and trained operating model for sustained operations
Key RelationshipsInternal:- Local and Regional Engineering Team
- Local Site Manufacturing Team
- Local HS & Sustainability Team
- Local and Regional Accounting/Finance
- Regional Brand House Marketing Team
External:Qualifications / RequirementsEducation- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or related field
Experience- 5+ years of experience in manufacturing
- Experience in the distilled spirits or beverage industry is required; distillation experience is preferred
- Proven experience in operations management
- Strong cross-functional leadership in complex, multi-stakeholder environments, both internal and external
- Experience working in a union environment is preferred
- Strong understanding of processing and manufacturing
Knowledge / Skills / Abilities- High proficiency in Microsoft Office suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
- Strong organizational and multitasking skills with keen attention to detail
- Knowledge of commissioning frameworks (FAT, SAT, IQ/OQ/PQ)
- Familiarity with SAP, production planning, safety systems and quality systems
- Proven ability to work collaboratively across departments and influence at all organizational levels
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
- Ability to navigate and work on the site (outdoor), including but not limited to walking on uneven surfaces (construction site), working at heights, and working on ladders
- Adhere to all safety protocols and procedures to maintain a safe and compliant work environment
