THE OPPORTUNITY We're looking for a Manufacturing Senior Director to lead our distillery, warehouse, packaging, and maintenance operations across two iconic Kentucky locations. This is more than an operations role - it's your chance to shape the future of bourbon manufacturing at one of the world's most passionate beverage companies.
Lawrenceburg & Wilderness Trail, Kentucky
📊 Reports to: VP of Manufacturing & Engineering
Travel: ~10%
WHAT YOU'LL DO You'll own the full P&L across both sites and set the strategic direction for our production and warehouse operations. Here's what a day in your shoes looks like:
- Lead and inspire teams across Distilling, Packaging, Warehousing, and Maintenance - driving a culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement
- Own the plant's SQDCP performance: Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and People - every single day
- Manage Labor Relations, including collective bargaining agreement processes with the local union, turning challenges into engagement opportunities
- Champion Employee Engagement initiatives across both sites - building a more productive, motivated, and connected workforce
- Set the strategic plan and annual budget for both sites, while staying hands-on in day-to-day performance
- Partner with Planning, Customer Service, and Innovation teams to bring new products to life
- Develop, coach, and grow a high-performing site leadership team (Packaging, Distillery, Barrel Warehouse, and Maintenance/Engineering Managers)
- Drive full compliance with TTB, GMP, ISO, and all food safety standards
- Align local operations with Campari Group manufacturing standards - while keeping Kentucky's bourbon spirit front and center
WHO YOU ARE You're a seasoned operations leader who gets the best out of people and processes. You bring both strategic vision and the boots-on-the-ground instincts to run a complex, multi-site manufacturing environment.
- Bourbon industry experience is a must - Distillation, Aging and Bottling, you know what it takes to produce world-class whiskey. From grain to barrel to bottle
- 10+ years of supervisory/management experience in manufacturing, production, warehousing and maintenance/engineering
- Proven Site Leadership track record
- Demonstrated experience leading labor relations in a unionized manufacturing environment, with a proven track record of developing productive union relationships.
- Hands-on experience preparing for and participating in collective bargaining negotiations (e.g., strategy development, costing support, proposal development, table negotiations, and post-ratification implementation).
- BA/BS in Business, Engineering, or relevant experience
- Outstanding communicator - you can inspire a shift supervisor and present to the VP in the same morning
WHAT SETS YOU APARTAt Campari, we value leaders who combine sharp execution with genuine people passion. Our ideal Plant Director excels at:
- Execution & Foresight - delivering results while anticipating what's next
- Technical Excellence - mastery of manufacturing with the ability to teach and scale it
- Business Judgment - balancing financial, operational, and organizational priorities with confidence
- People Development - attracting, growing, and retaining top talent
- Teamwork - building bridges across functions, sites, and levels
In Kentucky, you'll be at the heart of one of the world's most celebrated bourbon traditions - leading the people and operations that make it happen.
Ready to raise a glass to the next chapter of your career?
Apply now "
