Plant Reliability & Maintenance Manager — Heritage Bourbon

Build What Endures

At Buffalo Trace Distillery, a National Historic Landmark on the Kentucky River, heritage isn’t a museum piece—it’s a living production line. From Pappy Van Winkle to Blanton’s, Eagle Rare, and Buffalo Trace Bourbon, our portfolio and 300+ awards (including 17 Distillery of the Year honors) reflect a relentless pursuit of excellence as part of the Sazerac family.

The Challenge

Imagine it’s peak season. A critical asset signals rising vibration. Your plan and your team turn a potential downtime event into a routine correction. That’s the standard here: anticipate, act early, and keep the whiskey flowing.

What You’ll Lead

• End-to-end maintenance leadership across distillation, barrel warehousing, and distribution—planning, scheduling, budgeting, and on-floor execution
• Development of a 10-person skilled maintenance team—performance management, upskilling, and succession building
• Reliability outcomes: 95%+ uptime via preventive and predictive programs with smart reactive response
• World-class CMMS utilization and work order rigor to lower MTTR and boost MTBF
• Safety-first operations: partner with the Safety Department, close safety work orders, and enforce contractor compliance
• Capital projects/new installations from design through commissioning; author and defend CARs
• SOP ownership for MRO inventory and PM schedules; maintain GMP and quality conformance
• 5S leadership and continuous improvement culture-building
• Team environment consistent with Sazerac values and Collective Bargaining Agreements

What to Expect

• On-site, active manufacturing role requiring floor presence
• Flexible availability for evenings, weekends, and on-call needs
• Physical demands: standing for extended periods; climbing stairs/ladders; bending and kneeling; varied conditions
• A high-accountability culture where issues are owned and resolved quickly

Experience & Credentials

(A comprehensive list of required and preferred qualifications.)

• 5–10 years of maintenance management experience
• Distillery, brewing, or CPG manufacturing experience; alcohol beverage exposure
• Bachelor’s degree; MBA or advanced degree welcomed
• Track record achieving 95%+ equipment uptime
• Leadership of skilled trades teams (union experience a plus); union environment management
• CMMS/work order proficiency
• Organizational development background
• Project management spanning concept through commissioning
• 5S / Lean manufacturing experience
• Strong MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
• Clear communication across all organizational levels
• Physical ability for on-site work: standing, climbing, bending

Technical Strengths

• Leadership / People Management
• Project Management
• Preventive Maintenance & Inspection
• Warehouse Experience
• Distribution Experience
• Maintenance and Repair Skills
• Equipment Repair & Maintenance