Assistant Mill Manager

Sazerac Company Overview

Build your career at Sazerac! With almost 400 years of rich history, Sazerac Company has thrived as an independent, American family-owned company with operations in the United States and around the world. Since the 2000s, Sazerac has averaged double digit growth every year! Sazerac Company produces and markets the most award-winning bourbons and whiskeys in the world, including Buffalo Trace, Pappy Van Winkle, Eagle Rare, Blanton’s, Traveller, and Sazerac Rye. Additionally, Sazerac owns many popular brands across a range of spirits, including Fireball, Svedka, Wheatley, BuzzBallz, Southern Comfort, Seagram’s V.O., Myers’s, Goldschläger, Parrot Bay, 99 Brand, and Platinum Vodka.

We’re proud of our award-winning culture and distilleries. Our Louisville office has been named one of the “Best Places to Work in Kentucky” four times, and our Buffalo Trace Distillery has earned the title of “world’s most award-winning distillery” through the dedication of our craftsmen for well over 200 years. Whether you’re a recent graduate or an experienced professional, Sazerac provides extraordinary opportunities for growth with competitive salaries and benefits in an exciting, entrepreneurial industry.

Job Description/Responsibilities

The Assistant Mill Manager is responsible for supporting and leading daily stave mill operations while driving safety, quality, production, cost, and employee development initiatives. This role provides direct leadership to supervisors, team leads, and front-line team members while ensuring operational goals are achieved through strong process discipline and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, develops talent, and actively drives operational excellence through accountability, teamwork, and data-driven decision-making.

What You'll Do

• Lead daily mill operations by managing production teams, monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs), and ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective operations.
• Develop and drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, production, yield, cost reduction, and team member development.
• Coach, mentor, and develop supervisors, team leads, and front-line employees through performance management, feedback, training, and succession planning efforts.
• Partner with maintenance, quality, and operations leadership to address downtime, staffing needs, equipment reliability, product quality, and process improvements.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, environmental regulations, OSHA requirements, and safety programs while maintaining a clean, organized, and safe facility.

Qualifications/Requirements

Qualifications/Requirements and/or Desired Qualifications

Required

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• 5+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience with demonstrated career growth and responsibility for production teams.
• Strong knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles, safety regulations, OSHA compliance requirements, environmental regulations, and manufacturing best practices.
• Strong analytical, technical, communication, and leadership skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, develop employees, and drive operational performance.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Business, Forestry, Industrial Technology, or a related field.
• Experience managing production teams in a high-volume manufacturing environment, including supervisory responsibility for leaders and front-line employees.
• Experience in hardwood processing, stave production, lumber manufacturing, forest products, or related industrial manufacturing environments, along with familiarity with ERP systems, production reporting tools, Six Sigma, and operational excellence methodologies.

Culture and Benefits

Sazerac Company offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, 401K, paid time off, and more. These benefits may vary depending on location and work type. Learn more about how we support our employees here.​

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Sazerac is committed to equality of opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, veteran status, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, physical or mental disability or any other legally protected status.

What's Next:

After you apply, a recruiter will review your application and reach out to qualified candidates. Selected candidates will follow our interview process, which may include a phone screen, hiring manager interview, and panel interviews with business leaders. There may be additional steps or assessments throughout the process dependent on the position. Applicants who are not selected to move through the process, at any stage, will be notified via email. 

Need assistance throughout your application or interview process? Email talentacquisition@sazerac.com. 

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