Job Overview
Clonakilty Distillery is an award-winning craft spirits producer located on the southwest coast of Ireland. Our mission is to harness the natural advantages of our maritime environment—clean water, sea air, and rich soils—to produce exceptional Irish whiskey, gin, and vodka.
As a senior leadership role, this position oversees operations across manufacturing, visitor experience, and support functions. We are seeking an experienced operations leader who will drive growth, profitability, and high-performing teams within a fast-paced customer-focused environment.
* Lead day-to-day operations to achieve production, service, and business targets.
* Oversee distillery operations, visitor experience, and third-party services.
* Develop and coach managers to foster a culture of capability, ownership, and succession.
* Drive continuous improvement in performance, quality, cost control, and customer service.
* Champion compliance, health & safety, and operational excellence.
* Partner with the CEO on strategic initiatives and long-term business growth.
Requirements
We're looking for a commercially minded operations leader with a proven track record of delivering results and building empowered teams. You will bring:
* 5+ years' senior management experience, ideally within FMCG or the drinks industry.
* Strong expertise in large-scale operations, manufacturing best practice, and efficiency improvement.
* A track record of performance management, problem-solving, and leading change.
* Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to inspire and develop teams.
* A customer-focused and commercially aware mindset.