Lead Brewer
Purpose
The Lead Brewer will use their brewing expertise and knowledge of brewery operations to help ensure production goals are met while maintaining quality standards. The Lead Brewer will work closely with the Head Brewer in all facets of operations to ensure consistent production and quality. This position will require both close collaboration with team members, self-direction, and the direction of other team members and wider company.
Key responsibilities
- Management and operation of the brewery, ensuring all operations are efficient, hygienic and safe.
- Oversee and manage packaging department equipment, including kegging equipment, casking equipment, canning line and all associated machinery/supplies.
- Ensure paperwork and documentation for all brewing systems e.g. brew sheets, daily brewery tasks, delivery notes, are kept up to date.
- Ensures that brewery SOPs are being followed in daily operations. Edit and adjust SOPs as needed.
- Seeking continuous improvement to the product and process whilst maintaining beer quality through analysis and taste panels.
- Fully understands all brewery processes. Provides cross-training opportunities by covering job duties for individuals.
- Assists in raw materials acquisition and maintaining inventory.
- Management of 3rd party packaging suppliers.
- Promotes a clean and organised workspace.
- Assists on a daily basis to reduce operational challenges and minimize down time.
- Maintains brewhouse maintenance and improvement plan to be agreed with Head Brewer.
- Performs regular preventive maintenance on brewing equipment.
- Undertake any in-house engineering tasks on brewing equipment as required.
- Leads workspace improvement projects in the brewery.
- Stocktake responsibilities daily, weekly, monthly and at any other time as required.
- New product development when expanding Wimbledon Brewery’s beer portfolio.
- Working closely with sales and distribution teams to meet sales demand.
- Management of warehousing and storage of all packaging, ingredients and finished goods.
- Attending regular management meetings and providing both strategic and tactical input into the brewery business plans.
- Represent the brewery and support the sales team when required at events such as trade shows, ‘Meet the Brewer’, beer festivals or brewery tours.
- Perform normal brewer duties as outlined in the Brewer job description.
Key characteristics:
- A good level of brewing experience with a professional brewing qualification (or equivalent experience).
- Extensive knowledge of industry compliance standards: including safety standards, Government regulatory programs, HACCP, and production management systems such as Brewman.
- A strong understanding of process controls, troubleshooting and process improvement.
- Practical engineering skills and experience of brewery related repair and maintenance tasks.
- A passion for beer and the development of new beers.
- Strong organisational, planning and communication skills combined with attention to detail.
- A strong work ethic and the ability to multi-task, prioritise, adapt to changing situations and stay focused on objectives.
- Must be flexible and willing to take a hands-on approach in order to support the brew-team and brewery when required.
- Passion and professionalism with an optimistic outlook to life and beer.
- Self -motivated, organised, and energetic individual with good communication skills. Great troubleshooting skills and attention to detail.
- Distilling experience preferred but not essential.
- Forklift Licence (preferable).
Other duties
- Participate in training and development activities.
- Cover the duties of other staff as and when required.
- Any other duties as determined by the Senior Management team.
The above-mentioned duties are neither exclusive nor exhaustive and the post holder may be required to carry out such other appropriate duties as may be required.
Company Handbook: Following and adhering to company procedures and standards at all times.
Health & Safety: Ensuring that Health & Safety procedures and standards are always adhered to.
