Distillery Manager

About the role

The Distillery Manager will lead Van Ryn Distillery in Stellenbosch, reporting to the Plant Manager. This senior position is responsible for the full production lifecycle of premium brandy and whisky, from raw material intake to bottling and dispatch.

Key responsibilities

• Set strategic direction and goals for the distillery in line with divisional KPIs.
• Lead and develop a motivated workforce, ensuring safety, health and risk controls.
• Manage assets, financial resources and the site budget, overseeing all Capex projects.
• Interface with internal and external stakeholders, including supply‑chain divisions, suppliers and customers.
• Ensure compliance with Heineken global standards, environmental policies and excise regulations.
• Oversee quality management, raw material intake, maturation, blending, bottling, cooperage and product dispatch.
• Participate in the sensory evaluation panel and drive continuous improvement through innovation and best‑practice implementation.

Required profile

• National Diploma (Sciences) with 8‑10 years in alcoholic‑beverage production leadership, or 10+ years as a Spirits Cellar/Distillery Manager.
• B‑Degree (Sciences) with 5 years senior FMCG experience is advantageous.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, analytical and strategic thinking.
• Excellent people‑management, communication and problem‑solving abilities.

Required skills

• SAP
• Excise knowledge
• World Class Manufacturing (WCM) practices

What we offer

• Leadership role within a global beverage company.
• Opportunity to manage premium spirit brands.
• Dynamic, fast‑paced environment with strong development focus.