The Distillery Planning Manager is an on‑site role responsible for production planning, onsite procurement, and logistics execution at Dillon’s Distillery. Reporting to the Master Distiller & Head of Distilling Operations, this role brings structure and visibility to distillery operations by translating forecasts and inventory needs into actionable production schedules, purchase orders, and deliveries. The position acts as the key link between planning and floor execution while aligning with enterprise supply chain processes and ERP systems. The role oversees the Warehouse & Logistics Coordinator and Bottling Line Supervisor and partners closely with onsite operations, central Supply Chain, and cross‑functional teams.
Distillery Production Planning & Scheduling
- Own and coordinate daily, weekly, and short‑range production and packaging schedules in partnership with the Master Distiller and distilling operations leadership.
- Act as the primary onsite planner for both high‑volume commercial SKUs and high‑complexity small‑batch production, balancing competing priorities and capacity constraints.
- Collaborate with cross‑functional teams (central operations, finance, sales, marketing) to integrate distillery production plans into broader Mark Anthony planning and forecasting processes.
- Proactively track inventory levels of raw materials, packaging components, bulk liquid, and finished goods; identify and flag material, capacity, or timing risks before they impact production.
- Establish and maintain planning visibility tools (production calendars, trackers, dashboards) to improve operational foresight, reduce fire‑drills, and support efficient execution on the floor.
Onsite Procurement & Purchase Order Management
- Own onsite procurement for all materials and services not managed by the central Operations team, including:
- Production consumables
- Packaging components and dry goods
- Maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) supplies
- Select contractor and service purchases
- Create and manage purchase orders, ensuring:
- Accurate quantities, specifications, and delivery timing
- Alignment with budgets, approvals, and planning needs
- Track open POs, deliveries, and receipts at the distillery level to ensure materials arrive in line with production schedules.
- Partner closely with central Supply Chain and Procurement teams to align onsite purchasing with enterprise standards, contracts, and systems.
Vendor & Logistics Coordination
- Serve as the primary onsite contact for suppliers, vendors, couriers, and carriers, ensuring inbound and outbound movements align with production schedules, dock availability, and storage capacity.
- Coordinate outbound shipments with couriers and 3PL partners, working closely with the Warehouse & Logistics Coordinator.
- Communicate logistics details clearly and accurately with internal stakeholders (commercial, supply chain, customer teams) to support on‑time delivery and customer expectations.
Team Leadership & Collaboration
- Provide day‑to‑day leadership to the Warehouse & Logistics Coordinator and Bottling Line Supervisor, ensuring alignment between planning, scheduling, and floor execution.
- Act as the central point of coordination across distilling, packaging, warehouse, and logistics activities.
- Represent distillery planning in IBP supply reviews and business unit meetings; serve as the onsite contact for plant capacity questions tied to demand changes or new initiatives.
- Build strong working relationships across Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, and Commercial teams.
Technology & Systems
- Leverage ERP systems, Excel‑based planning tools, and PowerBI reporting to support data‑driven production and inventory decisions.
- Play a key role in the evolution and implementation of planning and ERP tools, helping transition work that is currently manual or Excel‑based into more integrated systems.
- Support testing, validation, and continuous improvement efforts related to new planning and scheduling capabilities.
Who You Are
- 5+ years of experience in production planning, operations, or supply chain–adjacent roles within manufacturing, beverage alcohol, food & beverage, or CPG.
- Strong working knowledge of:
- Production and packaging scheduling
- Inventory coordination
- Vendor and logistics management
- Purchase order processes
- Demonstrated ability to operate in a fast‑moving, manufacturing environment with frequent change and competing priorities.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills; able to work effectively across operations, finance, commercial, and supply chain teams.
- Experience using ERP and planning systems; QAD experience considered an asset, but not required.
- Comfortable working on‑site in a hands‑on operational environment.
What’s In It for You
- High ownership, real impact: This role sits at the center of distillery operations. Your planning decisions directly influence production flow, inventory health, and how efficiently the site operates day to day.
- Opportunity to build, not just maintain: You’ll help establish structure, rhythm, and visibility where it’s needed most—creating planning tools, schedules, and processes rather than inheriting rigid systems.
- Variety and complexity: Work across both high‑volume commercial products and high‑mix, small‑batch production. No two weeks look the same, and problem‑solving is constant.
- Strong operational exposure: Collaborate closely with distilling, bottling, warehouse, logistics, supply chain, finance, and commercial teams—gaining end‑to‑end visibility across the business.
- Leadership without being far removed from the floor: Lead and support key onsite roles while staying hands‑on and connected to execution.
- Supportive, practical leadership: Partner with an experienced, collaborative operations leadership team that values clarity, improvement, and realistic planning.
- Stability with growth: Join a well‑established distillery backed by a larger organization, with opportunities to influence systems, processes, and future ways of working.
Why Join Us?
Dillon's Small Batch Distillers is committed to hiring, engaging, and growing qualified, talented, and motivated team members at every level of our organization. We offer competitive compensation that recognizes individual and company performance. The typical hiring range for this position is $85,000 - $95,000 annually complemented by a bonus plan; the base pay is determined by market location and job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and education. As part of our Total Rewards program, we are also proud to offer:
- Company-matched RRSP contributions
- Extended health and dental benefits, and mental health plans with 24/7 access to a primary care physician via Lumino Health
- Maternity & Adoption Leave Top Up and Paid Secondary Caregiver Leave
- Paid time off
- An extensive offering of world leading learning and development programs to empower your career development – in-person and digital offerings with internationally renowned resources like Franklin Covey and Lumina.
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At Dillon's Small Batch Distillers, we exist to Unearth the Extraordinary: Our Purpose is not just a statement; it is a call to action that binds us together and ignites our passion for making a difference. It is the driving force behind why we do what we do every single day, connecting our global organization across all business units, roles, and locations. We are:
Best in Our Craft
We set the standard with a pursuit of excellence that can be found in everything from our products and processes to our plants and people.
Ambitiously Curious
We stay curious, dreaming big and navigating the unknown with an enduring belief in better.
Made With Humility
We bring humility, authenticity, fun, and support to every collaboration and celebrate wins as a team.
Daringly Disruptive
We disrupt the status quo, moving fast to seize opportunities and acting scrappy to stay ahead of industry giants.
