Head Brewer

Position: Head Brewer

Reports to: Director of Brewing Operations

Type: Full-Time, Exempt

Rate: From $73,000 per Year

The Head Brewer supervises the operation of both our 15-barrel and our 60-barrel brewing systems including milling, mashing, lautering, boiling, hop additions, whirlpool, and wort cooling. The Head Brewer is responsible for maintaining the timeliness, accuracy, and consistency of all elements of production brewing. As a team leader, this role is responsible for maintaining a healthy and positive team environment and provides management and supervision for respective brewers. The Head Brewer is also responsible for successfully meeting targeted production metrics. The Head Brewer maintains hands-on responsibilities as a Brewer position, which include (but is not limited to) pre- and post-cleaning and sanitation of all transfer lines and vessels, as well as cellar tasks such as yeast pitching and parts and hose maintenance. The Head Brewer will be responsible for coordinating and maintaining shift cohesiveness with other teams.

Job Responsibilities/Main Functions/Main Tasks

• Supervise and manage brewers and raw materials handlers which includes providing feedback whether it is coaching, discipline or evaluations
• Works closely with the Brewmaster to achieve comprehensive production goals
• Works with the Brewmaster to author standard operating procedures and guidelines and coordinates with fellow Brewers to ensure cohesiveness
• Ensures execution of SOP’s
• Follow all safety procedures
• Orders and ensures accurate inventory and quality management of raw materials and chemicals
• Guarantees the keeping of accurate daily production records per company and federal requirements
• Oversees the shift maintenance of all beer production areas including equipment (e.g., mill room, brewhouse, fermentation, and filtration, spent grain area, bulk grain and grain storage area, as well as all walkways and driveways around or leading to brewhouse and cellar)
• Assist maintenance technicians with equipment maintenance and repairs
• Follow daily and weekly cleaning schedules to maintain a clean working environment
• Represent Drake’s Brewing Company at beer festivals and other events
• Other duties as assigned

Core Competencies

• Leadership: Sets a positive example by following all Drake’s policies. Treats all staff members with respect and helps coach and motivate all employees.
• Teamwork: Must be able to work cooperatively and collaboratively with others; makes contributions to the work of others to assist the team to achieve a shared goal.
• Multitasking: Successfully manages more than one competing task at a time; understands how to shift priorities in order to achieve goals
• Workload & Time-Management: Uses time productively and effectively; stays focused by using time effectively and prevents irrelevant issues/distractions from interfering with task/project completion; ensures that high-priority work is accomplished within established deadlines.
• Technical Competence: Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one’s job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.
• Attention to detail: Is thorough when performing work & conscientious about all details.
• Developing Team: the ability to understand the needs, interests, strengths, and weaknesses of others, and to utilize this information for contributing to the growth and development of others. The ability to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses and to hold team members responsible and accountable for their actions or inactions.
• Problem-Solving: Identifies problems; determines accuracy and relevance of information; uses sound judgment to generate and evaluate alternatives, and makes recommendations.
• Temperament: Possesses the key skill of being ready for anything and handles conflicts of any sort with a calm, self-aware, and measured demeanor
• Judgment: Makes good decisions by ensuring that all direction given is fair, honest, and defensible
• Resilience: Remains flexible and durable in high-stress situations. Maintains a positive attitude in all situations and develops an environment that encourages team members to do the same
• Effective Communication Skills: Presents information clearly, concisely, and logically. Practices radical candor - maintains open, direct, and honest communication with all levels of employees. Able to draw logical conclusions from text, and ‘reads between the lines’ to find underlying meaning
• Passion for Hospitality, Good Food, and Craft Beer: Internally motivated to stay focused, knowledgeable, and committed to providing the best possible guest experience. Interested in learning about all aspects of craft beer.

Required Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• 5 years of production brewing experience
• 2 years of production leadership
• Through and extensive knowledge of practices, methods, tools and equipment used in production brewing
• Ability to interpret technical bulletins and schematics on equipment related to work
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions
• Excellent communication skills
• A high level of professionalism
• Ability to work independently as well as with a team
• Ability to identify tasks that need to be completed, and to appropriately assign tasks to their direct reports
• Working knowledge of the cellar process
• Understanding the role of sanitation in beer making
• Ability to safely handle cleaning and sanitizing agents
• Ability to work in a shared environment and be respectful of others
• Willingness to make difficult or unpopular decisions when necessary

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to frequently sit, stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl and climb
• Ability to communicate with management and other team members
• Ability to sit for periods of time, and use a computer and other office equipment
• Ability to frequently lift at least 55 lb., move at least 180 ib., and work standing for several hours
• Ability to work safely around chemicals, loud noises, hot environments, wet environments, and other potential hazards
• Ability to frequently reach with hands and arms. Use hands to touch or handle objects, tools, or controls