Production & Operations (Lead Brewer)

Job Description:

Location: Temecula, CA
Schedule: Full-time (38–40 hours/week)
Compensation: $27-31/hour (DOE)

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Job Description

We are a six-year-old, growing craft meadery seeking an experienced Production & Operations (Lead Brewer) to oversee day-to-day mead production and bring consistency, structure, and accountability to our operations.

This is a hands-on leadership role in a small manufacturing environment. The right candidate is comfortable working independently, enforcing standards, and directing daily workflow without constant oversight.

This role is designed to reduce owner involvement in daily production by placing clear authority and responsibility on-site.

This is not an entry-level role and not a training position. Prior commercial production experience is required.

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Responsibilities

Production & Brewing
• Lead and participate in all mead production activities, including brewing, fermentation, cellaring, and packaging
• Monitor fermentations (gravity, pH), assist with filtration, and oversee bottling, canning, and kegging runs
• Maintain accurate batch records, cleaning logs, and production documentation
• Ensure production timelines are met consistently and efficiently

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Quality Assurance & Sanitation
• Own sanitation standards, QA execution, and SOP enforcement
• Ensure all production areas remain clean, safe, and organized at all times
• Identify, document, and resolve quality, process, or safety issues
• Maintain compliance and QA documentation as required (e.g., certifications, food safety, labeling support)

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Operations & Inventory
• Plan production schedules to meet sales demand and inventory needs
• Ensure raw materials, packaging, and supplies are stocked and available in advance
• Coordinate with vendors, suppliers, and freight partners as needed
• Maintain organized warehouse, cold storage, and equipment areas

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Team Leadership
• Direct daily workflow of production staff
• Enforce schedules, breaks, safety requirements, and SOP adherence
• Provide clear, direct feedback and participate in regular performance check-ins
• Escalate performance or process issues to ownership with recommendations

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Customer & Tasting Room Support (Limited)
• Support tasting room operations or events during peak times as needed
• Represent the meadery professionally when interacting with customers

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Decision Authority

This role has authority to:
• Set daily production priorities
• Enforce SOPs and sanitation standards
• Direct production staff workflow
• Pause production if quality or safety standards are not met

Ownership will support decisions made within this scope.

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Qualifications

Required
• 3–5 years of commercial production experience (mead, beer, or wine), including at least 1 year with lead or supervisory responsibility
• Experience producing mead or beer/wine with transferable fermentation and cellar skills
• Demonstrated experience leading or directing production or packaging teams
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to manage production timelines, quality, and safety simultaneously
• Comfort enforcing standards and giving clear, direct feedback
• Willingness to perform hands-on work, including cleaning and sanitation
• Ability to lift up to 100 lbs (e.g., honey buckets, full kegs)

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Preferred (Not Required)
• Experience with QA, compliance, or production documentation
• Familiarity with food safety, OSHA, or labeling requirements
• Forklift or warehouse equipment experience
• Comfort explaining fermentation or production processes to customers

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What This Role Is / Is Not

This role is:
• Hands-on
• Structured
• Accountable
• Direct

This role is not:
• An entry-level or training position
• A creative-only brewing role
• A flexible side gig
• A role without standards or authority

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How to Apply

Please submit:
• Your resume
• A short note explaining:
1. Your relevant production and leadership experience
2. Why this role interests you
3. Your availability and compensation expectations

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