Top Shelf Distillers: Position – Production & Distillery Equipment Operator

Reports to: Production Manager / Distiller

The Company:

Top Shelf Distillers’ core objective is to provide memorable and unique experiences to all clients & community partners with carefully crafted & unique spirits. We strive to find ways to create, grow, and expand our clients’ & community’s offerings daily.

We weave this value into everything that we do.  From using locally sourced ingredients, supporting Ontario-based non-for-profits, community outreach response with hand sanitizer to those in need, hosting RV campers through Harvest Host and delivering goods directly to people’s homes, while providing new training and opportunities to invest in the growth of our staff.  At the heart of all this is the distillery and the people who work tirelessly to ensure our client’s needs are met and exceeded.

Purpose of group/unit:

The operations/production group works as a team to plan and efficiently execute processes that will provide high-quality products & services to clients in a safe and comfortable work environment.

Purpose of Position: 

As a vital member of the plant operations team, the Production & Distillery Equipment Operator is responsible for following all safety and quality rules and procedures, process setups, process execution, including operation of equipment, process wrap-up, housekeeping and other tasks as defined by TSD procedures and assigned by the production manager. The Production & Distillery Equipment Operator will be responsible for the team on shift and accountable to report progress and any issues that may have occurred to the next production lead on shift.

Role – (report to Production Manager):

As the Production & Distillery Equipment Operator, your position is an integral role in ensuring our product demands are on track, inventory levels are accurate, and that the team's daily workload objectives are met. The position requires excellent verbal, written, and physical communication skills, very well organized, calm nature in stressful environments, problem-solving, and a self-driven attitude. This allows for a safer and less stressful working environment for your fellow workers.

1. Major Responsibilities

1. Ensure assigned process activities are carried out safely and effectively within the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and GMP standards.

2. Ensure policies, safety standards, regulations and protocol are followed and adhered to.

3. Maintain knowledge and awareness of plant safety and fire prevention as part of each process execution, varying from process to process. 

4. Run simple, medium and complex processes and follow process directives under the general supervision of the Production Manager.  Provide accurate calculations of weight, volume and concentrations. 

5. Lead a shift/team to execute simple, medium and complex projects, ensuring the project is completed safely, meeting all quality specifications and on budget following all defined company procedures.  

6. Run, understand and troubleshoot all plant processes and equipment.

7. Ensure accurate and up-to-date records are maintained.  Communicate with company leaders as required.   Provide accurate and timely communication notes to the Production Manager and other team members.

8. Maintain the plant and area of operation in clean and safe working conditions, including cleanup of spills from processes.

9. Show a positive work attitude in performing assigned tasks.   Work effectively with others as a team, and ensure positive and productive work relationships are maintained within the department and company.  

10. Train all operators in the understanding and troubleshooting of all equipment and processes.

11. Coach, develop and maximize employee potential to ensure a competent and motivated team.

2. Critical skills, knowledge and abilities

1. No attendance concerns.

2. Technical/mechanical aptitude.

3. Knowledge of plant safety, fire prevention and lockout systems

4. Safety-conscious

5. Ability to maintain several flows of product simultaneously while processing

6. Team player; works with people and other groups effectively with a solid commitment to a team approach to problem-solving.

7. Has a positive work attitude and shows initiative.

8. Ability to work independently.   

9. Ability to perform shift work.   

10. Knowledge of GMP, WHMIS and HACCP.

11. Good communication skills, both verbal and written.

12. Ability to operate in a stressful environment while staying calm and assessing what is required

13. Openness to continual learning. 

14. Computer literate; working knowledge of Word and Excel, along with Google equivalents, is an asset.

15. Demonstrate leadership and communication skills—Ability to translate and communicate instructions effectively.

16. Initiative, excellent problem solving and organizational skills.

17. Good interpersonal skills, knowledge, and confidence in the team’s abilities.

18. Familiarity with plant systems

19. Ability to assess operators as to their strengths and areas they can improve on and assisting them in developing in those areas

20. Ability to assess gaps in plans and take counter-measures to ensure the overall goal is still achieved.

21. Ability to spearhead new distillery production protocols and implement software systems that our specialists have custom developed

22. Daily / weekly monitoring of all hard goods needed for production, keeping them at determined par levels.

23. Comprehensive knowledge of our POS (square) & Online shopping platforms (Shopify)

3. Education

1. Grade 12 minimum, with above-average mathematical skills and science comprehension

2. A diploma or certificate in a related field is an asset.

3. Smart Serve

4. Previous forklift operations experience/forklift certification

5. WHMIS

6. First- Aid

4. Experience

1. Experience in related fields is an asset

5. Conditions of employment

1. Physical:  Lifting of up to 20 Kg    Extensive walking on cement, standing, crouching and bending.

2. The nature of the business and work environment may affect individuals who are prone to allergies.

3. Availability to work a flexible/rotating schedule. Weekend shifts may be required.  Ability to work ten and twelve-hour shifts as needed.

4. Working with and exposure to cleaning chemicals, flammables, hazardous wastes, dust and fumes, acids, caustics and other chemicals. Work with hot materials, steam and, at times, in a wet environment.

6. Key external relationships

1. Clients

2. Suppliers

3. Industry peers

7. Supervisory and management responsibilities

1. Supervising all production staff on shift

8. Decision-making authority

1. Input on plant purchases.

2. Input on new auxiliary equipment specifications.

3. Equipment usage/assignments on processes where it is not specified in the directive.

4. Process decisions regarding feeding rates/flow rates to make processes more efficient without straying from set parameters.

5. Allocate junior Operators

9. Size and scope of projects

1. A lead operator on simple, medium, complex processes, and complex R & D processes

10. Problem-solving responsibilities

1. Resolve equipment and process problems as they arise.

2. Determine gaps in processes and provide solutions

3. Report any issues to Plant Production Manager

11. Confidentiality

1. There is a continual requirement to work with confidential client/company information and maintain the confidentiality of such information.

12. Continuing study - skill maintaining and upgrading of the following: 

1. Safety training

2. Chemical training

3. Supervisor and leadership training

4. Technical skills:  chemistry, process equipment, computer usage, physics.

5. Qualifications:

   High School Diploma or Equivalent