Brewing Area Owner in Preston

Ownership Purpose: Brewing the world’s most loved beers and building brands consumers love, AB InBev is where ownership, ambition, and action thrive. Our portfolio of iconic brands includes global classics like Stella Artois, Budweiser, and Corona, and well-known favourites such as Camden Hells, Beck’s, and Leffe. We empower you to dream big, lead change, and create a long-lasting legacy. We value relentless problem-solvers who take accountability, embrace challenges, and turn bold goals into results through resilience and hard work.

What's in it for you:

• Benefits for you and your family to help your physical and mental health
• Competitive parental leave and pension double contributions
• 25 days holidays per year
• Employee benefits to help your physical and mental health and overall well-being (travel insurance, gym memberships, discounted services, dental, etc.)
• A beer allowance to enjoy our brands
• 2 volunteer days a year to support your local community
• WPA Private Medical Care
• 26 weeks paid leave for primary caregiver

The role:

These day-based roles report to the Brewing Department manager for the specific area. You will be part of a multi-skilled team who is responsible for supporting the Brewing department through consistent professional delivery of effective and efficient fault finding and upskilling in order to maximize equipment availability and uptime. Responsible for operational improvements that will include VPO, process optimisation, project execution, trial execution and improvement of procedures.

Undertake training and carry out new tasks in support of equipment optimisation, utilisation, performance and reliability in accordance with operational measures and recommendations. Act as a leader within the brewing operation with strong technical knowledge in area of responsibility and strong people management skills.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Drive continuous improvement while ensuring consistent implementation of agreed ways of working and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Set, monitor, and achieve departmental KPIs through structured performance management and regular reporting.
• Lead, develop, coach, and motivate the team, including managing direct reports, training, performance reviews, and succession planning.
• Ensure effective communication, coordination, and shift handovers across the department.
• Maintain workforce flexibility and optimize staffing to meet current and future business needs.
• Deliver production plans by meeting volume, quality, and operational efficiency targets while optimizing manpower.
• Identify, implement, and communicate continuous improvement initiatives, including monitoring losses, utilities, and other operational metrics.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, environmental (EH&S), quality, HACCP, and all relevant company standards, addressing safety concerns promptly.
• Manage departmental cost performance, including maintenance and utility costs, while supporting operational excellence.
• Lead by example through regular floor presence, reinforcing positive behaviours, addressing underperformance, and providing 24/7 on-call support as required.

Who we’re looking for:

• Minimum A-level (or equivalent) education; willingness to study for the IBD Diploma in Brewing.
• Proven experience managing teams to deliver deadlines, achieve KPIs, and develop employee performance.
• Experience in a high-speed manufacturing, production, or supervisory environment.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets and lead significant organisational change.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing principles, continuous improvement, and operational best practices.
• Sound understanding of brewing processes, including yeast management and fermentation cycles.
• Excellent leadership skills, with a visible, hands-on management style that motivates and engages teams.
• Strong organisational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with a structured, systematic approach.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong attention to detail and results focus.
• Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma qualification preferred.

Why build your career with us:

We recruit for mindset, ambition, cultural fit, and growth opportunities. UNIQUE CULTURE: We are proud to be part of something bigger than ourselves and are passionate about building upon our company’s long legacy. We believe in collaboration and candor, which results in a dynamic culture with open communication. BRANDS EVERYONE LOVES: We are part of the collective, global history of beer. We are the proud makers of more than 500 iconic brands, from beloved international classics to local favourites. GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES: Our people grow at the pace of their talent. We empower our people to learn, expand their perspectives, and unlock career growth. In an environment where commitment to excellence pays off, our people are able to deepen their impact and create a long-lasting legacy.