Distiller Sipsmith

Suntory Global Spirits is a world leader in premium spirits. With a clear vision and strategy, a world-class portfolio of brands, and an inclusive, engaging culture, the business is growing its global footprint with an ambition to achieve $10B in sales by 2030.

We are a company rooted in two centuries of family heritage with a rich interplay of diverse cultures. Combining the new with the familiar, we encourage our people to inspire brilliance. To push boundaries. To pursue excellence and quality at every step.

Unleash Your Spirit and join a global team dedicated to crafting new experiences, from seed to sip.

Distiller

This role is open at the Sipsmith Distillery in London, England.

What makes this a great opportunity

As Suntory Global Spirits accelerates its global footprint, we are establishing our own commercial business in the UK. As one of the largest, most sophisticated spirits markets in the world, the UK offers significant potential for our portfolio of premium brands. We’re building a world-class team to create a new and exciting business that is rooted in strong foundations, led by our values and long-term commercial ambition.

As a Sipsmith Distiller, you will work in partnership with your distillery team and support the Distillery Manager in ensuring the safe and efficient day to day running of our unique Distillery sited in Chiswick, West London and in the crafting of our award-winning gins and spirits to the highest standard.

Role Responsibilities

• Support the Sipsmith Distillery team in the safe, effective and efficient running of all aspects of the site and production day to day.
• Contribute to the proper management of Health and Safety on site. This includes ensuring that safe systems of work are in place and observed and that you have the Safe Operating Procedures and equipment necessary to carry out your duties safely, based on the findings of regular Risk Assessments.
• Support the Distillery Manager in the implementation of One Suntory Way Lean Manufacturing principles across the TRACC methodology of EHS, Teamworking, Visual Management, Focused Improvement, 5S and Asset Care.
• Contribute to focused improvement activities across the site to generate a pipeline of Profit Improvement Projects from regular Loss & Waste analyses, and to eliminate systemic process problems.
• Contribute to achieving optimum efficiencies to provide maximum possible levels of productivity at lowest cost.
• Contribute to ensuring that systems are in place to maintain the quality of production of Sipsmith Gin and associated spirits, as well as the storage of our stock and that of 3rd parties, so that this best meets the needs of our customers (internal and external).
• Work with a wide range of both internal and external customers to agree their service level needs and to ensure that these are consistently met.
• Contribute to the development of a working culture that ensures maximum flexibility in work practices, utilisation and efficiency, working within the framework of Suntory Global Spirits values.
• Maintain accurate distillery production data and transactions on the SAP platform, ensuring raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods records are complete.
• Ensure that all operations are operated in compliance with HM Revenue & Customs guidance.
• Work with the Distillery Manager to support Asset Care strategies to ensure effective maintenance of site and equipment.
• Assist Brand Marketing in brand promotional activities on-site, where required.

Qualifications & Experience

• A formal Distilling, Brewing or Science qualification would be desirable.
• A working background in operations or food manufacturing
• Awareness of continuous improvement systems and working with a continuous improvement mindset
• Knowledge and understanding of the operational requirements of spirits manufacturing sites and the Distillation process
• Understanding of SAP and its applications within a manufacturing environment would be desirable
• Good communication skills
• Ability to multitask and work under minimum supervision
• Aptitude for problem-solving
• Previous experience of distilling
• Fork lift truck licence desired, but not essential
• Happy to get ‘hands dirty’ and get involved in all that is going on at Suntory Global Spirits

At Suntory Global Spirits, people are our number one priority, and we believe our people grow together in diverse and inclusive environments where their unique insights, experiences and backgrounds are valued and respected. Suntory Global Spirits is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, military veteran status and all other characteristics, attributes or choices protected by law. All recruitment and hiring decisions are based on an applicant’s skills and experience.