Job Description

Company Summary

Constellation Brands is a leading international producer and marketer of beer, wine, and spirits with operations in the U.S., Mexico, New Zealand, and Italy. Our mission is to build brands that people love, pushing boundaries to think beyond today because we believe that elevating human connections is Worth Reaching For. Our Wine & Spirits Division strives to lead the high-end market with a world-class portfolio of premium and fine wines and craft spirits that reflect authenticity, passion, and uncompromising standards—from soil to glass. Our success is powered by a high-performing, entrepreneurial team that moves with agility, works collaboratively, and is driven to win while growing their careers in a dynamic, rewarding environment.

Position Summary

The General Manager is responsible for providing strategic leadership and operational guidance for all aspects of Sea Smoke's grape supply and wine production. This role oversees operations and the team to ensure protocols are in place for producing high-quality wines, while consistently meeting volume and cost requirements. Additionally, the General Manager drives continuous improvement, implements corporate policies and strategies, and maintains best practices. This leader excels in fostering an inclusive, diverse, and high-performing team.

The General Manager ensures the production of high-quality wines, meeting volume and cost requirements, and drives initiatives for operational efficiency and quality enhancement. They implement corporate policies and strategies to maintain best practices and foster an inclusive, diverse, and high-performing team environment. Collaborating with Group Winemaking, the General Manager upholds quality control standards and sensory standards. They work closely with the Brand Marketing team to develop and execute strategic and annual marketing plans, managing profit and loss to ensure bottom-line profitability. Additionally, the General Manager acts as a key ambassador in key markets, working with the sales team to educate stakeholders about Sea Smoke and attending industry events as a representative of the brand.

Responsibilities

Operations Management

Develop and execute a departmental budget to strategically leverage diverse resources, prioritize real-time operations, and support long-term productivity, quality, and efficiency goals.
Build working relationships with peers to ensure accurate and consistent information flow, procedure execution, and overall operational performance.
Interact with vendors to exploit technology, purchase equipment and services, and resolve long-term equipment, training, and process issues.
Determine operations policies consistent with company or divisional policies and supervise their application.
Recommend long-range strategic, capacity, and capital planning.
Oversee asset preservation of buildings and equipment, plant security, and protection.
Ensure execution of production schedules based on sales forecasts and winery capacity.
Lead operations personnel in applying methods and production standards, adhering to safety and quality programs.
Select, train, motivate, and supervise an efficient team to achieve goals.
Establish and maintain procedures and guidelines for participation in the Safety Process onsite.
Ensure Sea Smoke employees and on-site guests comply with safety and environmental practices, lead by example and build a safety-first culture.
Develop a keen focus on customer service and proactive communication across the team.
Be a leader and coach leadership, driving cultural change, accountability, and a continuous improvement mindset throughout the organization.
Promote and maintain a clean workplace that is always “tour-ready.”
Assure compliance of all operations with company policy and federal, state, and local regulations.
Analyze, evaluate, and manage various operation performance indicators such as product quality, line efficiencies, budget variance, and capital investments.
Implement strategies in alignment with strategic initiatives and provide a clear sense of direction and focus.

Winemaking

Build strategic working relationships with peers to ensure accurate and consistent information flow, procedure execution, and overall operational performance.
Oversee the Winemaking team, provide focus as required, and ensure accountability for job responsibilities.
Assure that wines exhibit the characteristics typical of variety, region, vineyard, and/or any other specifications established for a blend or brand.
Ensure wines are produced and identified correctly in accordance with applicable regulatory standards.
Provide expertise to analyze and facilitate wine development, leading to recommendations for and implementation of new and innovative wines.
Provide leadership in the sensory evaluation of wine for improvement purposes.
Ensure adherence to the highest quality standards for each wine, an orderly flow of work, and the integrity of the final product.
Work closely with Growers, Quality Assurance, Marketing, and Sales to achieve high-quality wines, balanced inventory, and sales objectives.
Represent the winery and our wine brands at industry trade organizations, sales and distributor meetings, and functions showcasing our wines, such as winemaker dinners and fundraisers.

Vineyards

Oversee the Vineyard Operations team, provide focus as required, and ensure accountability for job responsibilities.
Assure that grapes are grown for optimum quality and exhibit the characteristics typical of the variety, region, vineyard, and/or any other specifications established for a blend or brand.
Provide leadership in the evaluation of grape quality for improvement purposes.
Ensure adherence to the highest quality standards for each vineyard, an orderly flow of work, and the integrity of the final product.
Ensure compliance with CBI sustainability policies and practices that are economically viable, socially acceptable, and environmentally sound. Support programs at each location for conservation, energy efficiency, and recycling to achieve tangible environmental results.

Group Winemaking And Other Sites

Work with group winemaking to implement and maintain quality control standards, procedures, and protocols to ensure the production of high-quality wine.
Work in collaboration with group winemaking and other winemaking colleagues to establish sensory standards for all brands to ensure they stay true to their brand story and style, focusing specifically on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay skus.
Take part in blending and sensory at other winery sites as required

Brand Marketing

Work closely with the Brand Marketing team to ensure alignment on the development and execution of strategic and annual marketing plans addressing all aspects of the marketing mix.
Share responsibility for delivering volume, share, and profit objectives consistent with overall brand strategy, with P&L accountability for bottom-line profitability.
Build premium consumer/trade equity for the brand through the design and execution of consumer and trade strategies, including pricing, packaging, innovation, promotion, public relations, advertising/digital marketing, and special events, rooted in analytical and consumer insights.
Work with the Brand Marketing team for any strategic plans on the brand positioning as needed.
Collaborate with ambassador program to support any key market work or events
Partner with the Brand Education Director for any educational insights or needs per Sea Smoke as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Food Science, Fermentation Science, or related curriculum.
8+ years of experience in Cellar Operations and Winemaking.
5+ years of management experience in the Food or Beverage industry.
Strong supervisory, leadership, and team-building skills required.
Experience in planning, organizing, and controlling a complex, dynamic, and highly technical operation required.
Participatory/collaborative management style.
Technical orientation.
Strong communication and presentation skills.
Strong project management experience.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment

Works outdoors/indoors.
Works in warm/cold climates.
Works in high places.
Works on wet surfaces.
Is exposed to loud noise, fumes, and/or toxic chemicals.
Works near moving mechanical parts and lift truck traffic.
Must be able to move up to 55 lbs.
Primary office environment may be warehouse/distribution setting.
Must be at least 21 years of age.
Must be able to sit and/or stand for long periods and work on a computer for extended periods. Lifting may be required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

The purpose of this description is to outline the essential job functions and the level of work performed by individuals assigned to this position. This description is not an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by this position. Management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties from particular jobs and assign other duties as necessary.

Revision Date: 5.2.2025

Location

Lompoc, California

Additional Locations

Job Type

Full time

Job Area

Operations and Production

The Salary Range For This Role Is

$158,400.00 - $258,400.00

This is the lowest to highest salary we in good faith believe we would pay for this role at the time of this posting. Our compensation is based on cost of labor. For remote locations or positions open to multiple locations, the pay range may reflect several US geographic markets, including the lowest geographic market minimum to the highest geographic market maximum. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range, and the range may be modified in the future. An employee’s pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, the prevailing minimum wage for the location, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, shift, travel requirements, sales or revenue-based metrics, any collective bargaining agreements, and business or organizational needs. At Constellation Brands, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at the high end of the range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate. We offer comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, medical/dental/vision insurance, 401(k), and any other benefits to eligible employees.

Note: No amount of pay is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, or any other form of compensation that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.

Equal Opportunity

Constellation Brands is committed to a continuing program of equal employment opportunity. All persons have equal employment opportunities with Constellation Brands, regardless of their sex, race, color, age, religion, creed, sexual orientation, national origin or citizenship, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristics), marital status, gender (including gender identity or gender expression), familial status, military or veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related conditions (or any other group or category within the framework of the applicable discrimination laws and regulations).

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