DFG Beverage is the Deutsch family’s investment in wine production at McDowell Valley Winery in Hopland, CA, home of Josh Cellars wines.

The Vice President of Winery Operations serves as the senior site leader for McDowell Valley Winery and provides executive leadership and strategic direction across production, bottling, supply chain and planning, maintenance, facilities, capital projects, and matrixed warehouse and distribution operations. This role is accountable for overall site performance, including safety, quality, service, cost, productivity, employee engagement, financial performance, and strategic business objectives. Operating in a matrix environment, the VP partners closely with Winemaking, Quality, Finance, Human Resources, Procurement, IT, and Warehousing to establish priorities, resolve conflicts, and ensure effective execution.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Operational Leadership & Excellence
- Lead winery operations and the site leadership team, establishing priorities, performance expectations, decision rights, and KPIs.
- Develop and execute strategies that improve safety, quality, service, productivity, efficiency, and cost performance.
- Champion operational discipline, continuous improvement, and accountability.

Safety, Quality & Compliance
- Build and reinforce a strong safety culture and leadership accountability for safe work practices and employee well-being.
- Ensure compliance with environmental, health, safety, regulatory, and company requirements.

Financial & Business Management
- Develop and manage annual operating and capital budgets and longer-term financial plans.
- Monitor performance against budgets, forecasts, and operational targets.
- Drive productivity, cost, service, inventory, and capital commitments while protecting safety and quality.
- Partner with the Plant Controller on forecasting, financial analysis, inventory management, and investment decisions.

Supply Chain, Planning & Inventory
- Provide leadership for production planning, bottling scheduling, inventory management, and material availability.
- Partner with Procurement and other functions to ensure timely, cost-effective supply of materials.
- Partner with the matrixed warehouse organization to establish service, inventory, storage, labor, and performance priorities.
- Align production capacity and schedules with demand and business priorities while optimizing inventory, storage, cost, and risk.

Maintenance, Facilities & Capital Planning
- Provide strategic oversight of facility maintenance, equipment reliability, infrastructure, and preventive/predictive maintenance programs.
- Establish capital priorities based on safety, quality, productivity, capacity, reliability, and return on investment.

People Leadership & Organizational Development
- Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing, cohesive site leadership team across direct and matrixed functions.
- Establish clear accountability, decision authority, and performance expectations.
- Develop leadership capability and succession plans for key positions.
- Build a culture grounded in safety, accountability, collaboration, inclusion, continuous learning, and employee engagement.
- Serve as a visible and accessible leader across the Hopland facility.
- Partner with Human Resources on workforce planning, talent development, organizational design, employee relations, and succession planning.

Strategy & Continuous Improvement
- Help develop and execute long-term operating and business strategy.
- Identify opportunities for growth, automation, innovation, modernization, and improved operational capability.
- Translate business strategy into measurable priorities and execution plans.
- Lead major change initiatives and ensure changes are effectively implemented and sustained.
- Stay current on relevant technologies, industry trends, regulations, and best practices.

External & Stakeholder Leadership
- Represent the Hopland facility with regulators, community stakeholders, suppliers, customers, and other key partners.
- Represent the winery during audits, inspections, customer visits, and business reviews.
- Partner with corporate leadership and ownership on significant site initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS
Education
•  Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Business Administration, Engineering, Food Science, Enology, Supply Chain, or a related field.
•  Master’s degree or MBA preferred

Experience
•  Minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible operations and manufacturing leadership experience, preferably within wine, beverage, food manufacturing, or another complex manufacturing environment.
•  Minimum of 7 years in senior operational leadership roles with responsibility for multiple functions, significant financial and capital accountability, and leadership across direct and matrixed teams.
•  Demonstrated experience leading large-scale manufacturing or production operations, including budgeting, workforce leadership, operational improvement, and capital planning.
•  Experience managing complex production planning, supply chain, maintenance, and inventory requirements.
•  Demonstrated experience leading across a matrixed organization, including accountability for outcomes delivered through functions with separate direct reporting lines.
•  Winery and bottling operations experience is strongly preferred.

Skills & Competencies
•  Strong knowledge of winery, beverage, or comparable manufacturing operations, including production, bottling, quality systems, supply chain, maintenance, and facilities.
•  Demonstrated ability to develop and execute operational strategy.
•  Strong financial acumen with experience managing operating and capital budgets.
•  Strong leadership and organizational development capabilities.
•  Excellent communication, influence, and interpersonal skills.
•  Demonstrated ability to lead through change and operate effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.