Bundaberg Distillation Manager

Job Description

Who are we:

With over 200 brands sold in nearly 180 countries, we’re the world’s leading premium drinks company. From global icons like Johnnie Walker, Guinness and Tanqueray to local favourites like Bundaberg Rum, Mr Black & Ello, we create brands consumers love. Bring your passion and use your curiosity as you explore, collaborate and innovate. Together with passionate people from all over the world, you’ll test new ideas, learn and grow, and unlock a brighter, more exciting future.

Join us to create a career worth celebrating.

About the Function:

Supply Chain & Manufacturing is where our brands are made, moved and delivered to the world.

With over half of our people working across more than 100 sites, this is a complex, large-scale operation that brings together production, logistics, engineering and supplier partnerships.

It’s fast-paced and hands-on, with teams working together to ensure quality, efficiency and sustainability at every stage. From sourcing ingredients to getting products into customers’ hands, you’ll play a role in delivering the brands people know and love.

About the Role:

The Bundaberg Distillation Manager leads the safe, compliant and efficient operation of Bundaberg Rum's distillation process, ensuring the right volume and quality of spirit is produced to support production and maturation. As a key operational leader, you will play an important role in preserving the quality, consistency and heritage of one of Australia's most iconic spirits brands while driving continuous improvement across the distillery. This role also offers a defined development pathway to Operations Manager for a high-performing leader looking to build a long-term career with Bundaberg Rum.

Working closely with Maturation, Planning, Quality, Engineering and Site Leadership, you will oversee day-to-day distillation operations, optimise production performance and lead continuous improvement across safety, quality and efficiency.

Role Responsibilities:

• Lead the safe and compliant operation of the distillery, ensuring all activities meet HSE, quality, food safety and regulatory standards across fermentation, distillation and liquid handling processes.
• Complete production plans to deliver the required volume and quality of rum, partnering with Planning, Maturation and Operations to meet demand and production priorities.
• Monitor and optimise distillation performance, including fermentation, process control, yield, spirit quality and loss reduction, ensuring products consistently meet specification.
• Partner with Engineering and Reliability teams to improve asset performance, minimise downtime and enhance production efficiency through proactive maintenance and continuous improvement.
• Work closely with Quality and Technical teams to investigate process deviations, resolve operational issues and implement corrective actions that protect product quality and consistency.
• Drive initiatives that improve operational efficiency, process reliability, sustainability and cost performance across the distillation operation.
• Lead, coach and develop the distillery team, fostering a strong culture of safety, accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.

Experience / Skills Required:

• Experience in distillation, brewing, fermentation, beverage alcohol, food manufacturing, chemical processing or another process manufacturing industry
• Proven experience leading people in a process manufacturing environment, with the ability to develop teams and deliver safe, high-quality operational outcomes.
• Strong operational leadership capability, with experience managing complex manufacturing processes and driving production performance.
• Sound understanding of manufacturing operations, process controls and safe production practices, or the ability to quickly build technical expertise in a regulated environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret production data and identify continuous improvement opportunities.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across Planning, Quality, Engineering, Maintenance and HSE teams.

Desirable Experience & Skills

• Exposure to process control and manufacturing systems such as SAP, MES, SCADA or similar platforms.
• Experience with Continuous Improvement methodologies (e.g. Lean, TPM or Six Sigma).
• CIBD qualifications in Brewing or Distillation, or a willingness to work towards obtaining them.

Flexible Working:

Flexibility is key to our success. Talk to us about what flexibility means to you, so that you’re supported to manage your wellbeing and balance your priorities from day one.

Rewards & Benefits:

At Diageo, we offer more than just a role— we offer an environment where you can thrive, grow and be recognised for your impact.

• Competitive reward – Market-leading salary, performance-driven bonus and industry perks
• Flexible ways of working – Hybrid working with no set office days, empowering you to balance work and life in a way that works for you
• Industry-leading family leave – Generous paid parental leave for all parents, along with support for life’s key moments
• Health & wellbeing – Comprehensive support including mental health resources, wellbeing initiatives and employee assistance programmes
• Career growth – Access to global opportunities, leading learning programmes and clear pathways for development
• Inclusive culture – A values-led, inclusive environment where you can bring your whole self to work
• Product perks – Employee discounts and experiences across our iconic portfolio

Commitment to Inclusion & Diversity:

Our purpose is to celebrate life, every day, everywhere. And creating an inclusive culture, where everyone feels valued and that they can belong, is a crucial part of this.

We embrace diversity in the broadest possible sense. This means that you’ll be welcomed and celebrated for who you are just by being you. You’ll be part of and help build and champion an inclusive culture that celebrates people of different gender, ethnicity, ability, age, sexual orientation, social class, educational backgrounds, experiences, mindsets, and more.

Our ambition is to create the best performing, most trusted and respected consumer products companies in the world. Join us and help transform our business as we take our brands to new heights and build new ones as part of shaping the next generation of celebrations for consumers around the world.

At Diageo, we pride ourselves on our fast paced, bold and agile culture. In order to ensure we’re supporting the performance ambitions of our team, applications for this role will close 21 days after posting.