Director of Brewing Operations

Career Guide
A Director of Brewing Operations leads the end to end production of beer, from brewing through packaging, while ensuring consistent quality, safe operations, reliable output, and strong cost control. This role manages teams, equipment performance, production planning, and regulatory compliance, often partnering closely with supply chain, sales, and finance.

Key Responsibilities

  • Set production strategy, capacity plans, and weekly brewing schedules
  • Lead brewhouse, cellar, filtration, and packaging operations
  • Own quality standards and drive consistent product taste and stability
  • Build and improve safety programs and incident prevention practices
  • Manage production budgets, labor plans, and cost reduction initiatives
  • Oversee raw material purchasing inputs and inventory accuracy
  • Improve equipment uptime through preventive maintenance planning
  • Develop standard operating procedures and training programs
  • Lead hiring, coaching, and performance management for production teams
  • Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal requirements
  • Coordinate new product scale up and process changes
  • Track operational metrics and report results to leadership

Top Skills for Success

Leadership
Operational Planning
Process Improvement
Budget Management
Cross Functional Communication
Brewing Science
Food Safety
Regulatory Compliance
Quality Management
Production Scheduling
Packaging Operations
Maintenance Planning

Career Progression

Can Lead To
Brewmaster
Head Brewer
Director of Operations
Plant Manager
Vice President of Operations
Transition Opportunities
Quality Director
Supply Chain Director
Manufacturing Excellence Leader
General Manager

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills
Cost AccountingCapital Project ManagementLabor PlanningChange ManagementData AnalysisSupplier ManagementQuality AuditingSafety Program Leadership
Development SuggestionsBuild a monthly operating review that ties production output, quality results, downtime, and cost to clear actions. Ask to co lead an equipment upgrade or line expansion to gain capital project experience. Strengthen quality and safety credibility by owning an internal audit calendar and closing corrective actions on time.

Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range
Entry LevelUSD 85,000 to 115,000
Mid LevelUSD 115,000 to 160,000
Senior LevelUSD 160,000 to 220,000
Growth Trend
Steady demand in established breweries and beverage manufacturers, with hiring tied to production volume, packaging expansion, and efficiency initiatives. Craft growth is uneven by region, while larger beverage groups continue to invest in operational leadership.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers
Anheuser BuschMolson CoorsConstellation BrandsHeinekenDiageoBoston Beer CompanySierra Nevada Brewing Co.New Belgium BrewingStone BrewingLagunitas Brewing Company
Industry Sectors
Craft BreweriesLarge BreweriesBeverage ManufacturingContract BrewingNon Alcoholic Beer Producers

Recommended Next Steps

1
Create a one page scorecard for safety, quality, output, downtime, and cost
2
Document and standardize the highest risk production steps with clear procedures
3
Launch a preventive maintenance rhythm with weekly priorities and follow through
4
Improve inventory accuracy with cycle counts and root cause fixes
5
Partner with finance to track cost per barrel and top drivers
6
Develop a training path for operators and leads with skill sign offs
7
Build a supplier review process for quality issues and delivery reliability