Head Distiller Distillerie New Brunswick Distillery

Head Distiller New Brunswick Distillery — Bathurst, New Brunswick, CanadaNew Brunswick Distillery is looking for an experienced, hands-on Head Distiller to help shape the next stage of our growth.We are a young, ambitious beverage company based in downtown Bathurst, NB, combining a distillery, brewery, coffee roastery, tasting room, retail shop, events space, and direct hospitality channels. We produce spirits, gin, vodka, RTDs, beer, and other beverage products, with a focus on building a strong regional brand rooted in Atlantic Canada.This is not a “maintain the status quo” role. We are looking for someone who wants to come in, take ownership of production, improve systems, tighten quality, train the team, and help build a serious beverage manufacturing operation.If you are an experienced distiller who wants more authority, more creative involvement, and the opportunity to help build something meaningful, this could be the right fit.About the RoleThe Head Distiller will oversee day-to-day production at New Brunswick Distillery, including fermentation, distillation, blending, proofing, filtration, batching, quality control, production planning, cleaning procedures, inventory tracking, and documentation.You will work directly with ownership to improve consistency, yields, product quality, production efficiency, and long-term product development.This is a leadership role for someone who is both technically strong and practical. We need someone who can make great spirits, but also someone who can build repeatable systems, solve problems, and help turn a growing startup into a disciplined production facility.Key Responsibilities

• Lead production of vodka, gin, flavoured spirits, RTDs, beer, and other beverage products.
• Manage fermentation, distillation, cuts, proofing, filtration, blending, and bottling/canning preparation.
• Improve spirit quality, yield, consistency, and production efficiency.
• Develop and maintain production SOPs, logs, batch records, cleaning procedures, and quality control standards.
• Train and supervise production staff.
• Help troubleshoot fermentation, distillation, flavour, clarity, stability, and shelf-life issues.
• Support product development for new spirits, RTDs, barrel-aged products, seasonal releases, and hospitality-driven products.
• Manage raw materials, botanicals, ingredients, barrels, packaging, and production inventory.
• Maintain clean, safe, organized, and compliant production areas.
• Work with ownership on production forecasting, cost control, margin improvement, and long-term planning.
• Support compliance, traceability, excise documentation, and production reporting.
• Collaborate with the tasting room, sales, and events teams to connect production with customer feedback and market demand.

What We’re Looking ForWe are looking for someone with real production experience in distilling, brewing, fermentation, or beverage manufacturing.The ideal candidate has:

• Experience working in a commercial distillery, brewery, winery, cidery, RTD facility, or beverage production environment.
• Strong understanding of fermentation, distillation, blending, proofing, sanitation, and quality control.
• Experience with vodka, gin, whiskey, rum, liqueurs, RTDs, beer, or other beverage categories.
• Ability to create and follow SOPs, production logs, and quality control systems.
• Strong practical problem-solving skills.
• A clean, organized, safety-minded approach to production.
• Ability to lead, train, and hold a small team accountable.
• Interest in both traditional production and new product innovation.
• Comfort working in a growing company where systems are still being built.
• Strong communication skills and willingness to work closely with ownership.

Formal education in distilling, brewing, fermentation science, food science, chemistry, or a related field is an asset, but practical commercial production experience is equally important.Bonus SkillsThese are not required, but would be valuable:

• Experience with RTD development, stabilization, carbonation, or shelf-life testing.
• Experience with gin botanical formulation.
• Experience with barrel aging and whiskey/rum programs.
• Experience with neutral spirit redistillation.
• Brewing experience.
• Quality assurance or lab experience.
• Experience scaling recipes from pilot batches to commercial production.
• Knowledge of Canadian alcohol production, excise, or compliance requirements.
• Mechanical aptitude and ability to troubleshoot pumps, tanks, stills, lines, valves, filters, and packaging equipment.
• Bilingual ability in English and French.

Why Join New Brunswick Distillery?This is an opportunity to help build the production backbone of a growing Atlantic Canadian beverage company.We are not just a small distillery hoping to be discovered. We have multiple direct-to-consumer channels, including hospitality businesses, retail, events, and a local customer base where we can test, refine, and launch products directly.You will have the chance to make a visible impact on:

• Product quality
• Production systems
• New product development
• Team training
• Efficiency and yield
• Brand growth
• Long-term production strategy

We are based in Bathurst, New Brunswick, a coastal community in the Chaleur region with a lower cost of living, strong local culture, and access to nature, beaches, trails, and a bilingual Acadian community.For the right candidate, we are open to discussing relocation support and immigration support, subject to Canadian and New Brunswick program eligibility.CompensationCompensation will depend on experience and fit.Expected range: $60,000–$85,000 CAD per year, with the possibility of performance-based bonus, relocation support, and long-term growth opportunities for the right candidate.We are open to discussing different structures for a highly qualified candidate, including production performance bonuses tied to quality, yield, efficiency, margin improvement, and successful product development.What Success Looks Like in the First 90 DaysIn the first 90 days, the successful candidate will:

• Understand our current production process, products, equipment, and challenges.
• Identify immediate opportunities to improve quality, yield, consistency, and efficiency.
• Build or improve key production SOPs and batch documentation.
• Train the team on improved production and sanitation procedures.
• Help create a practical production calendar.
• Recommend improvements to our product lineup, process, and production strategy.
• Present a clear 12-month production roadmap.

Who This Role Is ForThis role is for someone who wants to build.It is for a distiller, brewer, or beverage production leader who wants more than a repetitive production job. We are looking for someone who enjoys solving problems, improving systems, creating better products, and helping a young company grow into a serious regional beverage producer.This role may be especially interesting for an experienced distiller who has worked in the U.S. or Canadian craft beverage industry and is looking for a more stable, long-term opportunity with real authority and room to grow.How to ApplyPlease send your resume and a short note explaining:

• Your distilling, brewing, or beverage production experience.
• The types of products you have worked on.
• Your strongest technical skills.
• An example of a production problem you helped solve.
• Why this opportunity interests you.

We are open to applicants from Canada, the United States, and internationally, provided the candidate is eligible to work in Canada or can qualify through an appropriate immigration pathway.Please send your resume and a short note on why you would be a great fit for Distillerie NB Distillery to michael@nbdistillery.ca.Pay: $60,000.00-$85,000.00 per yearBenefits:

• Casual dress
• Company events
• Dental care
• Discounted or free food
• Extended health care
• Flexible schedule
• On-site parking
• Paid time off
• Profit sharing
• Relocation assistance
• Store discount

Work Location: In person