Lead the production behind a global industry
This is a senior role responsible for overseeing how Scotch whisky is produced at scale—without ever compromising quality.
What does a Head of Manufacturing do?
You’ll take overall responsibility for manufacturing performance, ensuring operations run efficiently, safely, and consistently.
This includes:
- Overseeing distillation, maturation, and bottling operations
- Leading teams across multiple production sites
- Driving improvements in efficiency and output
- Ensuring compliance with safety and environmental standards
- Promote and drive a culture of health and safety awareness and compliance.
- Drive resource efficiency improvement as measured by OEE (overall equipment effectiveness), working collaboratively with the key stakeholders of engineering, materials performance, NPD and quality.
A typical day could include:
- Reviewing production metrics and operational performance
- Meeting with site leaders and engineering teams
- Identifying opportunities to optimise processes
- Supporting long-term capacity planning
- Ensuring all operations meet regulatory requirements
Skills you’ll need
- Strong leadership and decision-making
- Engineering or manufacturing expertise
- Strategic thinking
- Problem-solving under pressure
- Excellent communication skills
What to study
- Engineering (Mechanical, Chemical, or Manufacturing)
- Production or Operations Management
- Apprenticeships with progression into leadership roles
Why this role matters
Scotch whisky production takes time, precision, and care. The Head of Manufacturing ensures consistency and quality at every stage—on a global scale.
Career progression
- Operations Director
- Managing Director
- Group Manufacturing Lead
