Packaging Supervisor

POSITION SUMMARY:

About the Role: Craftsmith Beverage is a rapidly expanding brewery and beverage contract manufacturer seeking a reliable, detail-oriented, and highly hands-on Packaging Supervisor to join our production team. This role is responsible for leading the daily activities of the packaging floor while actively operating, cleaning, and maintaining canning and kegging equipment to ensure high-quality packaged beverages. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, values quality and safety, and takes pride in leading a team to produce consistent, top-tier products.

Core Responsibilities

1) Team Leadership & Development

• Floor Leadership: Act as the primary leader on the packaging floor during the second shift, directing daily activities, assisting with changeovers between brands/formats, and ensuring the team is set up for success before each run.

• Training & Onboarding: Train and onboard associates on equipment operation, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and quality standards.

• Performance Coaching: Review daily execution quality, troubleshoot minor mechanical issues, and provide ongoing coaching to packaging operators.

2) Canning & Kegging Operations

• Canning Line Execution: Operate and monitor high-speed canning line equipment, including the filler, seamer, cartoner, date coder, and tray packer.

• Kegging Execution: Oversee and perform keg washing/CIP processes, inspect kegs for defects, and fill kegs using aseptic techniques to the proper weights while ensuring proper labeling and tracking.

• Material Management: Stage packaging materials (cans, lids, trays, cartons, keg collars, keg caps) and communicate with the warehouse team to ensure continuous supply.

3) Quality Assurance, Sanitation & CIP

• Strict Quality Control: Follow all quality and packaging SOPs. Perform routine quality checks during each run, including fill levels, seam integrity (periodic seam checks), carbonation, and operating/monitoring low fill detection systems to ensure specification standards are met.

• Tunnel Pasteurization: Manage tunnel pasteurization operation, ensure compliance with product-specific pasteurization targets, and perform rigorous data logger tracking.

• TPO/DO Checking: Perform Dissolved Oxygen (DO) checks using Anton Paar instrumentation.

• Sanitation Leadership: Execute and oversee strict cleaning procedures for fillers, lines, and associated equipment. Demonstrate and enforce proper sanitary techniques to prevent microscopic contamination.

• Chemical Handling: Follow SOPs for safe caustic, acid, and sanitizer (PAA) usage to maintain strict adherence to food safety and cleanliness standards.

• Compliance: Accurately complete batch records, packaging logs, and downtime reports to ensure product integrity and traceability.

4) ERP Responsibilities & Inventory Control

• ERP System Management: Utilize production software to manage daily packaging data, workflows, and output tracking.

• Production Orders: Responsible for the accurate issuance, execution, and completion of production orders within the ERP system.

• Inventory Control: Support plant-wide inventory control efforts by precisely tracking packaging material usage, recording final product yields, and assisting with cycle counts and reconciliation.

5) Cross-Departmental Collaboration & Maintenance

• Maintenance Liaison: Support preventative maintenance activities, troubleshoot minor mechanical issues, and escalate significant equipment needs to the Maintenance Technician to minimize downtime.

• Team Collaboration: Work collaboratively with brewing, cellaring, and warehouse teams to ensure a seamless flow of product from tank to package.

6) Safety & Operational Excellence

• Utility Player: Maintain a "utility player" mindset, demonstrating the willingness to step in and operate equipment or support other departments as the operation dictates.

• Safety First: Lead by example in adherence to safety policies, OSHA requirements, GMPs, and HACCP food safety standards.

• Facility Standards: Maintain a clean, organized, and professional work environment utilizing 5S principles.

Communication and Cadence

• Daily: Coordinate with Maintenance, Brewing, and the Packaging Manager on equipment status, material needs, and daily production targets.

• Weekly: Provide a summary of packaging performance, yield tracking, batch records, and team scheduling.

• Off-Hours/Shift Transitions: Provide support and clear, timely communication during shift handoffs or schedule adjustments.

• Escalation (Immediate): Critical quality deviations, safety hazards, or significant equipment failure.

Qualifications, Requirements & Physical Demands

• Experience: 3+ years of experience in beverage manufacturing or brewery packaging, with proven leadership or supervisory experience. Direct hands-on experience with canning lines, seamers, and keg washers/fillers is required.

• Education: High school diploma or equivalent required.

• Technical: Strong attention to detail, mechanical aptitude, troubleshooting ability, and strict adherence to SOPs and QA/QC protocols. NetSuite ERP experience is highly preferred.

• Certifications: Forklift certification (or willingness to obtain).

• Schedule: Second shift, 12:30 PM to 9:30 PM, with potential overtime required as production needs dictate.

• Work Environment: Comfortable working in a wet, cold, and fast-paced production environment with exposure to cleaning chemicals and pressurized systems.

• Physical: Ability to lift 55 lbs repeatedly, stand for extended periods, climb ladders, and perform physically demanding tasks.

• Age: Must be 21+ years old.

Join a growing team where your work has real impact. Learn advanced skills, shape quality, and build your future at Craftsmith.