Materials Supervisor

Buffalo Trace Distillery, a National Historic Landmark and the most award-winning distillery in the world, is a family-owned company based in Franklin County, Kentucky, with a rich distilling tradition that dates back to 1787. We take great pride in our world class customer service, making the finest quality products, and providing customers, tourists and business travelers with a unique, enriching experience not found at any other distillery in the world.

Position: Materials Supervisor – Buffalo Trace Distillery (BTD)

Role Overview

The Materials Supervisor oversees hourly personnel in the Receiving/Materials department and ensures the efficient flow of materials across Processing, Maintenance, and Bottling operations. This role is responsible for supervising freight deliveries, verifying materials such as caps, corks, and closures, managing inventory, issuing purchase orders, and coordinating with Accounts Payable for timely invoice processing.

Key Responsibilities

🛡 Safety & Compliance

• Monitor and enforce all OSHA and company safety regulations.
• Lead the department’s safety program by developing and executing safe practices and operating procedures.
• Assist in the investigation of EH&S incidents to minimize workplace accidents.

📦 Materials Management

• Supervise receipt, unloading, and verification of bottling materials (closures, labels, bottles, adhesives) and goods for other departments.
• Ensure accurate recording of shipments in company systems to maintain inventory integrity.
• Plan and coordinate trailer movements to minimize double handling and ensure uninterrupted bottling operations.
• Maintain adequate supplies of knockdowns for Bottling and Shipping.

🔍 Quality & Supplier Engagement

• Collaborate with Bottling to identify non-conforming materials and provide detailed supplier feedback.
• Maintain and monitor the non-conforming materials database in Power BI.
• Partner with the corporate Quality Supply team to drive material improvements.

👥 Team Leadership & Development

• Supervise hourly Materials employees to ensure efficiency and accuracy.
• Train and evaluate employees, identifying skill gaps and creating improvement plans.
• Develop personal career development plans with the Materials Manager to enhance skills and competencies.
• Foster a respectful, team-oriented environment where employees are encouraged to contribute.

📊 Operational Support

• Compile daily bottling efficiency reports.
• Issue purchase orders for plant materials and coordinate with AP for invoice payments.
• Adjust bottling schedules and release bottles for production when the Materials Manager is unavailable.
• Communicate material shortages to planning and bottling teams to prevent production delays.

🤝 Customer Service

• Serve as a professional point of contact between vendors, truck drivers, and Buffalo Trace Distillery.
• Ensure timely communication of material status to meet internal and external customer requirements.

✅ Must-Have

• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience
• Bachelor’s degree
• Inventory management experience

🌟 Preferred

• Experience in the Alcohol Beverage Industry or Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)
• Experience managing in a union environment
• Experience in an ISO/FSSC certified facility
• Familiarity with Yard Management Software
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite including Power BI

Physical Requirements

• Ability to lift/move up to 50 pounds without assistance
• Ability to work 8-hour shifts and overtime if necessary
• In-person job attendance required
• Strong communication skills (verbal and written)
• Ability to work near moving mechanical parts
• High attention to detail

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