LEad brewer, Milwaukee, WI

Location: 1128 N 9th St, Milwaukee, WI 53233

Pilot Project Brewing is looking for a dedicated and passionate Lead Brewer to join our team. The Brewer will be responsible for executing the brewing process, ensuring high-quality wort production, and maintaining cleanliness and safety standards in the brewing area.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES 

  • Planning and Scheduling

    • Work with the Head Brewer and Production Manager to implement the brew schedule.

    • Reviews efficiency, consistency, quality, and safety of operations to determine what improvements can be made with Head Brewer and Production Manager.

    • Participate in Production Committee meetings.

    • Tracking silo and raw material inventories and assuring they are always in stock.

    • Coordinates weekly labor schedule for the brew team with the Production Manager.

    • Schedules spent grain pickups with farmers.

    • Work with the maintenance team and Production Manager to schedule repairs and PMs on brewhouse.

    • Leadership

    • Develop, maintain, and organize SOPs for all brewhouse operations with Head Brewer.

    • Train team on SOPs, GMP, and 5S procedures and monitor compliance

  • Ekos

    • Train all brewers to enter Ekos accurately in real-time.

    • Assure wort production is entered daily in an accurate manner.

    • Adjust PdO/BOM in Ekos to reflect recipe adjustments.

    • Backup Production Manager as Ekos overseer.

    • Monthly inventory counts and reconciliation.

  • Quality Control and Improvement

    • Ensure all brewing records are updated daily.

    • Record and tracking lot codes of all ingredients used in the brewing process.

    • Maintain a daily dialogue with the cellar team to confirm pitches and tank availability.

    • Develop methods and practices to improve BH wort quality and process.

    • Maintenance & Safety

    • Maintain a daily dialogue with QC team members to ensure proper brew specifications.

    • Build a culture of safety by leading efforts to follow established safety policies and procedures.

    • Recommend safety improvements for the brewery to management and the Safety Committee.

  • Brewing

    • Act as primary shift brewer for the facility.

    • Update brew automation procedures and recipes per Head Brewer.

    • Assist brew team by ensuring vacation and sick leave requests are adequately covered with the Production Manager.

  • Other

    • Help in the cellar when there is no brewing work.

    • Attend events as a representative of the company.

    • Collaborate with the brew teams to create new beers.

    • Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Technical Knowledge: Deep understanding of brewing processes, ingredients, and equipment.

  • Quality Control: Familiarity with testing and quality assurance procedures.

  • Problem-Solving: Ability to troubleshoot issues in the brewing process.

  • Creativity: Skills in recipe development and innovation in brewing techniques.

  • Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills for team management and reporting

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

  • Lift 50-60 lbs, must regularly lift and/or move up to 10lbs throughout shift

  • Climb ladders up to 20 feet and operate a scissor lift.

  • Safely bend at knees to lift objects and stoop, kneel, and crouch.

  • Frequently duck under conveyors/equipment.

  • Climb stairs multiple times during a shift.

  • Wear required Personal Protective Equipment.

  • Close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, the ability to adjust focus and the ability to see color; either with or without accommodation.

  • The ability to work in loud, wet, cold, hot, indoor and outdoor environments frequently.

EXTRAS:

  • Healthcare, Dental, and Vision following 60 days of employment

  • 401(k) following 1 year of employment

  • PTO Package

  • Employee discounts on food, drink and gear

  • Employee only events

  • Competitive wages

  • Awesome working environment where initiative and ownership is rewarded

  • Industry education allowances

Any combination of experience, education, and/or training that can be considered equivalent to the requirements of the position will be reviewed to assess candidacy.

Interested candidates should email with a resume and brief cover letter.

Thanks!

Pilot Project Brewing Team

Packaging Specialist - 2nd shift, Milwaukee, WI

Reports to: Production Manager

Location: 1128 N 9th St, Milwaukee, WI 53233

Pilot Project Brewing is looking to bring on first and second shift packaging specialists to join our Milwaukee brewing team. Packaging Specialists play a critical role in the process of supporting Pilot Project and its Brand’s products reaching the eager public. This role works in both the canning and keg lines as the final product is packaged and organized into its final distribution form across kegs, 4/6 packs, cartons, or any of the other multitude of options we package at Pilot Project. This role is mechanically inclined and requires an understanding how conveyors, gears, and other production machinery operate as a baseline part of the position. An understanding of quality control and ability to document and perform audits during the run is a necessity. This is a non-exempt, hourly position with specific duties that change daily, depending on the needs of the brewery.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES 

  • Maintain a clean and safe work environment in and around the packaging lines

  • Learn, follow, and carry out Standard Operating Procedures for the packaging line conveyance, air dryer, labeling machine, cartoner, Paktech machine, tray packer, and palletizer

  • Perform routine cleaning and maintenance when required and a full review and mechanical once-over one day per week

  • Perform seam checks and oxygen checks throughout the run to assure quality packaging consistent with Pilot Project and industry standards

  • Work in conjunction with our logistics crew members to stage products efficiently and in a logical manner for ease of conveyance into retail 

  • Maintain detailed record keeping

  • Package product in kegs across all industry sizes

  • Operate of our KHS Innokeg CombiKeg

  • Proactively perform other varied operational and brewery related tasks as necessary

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Minimum of 2 years of experience on a canning or bottling line. Experience should include beverage or food industry, specifically with fillers, labelers, packers and sealers

  • Mechanical knowledge of proper use of tools and machinery

  • An aptitude for troubleshooting basic mechanical & electrical systems and proactive mechanical maintenance

  • Ability to remain on your feet for the entire shift

  • Punctual to start every day with flexible finishing times

  • Maintain a high standard for quality, attention to detail and cleanliness. 

  • Ability to work under pressure and under deadlines.

  • Comfort with flexible daily working schedules with occasional late nights and weekend work

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

  • Lift 50-60 lbs, must regularly lift and/or move up to 10lbs throughout shift 

  • Climb ladders up to 20 feet. 

  • Operate fork truck for long periods of time. 

  • Safely bend at knees to lift objects and stoop, kneel, and crouch. 

  • Frequently duck under conveyors/equipment. 

  • Climb stairs multiple times during a shift. 

  • Wear required Personal Protective Equipment. 

  • Close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, the ability to adjust focus and the ability to see color; either with or without accommodation. 

  • The ability to work in loud, wet, cold, hot, indoor and outdoor environments frequently. 

EXTRAS:

  • Healthcare, Dental, and Vision following 90 days of employment

  • 401(k) following 1 year of employment

  • PTO Package

  • Employee discounts on food, drink and gear

  • Employee only events

  • Competitive wages

  • Awesome working environment where initiative and ownership is rewarded

  • Industry education allowances

Any combination of experience, education, and/or training that can be considered equivalent to the requirements of the position will be reviewed to assess candidacy.

Director of Operations, Milwaukee, WI

LOCATION: 1128 N 9th St, Milwaukee, WI 53233

The Director of Operations, Milwaukee will oversee our 60k+ square foot beverage production facility’s day-to-day operational functions, ensuring efficient production, quality control, supply chain management, inventory, warehousing, preventative maintenance, and safety standards among all departments. This role requires strong leadership, extensive experience, an in-depth understanding of the beverage and production processes, and the ability to optimize workflows while maintaining a high product quality and service. The Director of Operations, Milwaukee will work closely with the leadership team and ownership to implement strategies for growth, profitability, and continuous improvement.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES 

  • Oversee all departmental aspects of the facility, including the brewing operations, product cellaring, packaging lines, sales and distribution, warehouse logistics, CRM resources, and supporting operations to help our hospitality and events teams

  • Lead and manage cross-functional teams, ensuring that production goals, timelines, safety standards, quality benchmarks, and max efficiency in daily operations are consistently exceeded

  • Work closely with the brewing team to establish reliable preventative maintenance schedules, troubleshoot issues, solve production challenges, and maintain consistent product quality

  • Oversee raw material sourcing for production and facility vendors, inventory management, and supplier relationships to ensure adequate stock levels and timely deliveries

  • Work with procurement to optimize the cost of raw materials while maintaining quality and a high level of customer satisfaction

  • Maintain oversight on all CRM related work flows ensuring accurate and efficient data among all relevant departments

  • Work with the finance team to prepare and manage operational budgets, identifying areas to reduce costs and increase efficiency

  • Continuously evaluate and improve operational processes to increase efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance product quality

  • Ensure the facility complies with all relevant health, safety, environmental, and regulatory standards while working with local, state, and federal agencies to maintain compliance with all relevant laws and regulations

  • Develop and enforce safety policies to protect employees and ensure a safe work environment for staff, clients, vendors, and guests

  • Conduct performance reviews, provide feedback, and identify opportunities for team members’ growth and development

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience:

    • Minimum of 10 years of experience in beverage operations or a similar manufacturing environment, with at least 3–5 years in a senior leadership role

    • Strong experience in brewing processes, production management, quality assurance, and supply chain management

    • Proven track record of managing effective teams, implementing operational improvements, and driving business results

  • Skills and Abilities:

    • Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills

    • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make data-driven decisions

    • In-depth understanding of manufacturing equipment, brewing techniques, and safety standards

    • Experience with CRM systems, EKOS a plus, production planning software, and inventory management tools

    • Strong financial acumen with experience in budget development and cost control

    • Knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations and licensing requirements

  • Physical Requirements:

    • Ability to work in a brewery, manufacturing facility, hospitality and events environment

    • Ability to lift 50 lbs and move barrels or kegs as needed

    • Flexibility to work long hours, including evenings and weekends as required

EXTRAS:

  • Healthcare, Dental, and Vision following 60 days of employment

  • 401(k) following 1 year of employment

  • PTO Package 

  • Competitive salary

Any combination of experience, education, and/or training that can be considered equivalent to the requirements of the position will be reviewed to assess candidacy.