Production Apprentice at St George Spirits Inc. – Alameda, California

Location: Alameda, CA

Position: Full-time

Salary Range: $21-$24/hr (Based on Experience)

Company

Founded in 1982, St. George Spirits is America’s oldest craft distillery. We are passionate about innovation and deeply committed to our craft. Our portfolio of original spirits includes a range of American single malt whiskey, as well as brandies, gins, vodkas, liqueurs, and absinthe. Our work has been recognized through a decade of James Beard Award nominations and multiple Hall of Fame honors. We are proud to be a true American original.

St. George Spirits is committed to maintaining a safe, inclusive, and compliant workplace where craftsmanship, collaboration, and accountability are core values.

Position Summary

This is a paid, full-time position at our distillery in Alameda, California. Shifts are five days per week. Most work takes place on weekdays during primary business hours, but production relies on time-sensitive agricultural products, so we occasionally ask our team to work outside their typical schedule. Under supervision from the Distiller, the Production Apprentice is responsible for assisting in day-to-day production, processing, and storage operations of the distillery by performing a wide range of tasks and projects. This position is responsible for providing team-oriented support within the production department. This is considered an introductory position wherein task management and developing an understanding of department best practices and standard operating procedures are paramount to the success of the role.

This position reports to the Distiller

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

This position includes hands-on, site-specific training. The essential functions include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Develop working knowledge of spirit categories and the St. George Spirits product portfolio
• Safely operate production equipment in accordance with established SOPs
• Follow state and federal alcohol beverage compliance requirements
• Perform cleaning and sanitation procedures to maintain a safe and organized production environment
• Gauge, measure, and transfer spirits for builds, storage, and inventory
• Assist with solid waste handling and proper disposal resulting from production activities
• Follow all safety, food safety, and operational procedures
• Assist with barrel handling, management, and maintenance
• Support equipment, tooling, and hardware maintenance
• Sort fruits and botanicals to ensure quality standards are met
• Perform basic laboratory procedures, including proofing and build calculations
• Work collaboratively with production team members to meet operational goals
• Perform other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• Preferred: One (1) to two (2) years of professional experience in brewing, winemaking, distilling, or related beverage production
• High school diploma or equivalent required; Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Strong verbal communication skills and ability to coordinate effectively with team members
• Basic understanding of chemistry, laboratory practices, and algebra
• Basic mechanical aptitude and familiarity with industrial systems
• Basic knowledge of food and beverage manufacturing environments
• Forklift certification preferred or ability to obtain within required timeframe
• Clean driving record and willingness to submit to a Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) check
• Ability to provide two (2) to three (3) professional references

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

• Ability to move frequently throughout production, warehouse, office, tasting room, and outdoor yard areas
• Ability to climb stairs, bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, balance, and work at varying heights
• Ability to lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds
• Ability to work indoors in a warehouse and production environment with frequent exposure to loud noise, temperature variation, and industrial equipment
• Ability to work safely, remain alert, and follow safety protocols at all times

All employees are expected to perform their work safely and report hazards or incidents promptly.

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Flexible spending account (FSA)
• Paid time off (PTO)

Equal Opportunity & Employment Statement

St. George Spirits is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law. The Company provides reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs in accordance with applicable legal requirements. Employment with St. George Spirits is at-will, meaning that either the employee or the Company may terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or advance notice, subject to applicable law.