Master Distiller & Head of Distilling Operations
About the role
Mark Anthony Group is an entrepreneurial drinks company, built from the ground up by thinking differently, innovating and doing the unexpected. Our company is rooted in family values, a bold vision and relentless determination to continuously raise the bar and make a positive difference in consumers' lives. Founded in 1972, we’ve grown organically from a one-person import wine business into an international drinks company. Our hallmarks include a portfolio of iconic beverage brands—White Claw® Hard Seltzer, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers, Olé Cocktail Co. and Más+ by Messi™—alongside a collection of luxury wineries in the Okanagan Valley, notably Mission Hill Family Estate, CedarCreek Estate Winery, Martin’s Lane Winery, and CheckMate Artisanal Winery.
The Role
Dillon’s Small Batch Distillery is on the hunt for a visionary Master Distiller & Head of Distilling Operations to lead our passionate production team. This is more than a senior leadership role — it’s a chance to shape the future of craft spirits in Canada. You’ll be the driving force behind our entire distilling and production operation, overseeing a diverse and growing portfolio that includes vodka, gin, whisky, liqueurs, and ready-to-drink cocktails. From grain to glass, you’ll ensure every drop meets our uncompromising standards for quality, safety, and innovation. Beyond the stills, you’ll drive new product development, scale our production capabilities, and inspire a culture of continuous improvement and craftsmanship. If you're ready to leave your mark on a brand known for redefining small-batch distilling, we’d love to meet you.
Leadership & Operations
- Lead, mentor, manage and grow the distilling and production team, fostering a culture of accountability for safety, quality, consistency and overall excellence.
- Work with the General Manager and other key cross-functional stakeholder to establish, implement, monitor and deliver against key performance metrics in support of annual budgets and operating plans.
- Oversee all aspects of spirit production including mashing, fermentation, distillation, proofing, barreling, aging, blending and bottling.
- Oversee the development and implementation of all SOPs and production protocols that prioritize safety, quality, efficiency, and sustainability.
Product Quality & Innovation
- Ensure consistency and excellence across all SKUs, from flagship spirits to seasonal and R&D releases.
- Spearhead product development initiatives and experimental batches, working closely with internal teams on new ideas, innovation, and market trends.
- Manage quality assurance processes including sensory evaluations, lab testing, and aging assessments.
Planning & Compliance
- Lead production planning and forecasting in coordination with Dillon’s GM, sales, marketing, finance, and central operations teams.
- Maintain accurate records and documentation (batch sheets, logs, ERP entries, excise tracking).
- Ensure full compliance with CRA excise regulations, AGCO requirements, health and safety standards, and food-grade production protocols.
Facilities & Equipment
- Accountability over all elements of current and future capacity planning. This includes all equipment and tool upgrades, layout design, and other capacity scaling and efficiency-driving needs that align with business growth ambitions and KPIs.
- Oversee and manage the team accountable for daily production operations, including lab & QA, sensory testing, cleaning, repairs & preventative maintenance, and the general use and optimization of all production and distillery equipment.
External Engagement
- You will also serve as a technical brand ambassador for Dillon’s at events, trade shows, tastings, and in media opportunities.
- Engage with consumers and internal commercial teams to share our process, story, and commitment to craftsmanship.
Who You Are
- 5+ years of hands-on experience managing a team in commercial distilling or other beverage alcohol production, ideally across multiple alcohol categories.
- Proven leadership experience managing production teams in a beverage alcohol production environment.
- Deep knowledge of fermentation, distillation (pot and column), blending, and aging processes.
- Experience leading all elements of Health & Safety, QA & QC,
- Strong grasp of federal/provincial regulations, including excise reporting and compliance documentation.
- High mechanical aptitude and comfort troubleshooting or operating production equipment.
- Outstanding organizational, communication, and project management skills.
Nice to Have
- Formal education in distilling, chemistry, food science, or related discipline.
- Experience scaling operations or supporting facility upgrades and expansions.
- Experience with inventory management systems, traceability software, and/or ERP tools.
- Forklift certification and familiarity with warehouse safety protocols and best practices.
We are growing a lasting legacy in the beverage alcohol industry, with people first. Apply now!
Mark Anthony Group is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds who are eligible to work in Canada. We thank all candidates for their interest in MAG and we will reach out to those candidates that are under consideration. If you are contacted for an interview and require accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact your recruiter.
________________________________________________________________________
At Mark Anthony, we exist to Unearth the Extraordinary:
Our Purpose is not just a statement; it is a call to action that binds us together and ignites our passion for making a difference. It is the driving force behind why we do what we do every single day, connecting our global organization across all business units, roles, and locations. We are:
Best in Our Craft
We set the standard with a pursuit of excellence that can be found in everything from our products and processes to our plants and people.
Ambitiously Curious
We stay curious, dreaming big and navigating the unknown with an enduring belief in better.
Made With Humility
We bring humility, authenticity, fun, and support to every collaboration and celebrate wins as a team.
Daringly Disruptive
We disrupt the status quo, moving fast to seize opportunities and acting scrappy to stay ahead of industry giants.
About Mark Anthony Group
The Mark Anthony Group of Companies is one of North America’s most diversified and successful private beverage companies focused on the alcohol beverage sector. Founded in 1972, the Company grew organically from a one-man wine importing business to a producer and distributor of fine wine, premium spirits, and ready-to-drink beverages, including White Claw Hard Seltzer. The Company’s Founder & CEO is also the Proprietor of the Iconic Wineries of British Columbia, a collection of prestigious wineries and estate vineyards including the award-winning Mission Hill Family Estate, CedarCreek Estate Winery, Martin’s Lane Winery and CheckMate Artisanal Winery in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. In addition, the Company proudly distributes many leading International wine and spirits brands, providing seamless services from producer to consumer across Canada.
Master Distiller & Head of Distilling Operations
About the role
Mark Anthony Group is an entrepreneurial drinks company, built from the ground up by thinking differently, innovating and doing the unexpected. Our company is rooted in family values, a bold vision and relentless determination to continuously raise the bar and make a positive difference in consumers' lives. Founded in 1972, we’ve grown organically from a one-person import wine business into an international drinks company. Our hallmarks include a portfolio of iconic beverage brands—White Claw® Hard Seltzer, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers, Olé Cocktail Co. and Más+ by Messi™—alongside a collection of luxury wineries in the Okanagan Valley, notably Mission Hill Family Estate, CedarCreek Estate Winery, Martin’s Lane Winery, and CheckMate Artisanal Winery.
The Role
Dillon’s Small Batch Distillery is on the hunt for a visionary Master Distiller & Head of Distilling Operations to lead our passionate production team. This is more than a senior leadership role — it’s a chance to shape the future of craft spirits in Canada. You’ll be the driving force behind our entire distilling and production operation, overseeing a diverse and growing portfolio that includes vodka, gin, whisky, liqueurs, and ready-to-drink cocktails. From grain to glass, you’ll ensure every drop meets our uncompromising standards for quality, safety, and innovation. Beyond the stills, you’ll drive new product development, scale our production capabilities, and inspire a culture of continuous improvement and craftsmanship. If you're ready to leave your mark on a brand known for redefining small-batch distilling, we’d love to meet you.
Leadership & Operations
- Lead, mentor, manage and grow the distilling and production team, fostering a culture of accountability for safety, quality, consistency and overall excellence.
- Work with the General Manager and other key cross-functional stakeholder to establish, implement, monitor and deliver against key performance metrics in support of annual budgets and operating plans.
- Oversee all aspects of spirit production including mashing, fermentation, distillation, proofing, barreling, aging, blending and bottling.
- Oversee the development and implementation of all SOPs and production protocols that prioritize safety, quality, efficiency, and sustainability.
Product Quality & Innovation
- Ensure consistency and excellence across all SKUs, from flagship spirits to seasonal and R&D releases.
- Spearhead product development initiatives and experimental batches, working closely with internal teams on new ideas, innovation, and market trends.
- Manage quality assurance processes including sensory evaluations, lab testing, and aging assessments.
Planning & Compliance
- Lead production planning and forecasting in coordination with Dillon’s GM, sales, marketing, finance, and central operations teams.
- Maintain accurate records and documentation (batch sheets, logs, ERP entries, excise tracking).
- Ensure full compliance with CRA excise regulations, AGCO requirements, health and safety standards, and food-grade production protocols.
Facilities & Equipment
- Accountability over all elements of current and future capacity planning. This includes all equipment and tool upgrades, layout design, and other capacity scaling and efficiency-driving needs that align with business growth ambitions and KPIs.
- Oversee and manage the team accountable for daily production operations, including lab & QA, sensory testing, cleaning, repairs & preventative maintenance, and the general use and optimization of all production and distillery equipment.
External Engagement
- You will also serve as a technical brand ambassador for Dillon’s at events, trade shows, tastings, and in media opportunities.
- Engage with consumers and internal commercial teams to share our process, story, and commitment to craftsmanship.
Who You Are
- 5+ years of hands-on experience managing a team in commercial distilling or other beverage alcohol production, ideally across multiple alcohol categories.
- Proven leadership experience managing production teams in a beverage alcohol production environment.
- Deep knowledge of fermentation, distillation (pot and column), blending, and aging processes.
- Experience leading all elements of Health & Safety, QA & QC,
- Strong grasp of federal/provincial regulations, including excise reporting and compliance documentation.
- High mechanical aptitude and comfort troubleshooting or operating production equipment.
- Outstanding organizational, communication, and project management skills.
Nice to Have
- Formal education in distilling, chemistry, food science, or related discipline.
- Experience scaling operations or supporting facility upgrades and expansions.
- Experience with inventory management systems, traceability software, and/or ERP tools.
- Forklift certification and familiarity with warehouse safety protocols and best practices.
We are growing a lasting legacy in the beverage alcohol industry, with people first. Apply now!
Mark Anthony Group is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds who are eligible to work in Canada. We thank all candidates for their interest in MAG and we will reach out to those candidates that are under consideration. If you are contacted for an interview and require accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact your recruiter.
________________________________________________________________________
At Mark Anthony, we exist to Unearth the Extraordinary:
Our Purpose is not just a statement; it is a call to action that binds us together and ignites our passion for making a difference. It is the driving force behind why we do what we do every single day, connecting our global organization across all business units, roles, and locations. We are:
Best in Our Craft
We set the standard with a pursuit of excellence that can be found in everything from our products and processes to our plants and people.
Ambitiously Curious
We stay curious, dreaming big and navigating the unknown with an enduring belief in better.
Made With Humility
We bring humility, authenticity, fun, and support to every collaboration and celebrate wins as a team.
Daringly Disruptive
We disrupt the status quo, moving fast to seize opportunities and acting scrappy to stay ahead of industry giants.
About Mark Anthony Group
The Mark Anthony Group of Companies is one of North America’s most diversified and successful private beverage companies focused on the alcohol beverage sector. Founded in 1972, the Company grew organically from a one-man wine importing business to a producer and distributor of fine wine, premium spirits, and ready-to-drink beverages, including White Claw Hard Seltzer. The Company’s Founder & CEO is also the Proprietor of the Iconic Wineries of British Columbia, a collection of prestigious wineries and estate vineyards including the award-winning Mission Hill Family Estate, CedarCreek Estate Winery, Martin’s Lane Winery and CheckMate Artisanal Winery in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. In addition, the Company proudly distributes many leading International wine and spirits brands, providing seamless services from producer to consumer across Canada.