Blending Manager

Job Title: Blending Manager

Functions:

Supply Chain & Manufacturing is where our brands are made, moved and delivered to the world.

With over half of our people working across more than 100 sites, this is a complex, large-scale operation that brings together production, logistics, engineering and supplier partnerships.

It's fast-paced and hands-on, with teams working together to ensure quality, efficiency and sustainability at every stage. From sourcing ingredients to getting products into customers' hands, you'll play a role in delivering the brands people know and love.

About the Team:

Delivery of bottling liquid & or intermediated stage product to meet plan within the Diageo manufacturing network (owned & Third-Party facilities)

• Production & Planning: Oversee daily blending operations, ensuring compliance with formulas and production schedules. Manage ingredient inventory and optimize material usage.
• Quality & Compliance: Ensure all blended liquids/materials meet quality standards and specifications. Perform root cause analysis for non-conformances. Maintain hygiene and safety standards.
• Leadership & Management: Lead and develop blenders and Blending team. Coordinate training, manage attendance, and facilitate performance reviews.
• Process Improvement: Utilize data analytics (e.g., Excel or Power BI etc) to improve operational efficiency, minimize waste, and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
• Maintenance: Coordinate with asset care team to ensure equipment reliability and minimize downtime
• Sensory Evaluation: Excellent ability to taste and smell for quality assurance in spirits, matured spirits, and base liquids.
• Blending & Filtration: Deep understanding of alcohol blending, proofing down, filtration techniques (activated charcoal, sand), and liquid maturation processes.
• Compliance & Safety: In-depth knowledge of Quality Management Systems (FSSC 22000), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles, and excise regulations.
• Water Management: Experience with Water Treatment Plants (WTP) and water balancing

• Deliver capability agenda throughout department - Set team and individual goals through effective P4G process, incorporating team development plans
• Deliver assured supply from blending department to Isipingo packaging & to 3rd party sites as required within the scope of Diageo's way of manufacturing excellence.
• Ensure alignment of situational, systemic and strategic activities through formal Level 2 and Level 3 reviews.
• Define and implement departmental strategy, aligned to Manufacturing Excellence, using MMS tools to meet improvement targets
• Full compliance to Diageo policy and procedures; with systems compliance embedded across the department (QMS, Environment, H&S, asset care etc.)
• Define and manage personnel, revenue and capital budgets for the department.
• Optimise productivity to assure supply through full year.
• Work with planning to ensure all raw materials inputs are available to execute the production plans.
• Local Incident Committee (LIC) and Crisis Management Committee member.
• Liaison with SA Customs Service officials to ensure legal compliance.

• Bachelor's degree in chemistry, Food Science, Microbiology, or related science/engineering fields.
• 3-5 years' experience in alcoholic beverage industry specifically within blending, distillation environment, specifically in bottling or Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG)
• Technical certificates i.e. General Certificate in Distilling (GCD) from the Institute of Brewing & Distilling (IBD) are significant advantages.
• Operational systems : Proficiency in SAP for managing blend bill of materials (BOM) , SKU codes , inventory movement ,Sound Computer Literacy (Microsoft office ,Word , Excel, office etc.) Ability to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools (e.g. CHATGPT, Copilot etc.) to automate routine paperwork, generate daily reports etc will be advantageous.
• Technical proficiency in Liquid and blending processes, strong communication, and the ability to manage teams and shift schedules. Strong general management and coaching skills.
• Sound understanding of operational excellence principles
• Detailed knowledge of: