Head of Winery & Operations
We have a unique opportunity to join Bolney Wine Estate as our Head of Winery & Operations. At Bolney Wine Estate, we are proud to produce award-winning English wines, combining tradition, innovation, and a commitment to quality. This role sits at the heart of our operation – bringing together people, process, and product to deliver outstanding results aligned with our long-term strategy and growth ambitions.
As Head of Winery & Operations, you’ll lead a multi-disciplinary team and oversee every stage of the journey from grape to bottle. You’ll play a critical role in ensuring operational efficiency, maintaining the highest standards of quality and health & safety, and delivering products that meet both commercial goals and consumer expectations.
This is an exciting opportunity for a hands-on, detail-oriented leader with strong planning capability, a passion for winemaking, and the ability to balance technical excellence with commercial thinking.
What you’ll be doing:
Oversee the full winemaking lifecycle including vineyard management, grape sourcing, harvesting, production, blending, bottling, warehousing, and supply chain
Lead and develop high-performing teams across winery, production, vineyard, warehouse, and technical functions
Plan and manage production schedules to deliver finished products on time and within budget
Ensure full compliance with health & safety regulations, leading best practices across all operational areas
Maintain exceptional quality standards at every stage, ensuring compliance with industry regulations and accreditation requirements
Drive continuous improvement across operations, identifying efficiencies, cost savings, and process enhancements
Manage supply chain activities including procurement of fruit, dry goods, and production materials
Ensure accurate record-keeping, inventory management, and regulatory reporting (including HMRC requirements)
Oversee product traceability across the entire supply chain
Lead operational audits and ensure site compliance across all areas
Collaborate cross-functionally with sales, marketing, hospitality, and other teams to align production with demand and customer insights
Support strategic planning including mid-term production, CAPEX investment, and product development
Deliver regular performance updates and insights to senior leadership
What we’re looking for:
Significant winery and operational experience, including strong technical knowledge of winemaking processes
Proven leadership experience, with a positive and engaging management style that motivates multi-disciplinary teams
Strong understanding of vineyard operations, production, and supply chain management
A detail-oriented and highly organised approach, with excellent planning and scheduling capability
A strong commitment to health & safety, with experience leading compliance in operational environments
Commercial awareness, with the ability to balance quality, cost, and efficiency
A proactive problem solver, comfortable working in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across teams
Experience managing audits, quality systems, and regulatory compliance
Hands-on approach with the ability to operate in a physically demanding environment when required
A passion for wine and creating exceptional products
What we offer:
25 days annual leave + birthday day off + public holidays
Enhanced company pension contributions
Discretionary annual bonus
Private health cover
Life assurance (4x salary)
Income protection insurance
Employee Assistance Programme
Enhanced parental leave
Generous staff discount
Apply today by contacting [email protected]