About this opportunity
Heaven Hill Brands lists this Director of Sensory & Distillery Quality Control opportunity in bardstown, Kentucky. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.
Job description
This role is based either in Louisville or Bardstown, KY. Frequent travel between our Kentucky locations will be required, along with travel to other Heaven Hill sites as necessary.
What The Role Is
The Director of Sensory & Distillery Quality Control will lead and institutionalize a world-class, enterprise-wide sensory and quality program across our distilled spirits portfolio. This role carries end-to-end responsibility for sensory strategy, panel governance, distillery quality control, and blending strategy, ensuring products consistently meet brand standards from raw materials through fermentation, distillation, maturation, blending, and bottling. The Director will establish sensory as a core pillar of quality management and decision-making, while integrating microbiological control, fermentation performance, analytical data, process controls, and consumer insights into a unified framework. The role requires deep technical expertise in distilled spirits, particularly across fermentation, maturation, blending, and production systems, strong leadership capability, and the credibility to influence production, maturation, and executive teams. The Director will also provide strategic leadership on blending philosophy and aged whiskey utilization, including long-term sensory and quality strategy for inventory originating from both the Bernheim and Springs distilleries. This role will partner closely with operations, maturation, Brand Teams, and FP&A to optimize blending approaches, protect brand integrity, support inventory management decisions, and maximize the value and consistency of aged inventory.
How You Will Spend Your Time?
Distilled Spirits Quality Control Leadership
Lead quality control programs across all distillery operations, from grain handling through fermentation, distillation, and maturation
Establish and oversee microbiological control strategies across fermentation and processing systems
Define, implement, and enforce process control standards in partnership with production teams
Provide technical leadership on fermentation performance, contamination risk, and yeast management practices
Establish sensory and analytical checkpoints throughout the production lifecycle to ensure early detection of deviations
Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for quality issues across sites
Lead sensory and quality strategy related to blending and aged whiskey inventory management, including future utilization strategies for whiskey produced at both the Bernheim and Springs distilleries
Partner with operations, maturation, and commercial teams to ensure blending strategies align with brand standards, inventory objectives, and long-term product consistency
Oversee new make quality standards, retention programs, and long-term product monitoring
Enterprise Sensory Strategy & Governance
Design, implement, and continuously improve a company-wide sensory program across all brands and production sites
Establish standardized sensory methodologies, lexicons, and evaluation protocols
Define and maintain sensory quality standards aligned with brand profiles and specifications
Ensure alignment between fermentation/process performance and downstream sensory outcomes
Panel Development & Oversight
Build, train, and maintain high-performing sensory panels across all production facilities and key supply partners
Develop and implement training, calibration, and requalification programs
Monitor and validate panel performance using statistical tools
Provide governance and technical oversight of local sensory panels
Statistical Rigor & Data Integration
Establish robust statistical frameworks for sensory and in-process QA/QC data
Ensure panel reliability, data integrity, and appropriate interpretation of results
Integrate microbiological, fermentation, analytical, sensory, and inventory data into a unified quality decision-making system
Consumer Insights Integration
Align internal sensory data with external consumer perception and preference
Translate insights into actionable guidance for product quality and innovation
Team Leadership & Development
Build and lead a high-performing sensory and quality organization
Develop technical talent and succession planning
Establish performance expectations and drive a culture of accountability and rigor
Who You Are…
Required Skills and Experience:
Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D. preferred) in Microbiology, Fermentation Science, Food Science, Chemistry, or related field
Minimum 12 years of experience in sensory science, microbiology, fermentation, maturation, blending, and/or quality leadership
Demonstrated experience building and leading enterprise-level quality and/or sensory programs
Deep experience in distilled spirits production, including bourbon and American Whiskey
Expertise in sensory methodologies and statistical analysis
Strong background in fermentation, distillation, maturation, blending strategy and flavor development
Experience with quality systems, process control and continuous improvement methodologies
Proven ability to lead and scale technical teams
Strong cross-functional collaboration with operations, R&D, quality, maturation and commercial teams
Ability to translate technical findings into clear business decisions
Valid Driver's License
Physical Requirements
While performing duties of job, employee is occasionally required to:
Stand; walk; use hands and fingers to handle, or feel objects, and use of computer; reach with hands and arms.
Lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.
Benefits
Paid Vacation
11 Paid Holidays
Health, Dental & Vision eligibility from day one
FSA/HSA
401K match
EAP
Maternity/Paternity Leave
Heaven Hill and its affiliates are committed to fostering a diverse workforce as an Equal Employment Opportunity company. We invite applications from candidates of all backgrounds, without regard to race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, natural origin, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.
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Worksite address
bardstown, KY, 40004, US
Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.