Vatting Instruction Team Leader

at  Pernod Ricard

Vatting Instruction Team Leader
Your Manager: Inventory & Vatting Instruction Manager
Team: Production, Inventory
Location: Dumbarton - We operate a hybrid working approach
Be part of something big
We are Pernod Ricard, a leading company in the global wines and spirits industry with over 19,000 employees globally. We own 16 of the world’s top 100 Spirits Brands and hold one of the most prestigious and comprehensive brand portfolios in the industry with 240 premium brands available in over 160 countries, including: Absolut vodka, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater, Malfy and Monkey 47 gins, Malibu liqueur, Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagnes as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate and Campo Viejo wines.
Here in the UK

In the UK, Pernod Ricard is made up of 4 businesses:

• Chivas Brothers, the largest brand company in the Group, responsible for the production and management of our award-winning Scotch whisky portfolio
• Pernod Ricard UK, which markets, sells and distributes our products in the UK market
• Pernod Ricard Global Travel Retail, the global and EMEA home of the group’s duty free, air travel and cruises business.
• The Absolut Group, the brand owner of our global white spirits portfolio, whose Gin brand unit and Business Acceleration team sit in London.

We are an organisation of 2,000 employees in the UK, headquartered in London, in a brand-new office designed with sustainability, ‘conviviality’ and collaboration in mind. We also have offices in Scotland and various distilleries and production sites across the UK from Plymouth to London to Speyside.
Your new team
This position sits in our Chivas Brothers business. At Chivas Brothers, our 1,600-strong team across 27 sites is committed to upholding the heritage of Scotch and ensuring its sustainable future, as well as opening it up to new audiences across the globe.
The scope of Operations stretches from Procurement through conversion (distillation and maturation) and manufacturing (or bottling) to all the downstream Supply Chain activities until the final product is delivered. In addition, Operations play a very active role in Innovation, Talent Development and Operational Risk Management.
The Inventory Planning team ensure we can meet our short- and long-term market demand by analysing our maturing spirit inventory over the short, medium, and long term. The teamwork with a large volume of data and use analytical skills to determine the most appropriate stock to use to fulfil demand whilst maintaining the integrity and quality of our large portfolio of blends.
Your unique contribution
In this role you will lead a team to ensure the availability of blend formulae to support cased and bulk sales utilising inventory ranging from 3 to 60 years old.

You will have six main areas of responsibility:

• Team Leadership – to support and manage the VI team including overseeing the day to day running of the department and ensure that there is always cover to support VI preparation. You will also ensure all team members are fully trained and can carry out all VI tasks within the department and provide management support as and when required.
• Vatting and Spirit Availability – to ensure 4-week plans are covered and that all VI’s adhere to all current formula parameters and take into account transport and warehousing efficiency while ensuring there is never any disruption to the supply of spirit. You will manage contingency vatting’s and ensure that appropriate authorised blend formulae are agreed, align with process and take into account operational considerations. Ensure all vatting instructions meet all legislative and quality criteria.
• Inventory – to ensure future inventory capability by appropriate allocation of stock while meeting the inventory depletions plan as well as effectively utilising quality & survey rated inventory in conjunction with the Blending Team. You will utilise or relocate inventory at external sites within contract parameters and provide monthly reports on part tier levels and survey rating inventory.
• Warehouse Support – to actively improve warehouse space issues using tools to identify/allocate/relocate inventory as appropriate. In conjunction with the Operations Teams, you will ensure warehouse closures or site maintenance does not impact spirit supply. You will produce consolidation and repatriation to maintain warehouse space criteria and assist with warehouse audits as required. The job holder is the first point of contact for any issues that impact vatting instruction volume delivery, leakers and empty casks that are found within warehouse. Actively target slow moving inventory and monitor part tier utilisation with a view to generate space.
• Process Improvement - Work with Operational Planners to define the process for NPD taking into account practical issues like components ex cask / preblending / finishing periods / vat transfers and ensuring we have the capability before finally compiling the VI’s for new products. Working proactively across all areas of the role to identify areas of opportunities for process improvements and simplification that drive the department forward e.g. progress VI automation. Develop and improve SMP as required.
• Collaboration – you will collaborate with Blenders & the Bill of Materials Team to facilitate creation of new spirit codes on the system and work with Operational Planners to define the process for New Product Development.

Who you’ll be working with
Internally, you will collaborate with colleagues across Planning, Blending, Bulk Operations, Customer Services, Finance and the wider Production function.
Externally, you will collaborate with vendors and suppliers to ensure delivery of services to the highest quality.
Your blend of talent

This position could be right for you if you:

• Have previous experience in a similar role within the drinks industry with a working knowledge of all aspects of Scotch Whisky production.
• Have experience in managing people.
• Have excellent problem solving, analytical skills and presentation skills and the ability to work to deadlines.
• Are computer. literate with strong working knowledge of at least some of the following: MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Word, Power Bi, SMP.
• Hold a Full UK driving licence.

Our mix of benefits
For your health, we offer private medical insurance, income protection and a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme.
Our lifestyle benefits include 25 days’ annual holiday (increasing with length of service up to 27) plus public holidays, your employee pension, share incentive plan, share ownership plan, life assurance and more!
You can access lots of gifts & discounts, including an allowance each year to spend on our brands in our staff shop, our reward & recognition scheme and employee discounts from a range of high street retailers.
We have regular events in our very own office bar, employee-run networks, a culture of flexibility and trust and a variety of tools and resources to help you focus on your wellbeing and mental fitness.
Conviviality: the Pernod Ricard Way
We have our own way of doing things. We call it conviviality! It’s our way of being, and something unique you feel and experience when working for Pernod Ricard.
We’re committed to conviviality, and with this, you’ll be Proud to Belong to our Pernod Ricard family. You’ll be Empowered to Perform, supported to succeed, and acknowledged for the value you bring.
We combine all this with our Commitment to Care: we are unlocking the magic of human connection to transform our industry and make a positive impact on the world though our strong focus on sustainability and responsibility.
We’re committed to diversity and inclusion
People are at the heart of everything we do at Pernod Ricard and are the foundation of our collective spirit as ‘Créateurs de Convivialité’.
We promote diversity and inclusion throughout our business and supply chain. In our teams, we proactively foster a diverse work force and an inclusive culture – an environment where we can truly be ourselves.
We will assess your application for this role based on your skills, experiences and achievements, not your gender, age, ethnic or educational background or any other such factors. Please feel free to leave these off your CV and application form if you so wish.
Similarly, if you would like to discuss opportunities for flexible working or require accommodations or support to complete our application process, please let us know.
Responsible drinking
As ‘Créateurs de convivialité’, we want to turn social interactions into genuine and friendly experiences of sharing and wellbeing.
In our culture, we want to create diverse teams in which our differences contribute to our success. Therefore, all are welcome at Pernod Ricard, regardless of your religious beliefs or personal choices on the consumption of alcohol.
In our business, we work together with industry members, civil society, governments, local authorities and UN bodies to promote responsible drinking.
Closing Date for Applications:
23rd August 2024
Job Posting End Date:
2024-08-24
Target Hire Date:
2024-12-02
Target End Date

Please refer the Job description for details