Winery CEO
(Wine Jobs:
Management & Administration)
Full Time
Southern Okanagan,
British Columbia
James Cluer MW is in charge of developing a major new winery business in the southern Okanagan. This is the most exciting new winery development project in Canada.
We have purchased the most awarded vineyard in Canada. It is located on the Black Sage bench in the Oliver region next to Black Hills and Burrowing Owl. There are 60 acres planted, and we have also purchased the neighbouring trophy vineyard Phantom Creek, which has won Best Red wine in Canada 3 times. We have also purchased land on the coast and intend to develop an additional winery there.
There is currently a 1/4 built winery on the property. A team of 25 of the leading experts in North America has been assembled and is diligently working on development plans. This includes a famed Napa architect, the leading construction company in BC, winemakers who have built and developed cult Napa wineries and garnered 100 point scores, expert viticulturalists from the Okanagan and California, 3 Masters of Wine, and so on.
We are looking for an extremely talented and experienced CEO to lead this team for the long term, reporting to James Cluer.
Responsibilities will include oversight of the entire business, including but not limited to:
-Building: Overseeing architects and construction as we ready to open as quickly as possible. Experience building a winery from the ground up is an asset.
-Production: Managing, collaborating with and assisting our existing resident Winemaking and viticultural team. The candidate must have an extremely in-depth knowledge of all matters related to production so they can work with our experts in this field.
-Brand development: Having a strong emphasis on all matters related to Marketing, Sales, Hospitality and Export. A focus of this role is the development of a luxury brand and all matters relating to Sales and Marketing.
-HR: Building and developing the rest of the team on an on-going basis.
-Finance: Having responsibility for all matters related to finance, business models and the profitability of the business.
The ideal candidate that we are looking for would have over 15 years experience in the wine business. You would have several years experience as a General Manager of a prominent winery, somewhere in the world. You would have built successful brands, be a people-person and be a strong leader. You would be an entrepreneur with a sharp business-mind, and ready to commit long term to this project.
This is a global search and the ideal candidate that we have in mind would be the equivalent to the CEO of a property like Opus One in Napa Valley, or a leading winery in Canada of Australia/New Zealand.
Interviews are planned for between June 1st and 5th both in Vancouver and the Okanagan Valley, depending on the candidate's domicile. Start date is flexible but intended to be by harvest 2016. Phone interviews with long distance candidates will also take place during this time.
An attractive compensation package will be offered. There will be the opportunity for significant bonuses and other benefits. Housing, transport, medical and dental, and other benefits will be discussed.
