Golden State Cider - Packaging Lead

Packaging Lead

Location: Healdsburg, CA
Department: Production - Packaging
Reports to: Packaging Supervisor

At Golden State Cider (Sonoma Craft), we're a tight-knit crew that takes pride in crafting exceptional beverages and building a workplace where people truly enjoy what they do.

We're looking for a hands-on Packaging Lead to help lead our packaging operations and keep production running safely, efficiently, and to our quality standards. In this role, you'll operate and maintain packaging equipment, coordinate daily production activities, troubleshoot equipment issues, support changeovers, and ensure accurate production and quality records.

The ideal candidate is a reliable, technically minded leader who is comfortable working on the production floor and enjoys helping a team succeed. You'll lead by example, coordinate daily priorities and breaks, promote safe and sanitary work practices, and ensure our packaging processes consistently meet production, quality, and safety standards.

Job Summary

The Packaging Lead is responsible for operating and maintaining packaging line equipment, including filling, carbonation, dosing, and inspection systems, while ensuring product quality and adherence to safety and sanitation standards. Leads daily production activities, coordinates team schedules, performs equipment troubleshooting and changeovers, and maintains accurate production and QA/QC records in accordance with SOPs.

Job Responsibilities

• Operates packaging equipment, including (but not limited to) can filler/seamer, in-line carbonator, Velcorin doser, and in-line inspection equipment. Performs start-up, shut-down, and process operations to meet established production pace goals.
• Understands all packaging equipment with the ability to troubleshoot and fix issues and identifies and communicates issues to the supervisor or maintenance as needed.
• Sanitizes and performs CIP (Clean-In-Place) on all necessary packaging equipment and sanitizes product lines.
• Understands and performs packaging QA/QC protocols and operates associated machinery, including seam analysis and breakdown, carbonation and dissolved oxygen analysis, as well as low-fill detection and empty can inspection.
• Performs tooling changeovers between packaging formats.
• Leads the packaging team by delegating daily production goals and business needs.
• Structures and clearly communicates daily break and lunch schedules to ensure the floor is always covered and able to meet production needs.
• Clearly and accurately maintains records related to packaging reports and maintenance logs.
• Follows Golden State Ciders’ Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and adheres to and promotes safe work practices.
• Maintains updated records, including SOPs, daily tracking records, and training logs.
• Brings a positive attitude and demonstrates professional leadership within the packaging team as well as with other departments and on-site vendors.
• Responsible as a secondary backup for timecard approval for the department.
• Assumes designated supervisor-level duties when the department supervisor is absent, in accordance with Golden State Cider’s Backup Supervisor policy.
• Other duties as assigned.
  

Skills & Qualifications: 

• Minimum 2 years’ experience in a cidery, brewery, or winery environment preferred
• Previous packaging experience required
• High School Diploma, GED, or two years of work-related experience.
• Forklift Certification and proven ability to safely operate a forklift, scissor lift, and pallet jack
• Ability to work flexible shifts, including extended hours, overtime and Weekends as needed
• Proficient levels in reading, writing, and mathematical skills
• Demonstrated ability to understand and follow directions, as well as listen and communicate with co-workers
• Strong and proven work ethic, and ability to multi-task workload
• Commitment to excellence in an ever-evolving, exciting field of work
• Basic understanding of general computer knowledge as well as Microsoft 365 applications, including Word, Excel, and SharePoint.
  

Work Environment:

• This position is based in Healdsburg, CA. Expected in-offices days are Monday through Friday
• This role is classified as non-exempt under California wage and hour laws. This position is eligible for overtime pay in accordance with applicable state and federal law for hours worked beyond standard work hours, as approved by management.

• The work environment is usually that of a cidery.
• The employee regularly works with hazardous materials.
• The employee works on wet floors and with wet equipment.
• The employee regularly works around alcohol, high voltage electricity, hot water, and steam.
• The employee must work to further the sanitary environment.
• This position may require work in warehouse and production environments where temperatures fluctuate. This role requires the ability to work safely and effectively in both cold and warm conditions, with reasonable accommodation provided as required by law.

Physical/Mental Requirements

• Ability to frequently sit, stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl and climb.
• Ability to frequently talk, hear, feel, taste, and smell.
• Ability to frequently lift and/or move up to 25-50 pounds.
• Ability to work on a platform ladder at heights up to 20 feet.
• Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• Must be able to participate in critical assessment of ciders.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move 25-50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

 

Other Requirements

• This role operates within the alcoholic beverage industry and may involve regular exposure to alcohol products. This position requires adherence to all company policies, safety protocols, and regulatory requirements related to the handling, production, and presence of alcohol in the workplace.
• This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties or responsibilities. This role may require performing additional job-related tasks within the scope of the position as assigned, consistent with business needs.
• Sonoma Craft is a pet-friendly workplace, and this position may work in an environment where animals are present. This role requires the ability to work safely and professionally around pets, while adhering to all company policies related to workplace safety, hygiene, and animal conduct.

 

Sonoma Craft LLC is a proud equal-opportunity employer.  We wholeheartedly embrace authenticity, diversity, and people's differences. We are committed to building an inclusive workplace for all our employees and consumers. 

 

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

Compensation Transparency

Compensation range: Non-Exempt $24.00 - $32.00 per hour

The posted pay range reflects the long-term earning potential for this role. Initial offers are determined based on non-discriminatory, business-related factors—including experience, education, training, professional certifications, geographic location, internal equity, and performance expectations—and are not made at the top of the range. By submitting your application, you confirm that your desired compensation aligns with this approach.

Benefits at Sonoma Craft

At Sonoma Craft, we believe in supporting the whole employee — mind, body, and lifestyle. Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

Health Care Coverage

• Medical Insurance: 90% of the employee premium and 50% of dependent premiums covered
• Dental & Vision Insurance: 100% of the employee premium and 50% of dependent premiums covered

Monthly Wellness Allowance

• $100 monthly reimbursement to support physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing, including gym memberships, fitness classes, yoga, strength training, or passes to Regional, State, or National Parks

Paid Time Off

• 10 days of PTO annually, accrued from your start date

Company Holidays

• 11 paid holidays each year

Cider & Beer Allotments

• Monthly product perks to enjoy our craft beverages

401(k) Retirement Plan

• Eligibility begins after 90 days
• 100% match on the first 3%, and 50% match on the next 3% after one year of employment

We’re building a workplace where people thrive, and these benefits are just one of the ways we show our appreciation for all that you bring to the team.