Overview
City Orchard (www.cityorchardhtx.com) is seeking a motivated, hands-on, and detail-oriented Head Cider Maker to lead our New York based operations and expansion while supporting our Texas based operations. This position is responsible for all aspects of cider production—from apple harvest and fruit processing through fermentation, packaging, inventory management, equipment maintenance, and shipping. The ideal candidate is comfortable taking ownership of day-to-day production operations while contributing as a key employee to growing the brand presence.
Compensation commensurate with qualifications with potential to grow with the company.
Duties
- Organize harvested apples in cold storage rooms to maximize efficiency and preserve fruit quality.
- Operate apple pressing equipment to produce juice for fermentation.
- Repair and perform preventative maintenance on pressing and production equipment.
- Perform cellar duties typical of cider production, including cleaning and sanitation, rackings, additions and filtering.
- Perform routine laboratory analysis, including pH, TA and Brix.
- Maintain accurate production and laboratory records.
- Conduct bench trials to evaluate blends, ingredients, and processing techniques.
- Assist with research and development of new cider products while continually improving existing products.
- Prepare and load shipments onto trucks.
- Clean and sanitize kegs, packaging equipment, and associated production equipment.
- Operate canning and bottling lines and fill kegs with finished cider.
- Support marketing efforts.
Qualifications
- Experience in cider, wine, brewery, or food and beverage production.
- Experience operating tractors, forklifts, pallet jacks, and other agricultural or industrial equipment, or willingness to learn.
- Strong mechanical aptitude with experience operating and maintaining canning or other beverage packaging equipment.
- Knowledge of cider or wine production and quality assurance practices.
- Working knowledge of fermentation and cellar operations.
- Experience performing laboratory analysis, including pH, Titratable Acidity (TA), and Brix testing.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities.
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and work in wet, cold, and physically demanding production environments.
Pay: $55,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Paid time off
- Profit sharing
Work Location: In person
