Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery's rich tradition dates back to 1773 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.
Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 17 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named “Brand Innovator of the Year” by Whisky Magazine at its Icons of Whisky America Awards 2015. Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 300 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. The distillery is part of the Sazerac family of companies.
The opportunity:
This is not your average maintenance role. Buffalo Trace Distillery is a National Historic Landmark spanning 450 acres in Frankfort, Kentucky — a fully operational distillery producing bourbon, rye, and vodka with a tradition dating back to 1773. The campus is a living piece of American history, with a legacy shaped by legends such as E.H. Taylor Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, and Elmer T. Lee.
As Maintenance Supervisor, you will hold the keys to keeping this entire iconic campus running at peak performance. This is a campus-wide leadership role — not a single-line or single-building assignment. You will command a skilled team of mechanics and electricians, drive a culture of operational excellence, and leave your mark on one of the most celebrated distilleries in the world.
What you'll do:
Lead Campus-Wide Maintenance Operations
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Direct and supervise mechanics and electricians across the full 450-acre campus, ensuring distillery, bottling, and packaging lines operate at peak efficiency.
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Serve as the primary maintenance leader for the entire site — anticipating challenges, resolving issues proactively, and setting the standard for operational excellence.
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Plan and implement campus-wide operational and mechanical improvements, contributing to long-term infrastructure strategies.
Drive Team Success & Build a Winning Culture
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Inspire, coach, and develop your maintenance team — creating a culture where every technician is empowered to grow, excel, and take pride in maintaining a world-class facility.
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Motivate your team with clear goals, structured development plans, and consistent recognition of high performance.
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Foster a collaborative environment that encourages innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
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Deliver impactful technical training to maintenance technicians, mechanics, and operators, elevating skill levels across the board.
Ensure Safety, Quality & Compliance — Always
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Champion a safety-first mindset across every inch of the campus — leading by example, conducting inspections, and ensuring co-workers never work unsafely.
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Ensure all equipment is installed, set up, and maintained in full compliance with package specifications, Food Safety, OSHA, HACCP, and Environmental Policies.
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Analyze and resolve quality problems related to the Maintenance Department swiftly and decisively.
Optimize Performance & Manage Resources
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Track efficiencies and production data to continuously improve yields and output across all campus operations.
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Assist in preparing and managing annual operating budgets for the Maintenance Department, reducing costs without sacrificing quality.
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Evaluate employee performance, identify skill gaps, and build targeted improvement plans that move the needle.
What you'll bring:
Required Qualifications
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Bachelor’s Degree
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3+ years of relevant maintenance leadership experience
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Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
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Strong ability to juggle multiple priorities simultaneously
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Good vision and manual dexterity
Preferred Qualifications
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Experience in beverage processing or distillery/manufacturing environments
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Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing principles
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4+ years designing and/or implementing OSHA, HACCP, or USDA programs
Working hours are 6pm-6am on a rotating 2-2-3 schedule
Why join our team?
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Lead maintenance across one of America’s most iconic and historic distilleries
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Shape the future of a 450-acre campus that is a National Historic Landmark
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Join a company with 20+ consecutive years of double-digit growth
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Competitive salary, full benefits, and a culture that invests in your development
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Be part of the team behind the world’s most award-winning distillery
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