Senior Director, Fort Smith Operations

Careers that unlock the magic of human connection

Pernod Ricard is a global premium spirits and wine company. We’re the team behind leading brands such as ABSOLUT® Vodka, Jameson® Irish Whiskey, Malibu®, Kahlúa® Liqueur, Beefeater® Gin, and Avión™ Tequila, as well as many more superior wines and exquisite champagnes!

Working at Pernod Ricard is all about igniting conviviality in all that we do. Derived from the French word, convivialité…it means human connection, authenticity, friendly, and jovial. Conviviality is energy and spirit with a splash of je ne sais quoi and is a core philosophy around how we live and work at Pernod Ricard. Here, we are team players, dream makers, trailblazers, movers and (cocktail) shakers. We have a passion for living life to the fullest, making new friends every day, and realizing our potential as people and as a business!

The salary range for this role, based in Fort Smith is $146,800.00 to $183,500.00. The range will vary if outside of this location. Base salaries are determined during our interview process, by assessing a candidate’s experience, skills against internal peers and against the scope and responsibilities of the position.

Purpose of the Position

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Sr. Director, Operations to support our Fort Smith manufacturing location. This role is critical to establish strategic direction and action plans for Bottling, Material Handling, Engineering/Maintenance and factory system to support the site and regional strategy. The Sr. Director will partner to ensure the site is adhering to regulatory and compliance, export operations, and logistics execution.

This role will work to ensure compliance and excellence in Customer Service, Quality, Cost, Delivery, Product, Safety, Environmental and Employee Health & Safety. This senior leadership position will be responsible for challenging existing norms, leading change initiatives and delivering projects on time and within budget. The role will focus on developing organizational and people capabilities to maximize business objectives and results, ensure sustainable succession planning and employee engagement. Alongside with team development the role will have a strong focused on continuous improvement, cross functional communication and cooperation between functions to maximize site opportunity and profitability

The ideal candidate has a solid understanding of manufacturing operations and supply chain with a proven track record of high levels of effective partnership across a cross functional team. This individual is expected to foster continuous transformation, shaping processes and culture that together improves the organization’s operational effectiveness as well as its capacity for change while maintaining/enhancing employee engagement. The Sr. Director, Operations for Fort Smith will be responsible for end-to-end operations enabling organizational growth ambitions.

Major Responsibilities/Accountabilities

Personnel Management:

• Lead and coach salaried leadership to develop high-performing teams.
• Foster a culture of teamwork, training, communication, accountability, and high performance.
• Ensure employees are trained on company policies, safety, regulatory standards, and ISO work instructions.
• Manage the drawback program and ensure customs compliance.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to identify and mitigate supply chain and regulatory risks.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with international customers and stakeholders.

Operations & Continuous Improvement:

• Drive production performance using Lean Manufacturing tools (changeovers, efficiency, OEE, cost per case).
• Implement world-class manufacturing techniques to support continuous improvement.
• Leverage technology for automation and production efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with TTB regulations, labeling, and excise duties.
• Lead Operations Excellence progress and collaborate with regional supply chains.
• Manage export processes to ensure timely, compliant delivery to international markets.

Financial & Budgetary Management:

• Develop and manage operating, overhead, and capital budgets.
• Lead cost reduction and waste elimination initiatives.
• Monitor financial performance and implement corrective actions to meet targets.
• Oversee capital budgeting and deliver project ROI with regional CAPEX teams.
• Support change management for organizational improvements.

Required Competencies:

• Commitment to quality, safety, and environmental sustainability.
• Ability to lead teams through change and foster continuous improvement.
• Promote personal development and innovative approaches to work.

Education & Experience

• BSBA or Industrial Engineer or related field, or equivalent experience, required. MBA a plus.
• 10 years manufacturing, supply chain and fast-moving consumer goods, Food & Beverage. Alcohol Beverage preferred.
• Successful track records in various leadership roles and responsibilities are required for this position, including demonstrated ability to lead and mentor large cross-functional teams.
• Strong people skills including written / verbal communication. Strong project management skills. Strong analytical / problem solving skills. Strong financial skills. Total production management includes balancing quality and quantity. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment. Long-range goal setting abilities. Adequately versed in most common office and production and inventory control software programs, i.e. Microsoft Office, JD Edwards.
• Acute attention to detail and highly organized.
• Highly analytical and critical thinker.
• An eagerness to identify opportunities, find solutions, execute plans, and evaluate results critically.
• A passion for solving problems from end-to-end.
• Proficiency with computer applications and Microsoft products.

- Management:

• Yes

Geographical scope of the position

• Regional
• Business travels to be expected: 15%

When you join Pernod Ricard, you’ll experience a workplace that is rich in heritage, driven by our iconic brands and a long-standing commitment to sustainability, safety, and giving back to the people and communities where we work. We know that happiness at work starts with that feeling of belonging you get from an inclusive culture where being uniquely you is celebrated. Our values are lived, they drive our behaviors, and it’s what brings our culture to life.

Our work philosophy celebrates the magic of human connection with the flexibility needed to provide one's most meaningful contribution. We offer a flexible work policy, with most of our positions offering a hybrid or remote option. As a global employer, we understand that not everyone’s working hours are the same, and we empower our employees to work the hours that make the most sense for their and their team’s schedules.

We offer employees great benefits and perks to toast to a life filled with support. Check out PRUSABenefits.com for details.

Pernod Ricard USA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It employs qualified individuals based solely on ability, training, and experience, and does not and will not, discriminate for or against any employee or applicant for employment or promotion based upon actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, national origin, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service or any other classification protected by law. Offers will be subject to United States local terms.

Pernod Ricard USA is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Pernod Ricard USA will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. To request reasonable accommodation during the application process, contact your talent acquisition manager.