Vice President of Operations – NADL

Vice President of Operations – NADL

Company: Pernod Ricard USA – North American Distillery & Logistics (NADL)

Location: Louisville, KY (with regular multi-site travel)

Company & Organizational Context
Pernod Ricard is one of the world’s leading premium spirits and wine companies. In 2024 they established North American Distillers (NADL) as a dedicated global brand company focused exclusively on their American whiskey portfolio and production network. This mirrors the structure they already use for Irish Distillers and Chivas Brothers.NADL oversees brands including Jefferson’s, Rabbit Hole, Smooth Ambler, TX Whiskey, and Skrewball, and is responsible for the full production network across Kentucky, West Virginia, and Texas. The unit is investing heavily to become a stronger force in American whiskey, with a major new Jefferson’s distillery currently under construction in Kentucky. Leadership includes Richard Black (CEO of NADL) and Pierre Joncourt (SVP of Operations), to whom this role reports.
Scope of the Role

This is a true multi-site Vice President position. You would lead the operational integration and performance of four distinct distilleries:
Rabbit Hole (Kentucky)
Jefferson’s (new site, Kentucky)
Smooth Ambler (West Virginia)
TX Whiskey (Texas)
The mandate is to create a unified, world-class operating model across these sites while still respecting the individual heritage and culture of each distillery. You would own operational P&L across the network, drive process excellence and technical transformation, and ensure consistency in quality, safety, sustainability, and performance.
Leadership Expectations

Align and elevate four unique sites under one operational vision
Lead cultural integration and talent development across diverse teams
Drive continuous improvement, standardization, and technical excellence
Bridge local execution with Pernod Ricard’s global expertise
Operate effectively in a matrixed global organization
Influence senior stakeholders and contribute to strategic planning
This is positioned as a “builder’s seat” rather than a pure maintenance role — key to Pernod Ricard’s stated ambition to place American whiskey at the center of its U.S. growth strategy.
Location & Work Arrangement

Based in Louisville, Kentucky, with regular travel required across the NADL sites in Kentucky, West Virginia, and Texas. It is a full-time, on-site leadership role with multi-site accountability.

Compensation

For a multi-site VP of Operations role of this scale in the U.S. spirits industry, total compensation is typically competitive at the senior executive level (base + bonus + benefits). I can explore the precise package with the search firm if the opportunity is of interest.

Strategic Priorities

Operational excellence and integration of the four-site network
Supporting the scale-up of the new Jefferson’s distillery
Quality consistency, sustainability, and process transformation
Building a high-performing, unified culture while protecting brand heritage
Positioning NADL as a best-in-class American whiskey production organization

Full Job Description

Vice President of Operations – NADL

Location: Louisville, KY (with multi-site travel)

Reports To: SVP, Operations (Pierre)

Company: Pernod Ricard USA – North American Distillery & Logistics (NADL)

THE OPPORTUNITY

Pernod Ricard is on a transformational journey to become a leading force in American whiskey. With a portfolio of distinct, high-integrity distilleries across Kentucky, West Virginia, and Texas, we are investing significantly in innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence to close the gap to #1.As Vice President of Operations for NADL, you will lead the integration and evolution of multiple production sites—Rabbit Hole (KY), Jefferson’s (new site), Smooth Ambler (WV), and TX Whiskey (TX)—uniting them under a single, world-class operational vision.This is a rare opportunity to lead with influence, shape culture, build consistency, and design for scale. You will drive operational performance while honoring the heritage, pride, and culture of each distillery.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Site Leadership & Integration – Align operations across four unique distilleries to create a unified approach to production, quality, and innovation.
Process Excellence & Engineering – Leverage your technical background to implement continuous improvement programs, develop process design, and drive operational transformation across NADL.
Distillation Expertise – Bring deep knowledge of bourbon/whiskey production, including new barrel programs, bulk sales, and sustainability practices. Maintain quality while pushing boundaries.
Team Leadership & Culture Building – Foster unity across sites and teams with diverse cultures and histories. Inspire and develop talent, create consistency, and lead change with empathy and authority.
Global & Strategic Thinking – Operate with a global lens to bridge local execution with Pernod Ricard’s brand home expertise. Ensure knowledge-sharing and cross-market innovation.
Supply Chain & P&L Accountability – Own operational P&L across sites. Understand the full value chain—from forecasting to packaging—and contribute to strategic planning and cost optimization.

MUST-HAVE EXPERIENCE & QUALITIES

Proven leadership of multi-site distillery operations in the spirits industry (bourbon strongly preferred)
Strong engineering background (mechanical, chemical, or process engineering) with a track record of technical transformation
Deep understanding of bourbon/whiskey distillation and the surrounding ecosystem
Experience implementing standardized processes in highly nuanced environments
Executive-level communicator with the ability to unite teams and influence senior stakeholders
Ability to travel regularly across all NADL sites
Operated within or alongside matrixed global organizations
NICE TO HAVE
International or cross-market experience (esp. U.S. & EU culture navigation)
Exposure to sustainable distilling or zero-carbon initiatives
Experience scaling or launching new facilities
Long-term succession potential to SVP of Operations
THE WHY

This is not a maintenance role — it's a builder’s seat at the table. Pernod Ricard is placing whiskey at the core of its U.S. growth strategy. This role is key to that future.

You’ll help shape not just operations, but culture. Not just output, but legacy.