Chief Executive Officer

Company Summary:

Rhinegeist Brewery is a regional craft brewery based in the historic Over-The-Rhine in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. We have built a strong and dedicated team of employees that believe in the power of beer to bring people together, create fantastic ideas, and build a community. Our unique group of employee-owners believes that it is our responsibility to make inspiring beverages and cultivate memorable experiences. We strive to find high-quality, creative solutions with a fierce spirit of independence as we grow. Rhinegeist welcomes all people and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Diverse candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Position Summary: 

We are in search of a leader who possesses a deep passion for upholding and nurturing our company values. This position calls for an individual who exudes dynamism in leadership and finds fulfillment in empowering their managers, fostering growth, and providing collaborative guidance to others. It is crucial that the CEO approaches their role with an open mind, emotional intelligence, and the ability to swiftly grasp new business domains, all while demonstrating exceptional instincts in challenging conventions and exploring new perspectives, even when unfamiliar with the specific industry.

We are seeking someone who will steer this business for the next decade or more, navigating all the stages of this journey, while prioritizing the well-being of people, fostering community, and devising intelligent and collaborative strategy. The ideal candidate would take pride in being part of a company that doesn’t prioritize financial gain above all else but instead prioritizes a balance of financial, strategic and cultural goals to build long term success.

CEO Job Responsibilities

• Leadership & Management
  • Lead a wide range of business units and people, ranging from Operations, Logistics, Warehousing / Distribution / Freight, Sales, Marketing, Accounting, HR, Taproom, Events, Restaurant
  • Facilitate Financial education for management/leadership
  • Support and develop leadership skills for Executive Leadership Team
• Strategy
  • Drive the strategic direction of the business, guiding teams collaboratively, with an entrepreneurial mindset.
  • Make firm decisions when needed, but consult those with expertise, listen fully, and make decisions openly.
  • Gather the right people, make decisions, and communicate with the company as a whole in a way that makes employees know they are cared for and shares context and considerations of major decisions.
  • Identify and provide resources needed to achieve operational goals, revenue growth and cost management
  • Strategically work to improve efficiency of payroll, expenses and COGs in operations departments.
• Operations
  • Walk the floor regularly and build and maintain good rapport with employees at all levels, across departments
  • Need an ease in talking with others, good communication and listening skills across a diverse group of employee whether they work the packaging line, drive a truck, make beer, or run a entire sales territory
  • Conduct regular all-hands meetings
  • Lead the business collaboratively, building on the unique culture that exists, and driving positive change & growth for individuals and as a business
  • Ability to explain decisions made so that all can understand the reasoning even if they might not agree every time
  • Oversee all Rhinegeist facilities projects as it pertains to execution, operation and functionality.
  • Determine financial feasibility, help to define goals and success for initiatives, determine scope of job, and project deadlines and targets in collaboration with the department directors.
  • Ensure company is aligned with best practices related to alcohol, health and operational safe compliance on local, state and federal level
  • Develop meaningful and genuine relationships with vendors, city officials and permitting offices, and members of the surrounding community.
  • Report on a monthly basis to the co-founders to discuss business strategies related to yearly business objectives, revenue goals, product mix, brand strategies, company culture and expansion plans
  • Conduct weekly meetings with Finance & Accounting Department
• Culture
  • Stimulate and promote a success-oriented, accountable environment
  • Enhance the capability of individuals to excel and make valuable contributions to the organization by offering continuous feedback and creating avenues for learning through both formal and informal means
  • Develop new insights into situations; healthily question approaches and encourage new ideas and innovation
  • Nurture an inclusive and diverse work environment that recognizes and harnesses the individual distinctions that make Rhinegeist a great place to work

CEO Required Experience

• At least 5yrs experience leading another business of comparable or larger size, or leading a wide range of business units.
• 10yrs of experience managing teams across various business units
• Experience leading in an industry with manufacturing, distribution, sales, and retail components, experience in alcohol beverage industry preferred but not required.
• Experience leading in an entrepreneurial, non-corporate environment
• Outstanding soft skills as the highest priority – the ability to manage all types of people and get the best out of them as leaders and individuals.
• Experience uniting diverse people and groups.
• A thorough understanding of finance, how to navigate & dissect financial statements / projections in conjunction with strategy
• Experience setting vision, building strategy and communicating across diverse groups.
• Outstanding ability and experience in leading in a crisis

Please consider applying even if you do not match all the listed qualifications. Additionally, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of a position.

Benefits at Rhinegeist

• Health/Dental/Vision Insurance
• Employer Paid Basic Life Insurance
• 17 days of PTO
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Paid Short-Term/Long-Term Disability/Additional Life Insurance
• Dependent Care – Flexible Spending Account
• 401k Match Offered
• 8 Company & 2 Personal Holidays
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• Free Breakroom Snacks
• Beer and Merchandise allowance