Cider Maker

Cider Maker

Location: East Boston, MA (in the Boston Harbor Shipyard)

Schedule: Full-time, 8 hour shifts Monday-Friday, first (6am-2pm) or second shift (12pm-8pm).

*Availability for at least 1 of the 2 shifts is required for consideration, bonus points for full 2 shift availability*

Compensation: starting rate is $20 per hour, with additional pay depending on prior packaging experience and shift differentials for 2nd shift (+$0.50/hr)

Mission Statement — Downeast Cider

“If we create value for customers, we create value for ourselves in fulfilling work and robust compensation. This requires a world-class brand and a world-class team.”

Mission of the role:

The Cider Maker plays a critical role on the rapidly growing team at Downeast Cider. This is an opportunity to work in a cidery making truly exceptional ciders. You will learn how we make our unique ciders, and you will be responsible for all aspects of the day-to-day cider production operations including offloading juice, monitoring fermentation, blending and pasteurizing, transferring product using pumps, operating our centrifuge, and cleaning. You will learn and adhere to all cider making specific standard operating procedures, quality control processes, and sanitation practices. 

This is an excellent role for an entry level candidate eager to start their career in cider making and learn a lot very quickly, or an experienced cider maker who is ready to take on higher volumes, new flavors, and constant innovation.

What you’ll do: 

Rehydrate and pitch yeast and nutrients

Monitor gravities, temperatures, and carbonations

Prepare new ferments

Schedule rackings, fermentations, and fining of cider

Deaerate and carbonate finished product

Taste and blend ciders

Conduct sanitary transfer of liquid ingredients

Perform brite tank and fermentation vessel CIP’s

Maintain and manage ingredient storage

Ensure quality control throughout all aspects of the cider making process

Who you are:

Strong work ethic

Ability to work at a fast pace on your feet

Flexible schedule to work various shifts

Ability to lift 50lb bags and hoses regularly

Able to speak and read English fluently

Bonus points if you have…

Previous cellar experience strongly preferred

Knowledge of pasteurization/heat exchange

Knowledge of brewing/vitner chemistry procedures (TA and sulfite titration, cell counts)

Experience working with an ERP system

Proficiency in google sheets

Don’t check all the boxes? We know there’s no such thing as a perfect candidate, so if this is a role you feel passionate about we encourage you to apply with a one-page cover letter explaining why this post speaks to you. Drop the “to whom it may concern” and give it to us straight - why you?

What We Offer:

16 PTO days in your first year

Paid holidays

Paid sick days

Paid bereavement leave

Paid parental leave

401(k) with 4% company match

Health & dental insurance from day one

Company-provided short-term disability coverage

Annual PPE stipend

Cider allowance (how big is your fridge?)

All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check, conducted after a conditional job offer has been made. Candidates will have the opportunity to review and respond to any findings.

about downeast cider:

we first started fermenting batches of cider up at bates college in 2011.  we have a few more teammates now.  you can now buy our cider in tens of thousands of retailers, not just a couple of bars in central maine.  it takes us 15 minutes to make a pallet of cider, not the 12 hours it took in the early days.  we’re diversifying beyond cider.  but our aim remains the same:

we aspire to be an enduring company. if we create value for our customers, we create value for ourselves through fulfilling work and robust compensation.  to do this requires a work class brand, and a work class team.  

we define our culture by seven principles.  you can read more about those principles here.