Technical Malting Supervisor – Shakopee, MN
RahrBSG is looking for a Technical Malting Supervisor to join our team in Shakopee, Minnesota. This is a great opportunity for someone with a background in food science, fermentation, brewing, agriculture, engineering, biology, chemistry, or a related field who is interested in building a career in malting and manufacturing operations.
In this role, you’ll gain hands-on experience with the malting process while working alongside experienced production, quality, and maintenance teams. You’ll help oversee the day-to-day conversion of barley and other grains into high-quality malt used by breweries and beverage producers around the world.
The Technical Malting Supervisor combines production, science, data, quality, and problem-solving. You’ll monitor the malting process, analyze production data, troubleshoot process challenges, support continuous improvement efforts, and help ensure our malt consistently meets customer and quality specifications.
This position is also designed to provide exposure to the broader operation and opportunities to develop the technical and leadership skills needed for future growth within malting and manufacturing management.
Why RahrBSG?
Rahr is a fifth-generation, family-owned company headquartered in Shakopee, MN. Since 1847, we have grown into a global leader and trusted partner to the brewing and craft beverage industry, supplying malt, hops, brewing ingredients, and other products to beverage makers around the world.
At Rahr, we combine more than 175 years of experience with a focus on innovation, sustainability, quality, and continuous improvement. You’ll have the opportunity to learn from experienced industry professionals, work in a unique manufacturing environment, and build a career with a company that continues to invest in its people and its future.
If you’re curious about how science, agriculture, manufacturing, and brewing come together and you enjoy solving problems and learning how things work, we’d love to hear from you.
BENEFITS & PERKS:
- Competitive Starting Base Salary Between $75,000 – $85,000
- Annual Bonus
- Medical benefits with coverage paid for at 90%
- Dental and Vison Programs
- Generous Annual 401(k) Company Contribution of 15%
- Employee Assistance Program
- Paid Life Insurance
- Short Term Disability
- Long Term Disability
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Generous PTO
- Sick Time
- 12 Paid Company Holidays
- Parental Leave
- Career Growth and Progression Paths
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Support oversight of all stages of the malting process (steeping, germination, kilning) with a focus on process stability and optimization.
- Apply scientific and engineering principles to improve grain hydration, modification, airflow, moisture control, and thermal efficiency.
- Analyze production data to identify process variability, yield loss, or energy inefficiencies.
- Assist in developing and refining standard operating procedures (SOPs) for malting operations.
- Evaluate equipment performance and partners with Maintenance to improve reliability and asset utilization.
- Account for all daily factors that influence product quality and utilize predictive models for consistent malt production within spec.
- Develop metrics to monitor production trends and adjust processes and recipes accordingly.
- Identify opportunities to automate and drive efficiencies throughout the production process.
- Work closely with the barley supply team to efficiently manage available inputs.
- Effectively lead a production team and propose opportunities for efficiencies or cost reduction in the malting process.
- Interface with the quality and commercial teams to ensure finished product meets customer expectations.
- Support daily production activities to ensure schedules and quality standards are achieved.
- Monitor batch records, process deviations, and quality data to ensure compliance and traceability.
- Assist in troubleshooting operational or quality issues using data-driven problem-solving methods.
- Identify capital improvement opportunities and equipment upgrades.
- Collaborate with Quality to ensure raw barley and finished malt meet established specifications.
- Support implementation of quality assurance and food safety programs.
- Ensure compliance with FDA, OSHA, State, City, and Company safety and sanitation standards.
- Promote a safety-first mindset within production teams.
- Identify opportunities to improve throughput, reduce waste, and enhance energy efficiency.
- Assist in implementing process monitoring tools, automation improvements, and performance dashboards.
- Support cross-functional initiatives involving R&D, Supply Chain, and Quality to improve malting methods.
- Support production teams and shift operations as needed.
- Assist with training operators on procedures, safety practices, and quality standards.
- Promote a strong culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Provide day-to-day support and guidance to production teams.
- Assist in training operators on process controls and engineering-based best practices.
- Build leadership capability through increasing responsibility in shift oversight and project ownership.
- Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned to support the company and its operational needs.
MINIMUM EDUCATION & WORK REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering or a related field (e.g., agronomy, food science, chemical engineering) required.
- Experience in agricultural processing, food manufacturing, grain handling, or related process industry preferred.
- Internship, co-op, or project experience involving grain systems, thermal processes, airflow systems, or biological process optimization strongly preferred.
- Ability to respond to after-hours operational needs as required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
- Strong understanding of biological systems, grain science, and process engineering principles.
- Foundational knowledge of thermodynamics, fluid flow, moisture transfer, and heat transfer applications in agricultural systems.
- Ability to analyze production data and apply engineering reasoning to improve outcomes.
- Strong technical problem-solving and root cause analysis skills.
- Mechanical aptitude and ability to understand industrial equipment and control systems.
- Familiarity with process monitoring systems, PLCs, or manufacturing data systems preferred.
- Strong communication skills with ability to translate technical findings into operational action.
- Self-motivated, analytical, and detail-oriented.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with operators, maintenance teams, and leadership.
- Ethical, safety-conscious, and accountable.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions in accordance with applicable laws.
- Regularly required to stand, walk; use hands and fingers; reach with hands and arms; talk or hear and taste or smell.
- Occasionally required to sit; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.
- Must use close, distance, color, peripheral vision, and depth perception.
- Must be able to occasionally lift and/or move up to 60 pounds.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to work near moving mechanical parts; outdoor weather conditions; extreme (non-weather) cold and heat. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.