Silver Oak Apprenticeship

Silver Oak Apprenticeship

JOB TITLE:

Apprentice

DEPARTMENT:

All

CLASSIFICATION:

Hourly, Non-Exempt

REPORTS TO:

Various Managers

LOCATION:

Sonoma County, CA

PAY/BENEFITS:

Salary range: $25-28/hour. Competitive benefit packages include medical, dental, vision, sick time, life insurance, and employee wine.

SUMMARY: This position will rotate through various departments throughout the company, allowing for hands-on experience in areas including (but not limited to), Production, Customer Care and Fulfillment, Marketing, Wholesale and Marketing. This candidate will be based in Sonoma County and spend approximately one to two months with each participating department.

The apprentice will support each department with different tasks and duties but, above all else, will be expected to remain flexible, hard-working and eager to learn. The apprentice will leave with a greater understanding of operational workflow and company ethos. This opportunity is meant to be a wholistic experience for an individual who is committed to growing a career in the wine industry and is looking to contribute their skills, passion and talent to the high-quality wines and experiences crafted within the family of Silver Oak.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

From the vineyard to the cellar, our winegrowing teams craft exceptional wines and manage operations to ensure quality and sustainability.

  • Assist Winemaking team with quality control from bottle supplies to corks.

  • Maintain familiarity with all aspects of winemaking operations.

  • Perform all aspects of cellar work, including but not limited to racking, pumping, punchovers/punchdowns, topping, and blending of juice or wine.

  • Operates and maintains cellar and crush equipment.

  • Cleans and sanitizes all cellar equipment; maintains knowledge and safety of wine pumps, presses, and fruit processing equipment.

  • Assists where required during busy crush season; works long hours and/or swing shift as required at harvest with long hours on your feet and lifting, walking, standing, etc. as needed.

  • During Harvest duties may include: pump-overs, punchdowns, checking Brix, shoveling pomace, processing fruit, pressing, fruit sorting, chemical additions, managing micro bins, and reporting any unusual musts or wines, wine movements such as Barrel-to-Barrel racking, Tank rackings, barrel work: topping and filling, stacking, washing and maintenance; tank sanitation and preparation, forklift operation; cleaning and maintenance of cellar; purging and gassing of tanks; stirring and topping of lees, additions, or wines.

Our customer care and fulfilment teams focus on delivering excellent service to all consumers and members throughout their customer journey.

  • Provide excellent customer service to all customers.

  • Respond to customer phone calls and emails in a courteous, helpful, and timely manner.

  • Update customer information upon request including current shipping and payment information.

  • Help monitor messages in the Customer Care inbox and voicemail.

  • Process customer orders received daily via phone or email in ONE.

  • Maintain open and clear communication with the Fulfillment Team.

  • Performs other general office duties as needed or as assigned.

Our customer care and fulfilment teams focus on delivering excellent service to all consumers and members throughout their customer journey.

  • Process all in and outbound shipments including, but not limited to, sorting, logging, delivering, packing, and shipping.

  • Audit each shipment prior to packing to ensure all goods match the order.

  • Pack and label D2C orders based on established standards.

  • Participate in end of day wine pull.

  • Assist with end of day invoice processing and label creation.

  • Assist with accurate inventory of wines and merchandise.

  • Maintain open and clear communication with Customer Care.

From e-commerce and digital advertising to social media and print collateral, our marketing team focuses on providing a seamless 360-degree consumer experience.

  • Familiarization with marketing performance KPIs and analytic tools.

  • Understand the components of developing and maintaining a multi-channel brand story.

  • Emphasis in areas of personal interest that could include but are not limited to email marketing, social media, copywriting, sports partnerships, photography, videography, public relations, etc.

Our wholesale team focuses on maintaining brand equity and assisting with customer acquisition through wine placement and regional relationships.

  • Begin coordination with Regional Sales Managers and VP of Sales the annual gift selection, ship to details and accompanying card.

  • Assist Trade Relations Specialist with any Silver Oak 50th Anniversary national and/or regional events follow-up.

  • Assist Sales Administration Assistant with Wine Searcher and Account Maintenance reporting. 

Our Hospitality Team focuses on providing memorable in-person experiences to our guests, emphasizing excellent customer service, engaging wine experiences and setting the stage to earn their repeat business.

  • Collaborates with team to ensure guests have an extraordinary experience based on their needs and special requests.

  • Provide a welcoming atmosphere and distinctive experience to all customers.

  • Host assigned tasting and tour experiences, providing wine and historical information relevant to the guests’ interests and familiarity with Silver Oak/Twomey wines.

  • Operates cash registers, handles credit card sales, treats customers in a courteous manner, and becomes familiar with merchandise and its location within store.

  • Provides general tourist information and relevant recommendations to customers.

  • Monitors merchandise displays and overall appearance and cleanliness of retail area, including stocking of wine and retail items as needed.

  • Help set up and break down for tastings.

  • Wash and dry stemware.

  • Assist special events team with set-up, break-down, and wine sales for private lunches and/or dinners.

  • Follow all COVID-19 hospitality protocols.

  • Must be at least 21 years of age.

  • Possess a valid driver’s license upon start date (and required to obtain a CA driver’s license within 30 days) to drive between multiple winery locations.

  • Proficient in Office 365 applications, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.

  • Interest in the wine industry and understanding of product offerings are a plus.

  • Commitment to excellence and high standards.

  • Good communicator and team player.

  • Versatility, flexibility, and a willingness to work within constantly changing priorities with enthusiasm.

  • Maintain a positive attitude.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to do the following:

  • Ability to lift 40 lbs.

  • Ability to sit or stand for prolonged periods of time.

  • Ability to work mandatory overtime, including evenings and weekends during harvest and holiday seasons.

  • Perform repetitive motion activities.

  • Noise levels can be moderate to loud in the cellar, vineyard, and warehouse departments.

  • Exposed to outdoor elements, daytime temperatures can range from freezing to hot.

  • Hazards: Occasionally works near moving machinery parts and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and toxic or caustic chemicals.

  • Exposure to a warehouse where temperatures are cool, and noise levels can be moderate to high.

The above reflects management’s definition of essential functions for this job but does not restrict the tasks that may be assigned.  Management may assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons.

Silver Oak is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. If you identify as BIPOC, we welcome you to apply. Applications open on February 10th And Close On February 28th. Out-of-state apprentices will receive a $5000 moving stipend as well as the first 30 days of shared housing.

Please email your resume, cover letter, and letter of recommendation to info@theveraisonproject.com to complete the application process.
We are only able to consider applicants who have completed this step. Thank you!

Are you based in Sonoma or Napa county? *

Please note the apprentice needs a reliable car to perform this role.

If hired, would you have a reliable means of transportation to and from work? *
Are you at least 21 years old? *
Are you able to perform the essential functions of the job for which you are applying, either with or without reasonable accommodation? *
Did you graduate high school? *
Did you graduate college or university? *
List below all present and past employment starting with your most recent employer (last five years is sufficient). You must complete this section even if emailing a resume.

Employment Information: Most Recent Employer

Is this your current employer? *
May we contact this employer for a reference? *
Employment Information, continued.
May we contact this employer for a reference? *
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I hereby certify that I have not knowingly withheld any information that might adversely affect my chances for employment and that the answers given by me are true and correct to the best of my knowledge. I further certify that I, the undersigned applicant, have personally completed this application. I understand that any omission or misstatement of material fact on this application or on any document used to secure employment shall be grounds for rejection of this application.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

The Company will consider qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local "Fair Chance" laws.

If you are unable to upload your documents above, please email your resume, cover letter, and letter of recommendation to info@theveraisonproject.com to complete your application. If we do not receive these documents, we will be unable to consider your application. Thank you!

Be a part of The Veraison Project

Be a part of The Veraison Project

100% of your donations will go toward wine certification sponsorship and the costs of running our 501(c)(3) non-profit (EIN 85-1942329) and are tax deductible. Thank you for being a part of the change.