Andrew Peace Wines is a dynamic, family owned company producing wine for our successful export and domestic labels and is one of Australia's premier contract winemakers. Fruit is sourced from many regions within South Eastern Australia, including our own vineyards in Victoria and South Australia. Processing is done at our modern 60,000 tonne winery, situated at Piangil, in Victoria.
We're seeking an experienced Laboratory Manager to join our NATA-accredited Laboratory and Winery team in Piangil, VIC, where you'll play a pivotal role in ensuring analytical excellence, maintaining accreditation standards, and supporting the production of outstanding wines.
Reporting to the Senior Winemakers, this role combines technical leadership, quality assurance, and team management, overseeing all analytical activities from grape intake through to finished product dispatch.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Laboratory Operations & Technical Oversight
* Act as the Technical Manager for NATA accreditation, ensuring all accreditation requirements are maintained and met.
* Oversee all laboratory analyses throughout the winemaking process — from weighbridge grape assessments to bottling.
* Ensure all analytical results are accurate, reliable, and repeatable.
* Maintain up-to-date calibration records, equipment logs, and test documentation.
* Evaluate, implement, and validate new methodologies aligned with industry best practices.
Team Leadership & Culture
* Supervise, mentor, and train laboratory staff, fostering a safe, happy, and productive work environment.
* Support recruitment, development, and performance of laboratory personnel.
* Promote a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and accountability.
Quality Assurance & Compliance
* Ensure compliance with NATA accreditation, HACCP, LIP, SWA, and other quality systems.
* Uphold laboratory safety standards and ensure adherence to all workplace health and safety policies.
* Collaborate closely with winemaking and production teams to maintain the highest product quality standards.
Operations & Resource Management
* Manage laboratory purchasing, inventory, and budgeting for equipment and consumables.
* Support efficient laboratory workflows and contribute to broader winery operations planning.
* Lead calibration schedules and maintain key technical documentation and records.
JOB REQUIREMENTS
* Bachelor of Science (Chemistry, Microbiology, or related field) or equivalent analytical qualification.
* Strong background in wine industry laboratory analysis and quality control.
* Demonstrated experience managing or supervising laboratory teams.
* Proven organisational and planning skills, with attention to detail and accuracy.
* Effective communication and collaboration skills across technical and production teams.
* Experience with NATA systems or accreditation processes (highly regarded).
WHY JOIN US?
This is a unique opportunity to lead the analytical and quality function within one of Australia's most respected family-owned wineries. You'll be part of a supportive, forward-thinking team committed to excellence, innovation, and integrity in every bottle we produce.