Assistant Cider Maker / Orchard Manager

Location: Prince Edward County , Ontario

Employment T ype: Full-time, in-person (this position is not remote or hybrid — daily on-site presence in the orchard and cidery is required)

About the Role-

Loch Mór Cider Company is an award-winning, orchard-to-glass cidery in Prince Edward County , home to over 3,100 trees — including rare heritage cider varieties. With more than 50 national and international awards to our name, we’re in the midst of an exciting orchard expansion planned over the next 2–3 seasons. We’re a small,

tight-knit team, and this role offers the chance to work closely with ownership, see your work travel directly from orchard to bottle, and grow alongside an already celebrated cidery .

As of October 1, new ownership will be taking over Loch Mór Cider

Company . We’re building our team for this next chapter and looking for people who want to help carry forward — and grow — everything that has made this cidery special.

We are looking for an experienced Assistant Cider Maker / Orchard

Manager to join our team in Prince Edward County . This hands-on role combines orchard stewardship with cider production, working closely with our head cider maker throughout the growing season and production cycle.

Requirements-

Minimum 2 full years of hands-on experience as an assistant cider maker or assistant wine maker (commercial production setting)

Working knowledge of fermentation processes, cellar operations,

and quality control

Comfortable with physical, outdoor labour across seasons

(pruning, harvest, spraying schedules, equipment maintenance)

Willingness and ability to work on-site full time in Prince Edward

County — no remote or hybrid arrangements available

Valid driver’s license required (occasional deliveries are part of the role)

Strong attention to detail,



especially around sanitation, batch records, and food safety practices

Must be at least 19 years of age

Must have, or be able to obtain within one month of hire, Smart

Serve, Food Handler , and WHMIS certifications

Fluent in English required; bilingual (French) is an asset

Availability for overtime hours during fall harvest and pressing season (approximately September–November) is expected

Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada, due to status of incoming owners. This position cannot be filled by candidates requiring work permit sponsorship.

Preferred Qualifications-

Professional training in cider making through a college/universityprogram or the Cider Institute of North America

Responsibilities-

Reports directly to the Head Cider Maker

Assist with all stages of cider production: pressing, fermentation,

blending, filtration, bottling/canning, and packaging

Support orchard management tasks including pruning, pest and disease monitoring, irrigation, and harvest coordination

Maintain accurate production and orchard records

Help maintain a clean, organized, and safety-compliant cellar and work environment

Operate and perform basic maintenance on cidery and orchard equipment

Collaborate with the head cider maker on recipe development and quality assessment

Support tasting room operations as needed, particularly during quieter off-season periods

Working Conditions-





This role involves potential exposure to pesticides and other agrochemicals used in orchard management. Appropriate PPE and safety training will be provided, and all applications follow label and regulatory requirements.

Candidates who will be directly applying pesticides may be required to hold, or obtain, an Ontario Grower Pesticide Safety

Course certificate.

Physical Requirements-

Ability to lift and carry at least 50 lbs regularly (bins, kegs, bags,

equipment)

Ability to work in wet, cold, and/or muddy conditions (cellar work,

washdowns, outdoor orchard work in all weather)

Ability to stand, bend, kneel, and climb (ladders/orchard equipment) for extended periods

Comfortable working outdoors in seasonal extremes (summer heat,

harvest-season cold)

Reasonable accommodations will be considered in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and AODA

Compensation Package-

Pay rate: $27.00/hour

Health Spending Account (HSA) with a $1,500 employer contribution in year one — OHIP does not cover dental, vision,

prescription drugs, or paramedical services, so this is provided to fill that gap

Annual professional development budget

Annual product allowance

Two weeks of paid vacation per year , timing to be coordinated with the Head Cider Maker (particularly around harvest/pressing season)

How to Apply-

Please send a resume and brief cover letter outlining your relevant cider or wine making experience to [email protected].

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.We thank all applicants for their interest; however , only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Interviews will be scheduled for late-August/early-September .

Pay: $26.00-$28.00 per hour

Benefits

- Casual dress
- On-site parking
- Store discount
- Tuition reimbursement

Work Location: In person

📌 Assistant Cider Maker (Hillier)
🏢 Loch Mór Cider
📍 Hillier