State Manager – Florida

About Us

Sovereign Brands is a family-owned, global wine and spirits company headquartered in Highland Park, IL. Owned and operated by the Berish family and partners, Sovereign Brands brings together first-class producers from the world’s most iconic wine and spirit regions to develop best-in-class brands. Sovereign has a portfolio of successful brands including Luc Belaire, a smash-hit line of French sparkling wines that has earned global acclaim for its exquisite taste and striking packaging and is available in more than 100 countries around the world. The company’s portfolio also includes McQueen and the Violet Fog, an extraordinary gin from Jundiaí, Brazil; Bumbu, an artisanal rum that ranks among the world’s most critically acclaimed rums, and Villon, a rich, spiced French liqueur with aromas of vanilla, chai and toasted oak. The Deacon, a premium blended Scotch Whisky made of Islay and Speyside malts, is Sovereign’s newest launch in collaboration with Pernod Ricard. www.sovereignbrands.com

Sales

Southern Florida

Position Overview

The State Manager will provide leadership for delivering volume, distribution, merchandising a pricing performance across the state of Florida; both on- and off-premise. The role is responsible for managing wholesaler and major customer relationships, developing and executing sales programming and pricing, managing budgets and marketing programs. This position is remote and will have direct reports.

**Candidates must reside in Southern Florida.**

Primary Responsibilities

Collaborate with the Regional Sales Manager in the development and execution of annual sales plan and management of the sales budget
Manage Company brand portfolio within assigned geography. Ensure proper management of depletions and inventory by SKU to prevent out of stocks and plan for future growth
Actively develop and manage relationships with wholesaler personnel
Ensure the planning and implementation of sales programming in all markets
Ensure the planning and execution of price structures and shelf prices in the market
Ensure POS and other marketing assets are utilized in the field with correct programs
Participate in the development of program-specific POS
Call on and activate Key Accounts in the market under the direction of the Regional Sales Manager
Implement creative programs to activate the consumer
Spend time each month surveying the market to ensure that distribution, pricing, POS, displays, programs, menus, and ads are executed to standard
Travel when appropriate to observe business conditions and to call on key buyers, distributor personnel, and interact and work with Company sales personnel
Participate in Company and wholesaler planning and sales meetings

Qualifications & Experience

A minimum of 5 years’ experience in the beverage alcohol industry
Strong knowledge of wholesale operations and creating share of mind and quota rotation
Good knowledge of the art and science of wholesaler programming and pricing
Strong interpersonal and leadership skills to direct the Company brands
Strong key account negotiation skills
Existing relationships with wholesaler management a plus
Ability to function effectively in an intimate, entrepreneurial business environment; “self-starter”
Objective-oriented, focused, individual who needs little direction or supervision; energy and enthusiasm are critical.
Excellent planning and organizational skills
Financially responsible and knowledgeable in budget management
Proficient in Microsoft suite including Excel, Word, and Power Point
Excellent communication skills, particularly verbal, including strong presentation skills
Valid driver’s license and ability to drive and travel 4-5 days per week required

Physical Demands

Frequently required to stand, walk, and sit
Frequently required to travel
Frequently required to talk and hear

Salary and How to Apply

Interested candidates: Please email Resume/CV to careers@sovereignbrands.com and please include your salary expectations. Referrals, please include Sovereign Brands employee name.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

Sovereign Brands, L.L.C. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Sovereign Brands provides eligible employees with competitive pay, which may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, total hours worked, job type, and business line. The compensation that will be offered to the successful candidate will depend on non-discriminatory factors such as the geographic area in which the work will be performed, market pay rates in that area, and the candidate’s experience and qualifications.