Beverage Sales Director

The Role As more Americans turn to cannabis for well-being, we are looking to grow our team to help us bring additional safe, trusted products to even more consumers and channels across the country. The Beverage Sales Director will be a key player in expanding our THC-infused beverage business and growing consumer access to our best-in-class products. This role is designed for a dynamic, strategic sales leader who can spearhead our market expansion, building out a top-tier team and developing a comprehensive go-to-market plan. You'll be responsible for creating and implementing the market execution strategy, hiring and coaching your sales team, driving our distributor partner execution, and ensuring strong market penetration across both on-premise and off-premise channels throughout the Illinois market.

This is a hybrid role based of out of Chicago, IL. Onsite work required as well as travel in Illinois.

Responsibilities

Market Leadership

Lead the beverage commercial business including Sales, Pricing, Planning, and Budgeting, while ensuring trade and brand marketing efforts are driving sales

Develop monthly, quarterly, and annual targets and manage team to deliver both near-term and longer-term objectives

Build and maintain relationships with distributors, key accounts, and influencers in the Illinois THC beverage market to deliver sustainable sales growth

Lead monthly, quarterly, and annual review meetings with distributor management teams to identify opportunity areas, address concerns, and review key programs

Sales Strategy & Execution

Design and implement a robust sales execution plan and sales playbook for the Illinois market ahead of launch

Set KPIs and performance goals that align with company objectives and drive the team towards ambitious targets

Identify and secure distribution throughout market across on-premise (bars, restaurants) and off-premise (liquor, grocery, c-store, etc.) locations

Develop distributor goals with supporting sales programs and incentives to drive distributor share of mind and strong in-market execution

Team Building & Management

Recruit, onboard, and train a team of high-performing sales professionals

Lead, inspire, and support your team as a front-line leader who drives day-to-day performance

Build cohesive relationships between distributor and GTI sales teams, with a clear communication and targeting strategy to ensure execution

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Partner with brand and trade marketing, operations, and compliance teams to align on brand standards, messaging, and regulatory requirements

Work closely with product and supply chain teams to ensure seamless inventory management and product availability

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field preferred

8+ years of graduating experience in beverage sales, alcohol and/or canned beverage experience preferred

Proven track record in building and managing high-performing sales teams

Hands-on experience with launching new products and driving brand success in a competitive market

Deep knowledge of the Illinois market and established relationships across on-premise and off-premise channels

Strong communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence and manage relationships with a wide range of stakeholders

Highly organized, strategic, and comfortable with both high-level planning and hands-on execution

Additional Requirements

Must pass

any and all

required background checks

Must be and remain compliant with all legal or company regulations for working in the industry

Must be a minimum of 21 years of age

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