Vice President Supplier Strategy - Wine (Wine Jobs: Management & Administration)

  Major Brands

  St. Louis, Missouri

Position Announcement

•  Are you interested in a career with a high performing, industry-leading company?
•  Do you have what it takes to build enduring relationships in the marketplace and provide exceptional customer service?
•  Are you an accomplished, knowledgeable wine professional?
•  Can you be the senior executive in charge of wine supplier relations for Missouri’s largest wine distributor?

Then we’d like to hear from you…
We are Major Brands Inc. - a third-generation family business operating in Missouri for over 80 years, we are a distributor of premium wine, spirits, beer and non-alcoholic beverages and the only large distributor that remains Missouri-owned. We are seeking a Vice President Supplier Strategy – Wine. With offices in St. Louis, Kansas City, Springfield, Columbia and Cape Girardeau, we employ nearly 600 people and serve the entire state with an outstanding product portfolio that includes the industry’s best brands. The lasting partnerships we have created with customers, suppliers and within the community are the reason for our exceptional growth and performance. 

Reporting directly to the President of Sales, the Vice President Supplier Strategy - Wine is responsible for Developing, managing and growing a strong wine culture at Major Brands, driving strategy and P&L for the full range of the wine portfolio, and delivering annual sales and profit goals for our wine portfolio. 

You will lead the six Sales Directors, driving incremental growth through the use of strategic supplier initiatives and a long-term vision of the market. 

You will also facilitate collaboration between the Sales Directors and General Managers to build and execute effective, fiscally-responsible retail programs throughout the year, including ongoing evaluation of the programs.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities

As the VP of Supplier Strategy, you will be called upon to:
•  Provide Executive Leadership: Partner closely with the CEO and President of Sales to develop strategy and profitability goals for successful supplier partnerships. 
•  Ensure Strong Supplier Base & Relationships: Partner closely with top suppliers to discuss joint opportunities, identify market trends and roadblocks, and strategize on supplier innovation and business plan. Evaluate existing supplier base, develop a plan to address gaps and to recruit new suppliers to our portfolio.
•  Drive Profitable Sales Strategy: Working closely with our suppliers, develop and deliver Major Brands’ annual sales and profitability goals. Consistently communicate goals and marketing strategy to the sales team and throughout the organization.
•  Develop Innovative Supplier Merchandising and Programs: Develop sales programs that drive incremental display and feature activity for the MB portfolio of products. 
•  Inspire High Performing Sales Team: Manage, coach and lead a team of six Wine Directors. Assess individual performance and develop plans to ensure high performance and goal achievement. 
•  Advocate for Missouri Wine Culture: Continuously identify and develop opportunities to further a cultural appreciation of wine in Missouri. Advocate for the agenda of wine across the state through identification of legislation promoting wine culture opportunities. 

What Does It Take to Succeed in This Role?
•  Minimum 7 years progressive sales experience required, specifically in a management capacity; beverage alcohol wholesale and/or distribution experience desirable.
•  Bachelor’s Degree in business or related field required; advanced degree desirable.
•  Knowledge of the Major Brands supplier/customer landscape. Previous relationships with either/both a plus.
•  Strong business acumen with ability to identify sales opportunities and manage the resources available to achieve set goals.
•  Ability to consistently communicate with sales team to keep marketing strategy and knowledge consistent across the organization. 
•  Ability to identify market demands by compiling consumer feedback and conducting market research. 
•  Must be highly organized and have the ability to work in an unsupervised environment. 
•  Strong interpersonal skills with ability to develop relationships quickly.
•  Change agent with ability to lead new thinking for challenges. 
•  Advanced skills in Microsoft Windows environment. Specifically, with Excel, as numerous analyses and spreadsheet projects are expected, and required to achieve success in the position.
•  Clear driving record in accordance with Major Brands’ Driving Policy.

Equal Opportunity Employer