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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