Wine Area Manager

Area Manager

Join the Blue Ridge Beverage Team!

Blue Ridge Beverage Company, Inc., a leading distributor of beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages in Central and Southwest Virginia, is looking for a full-time AREA MANAGER in our Salem Division to help grow our business.

Area Managers Lead a team of Account Managers and Merchandisers within a territory and assist management with planning and organizing. Ensure achievement of sales, service, and all objectives.

Job Type: Full-Time

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Medical Insurance, including health, dental, prescription, and vision care.
• Paid time off plus 3 scheduled paid holidays and 3 floating holidays.
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance.
• Short-term and Long-term Disability.
• Flexible Spending Accounts for health care and dependent care.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with employer contribution.

Duties:

• Responsible for the implementation and evaluation of all marketing, sales activities, and objectives to drive brand development and grow volume and profitability within a predetermined territory.
• Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
• Evaluate the performance of each team member based on sales performance, customer satisfaction, goal attainment and retail standard adherence utilizing retail audit forms, according to a schedule developed with management.
• Ensure that mutually beneficial relationships are established with key retailers while assisting in identifying and executing customers’ priorities for each commodity.
• Promote sales, service, merchandising, proper rotation, and goodwill in all accounts. Maintain strong relationship with customers, serving as the management representative in assigned sales area. Proactively assess, clarify, and validate customer needs on an ongoing basis.
• Establish two-way communications with each team member to discuss customer needs, opportunities, account progress and potential issues.
• Ensure that each assigned account with effective distribution, point of sale placement, and use of pricing features, while adhering to Virginia ABC regulations.
• Manage and execute the activations and programs of the brands throughout each market.
• Prepare and submit ad hoc reporting and information requests in a concise, accurate and timely manner.
• Resolve customer complaints regarding sales and service.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Relationships & Roles:

• Maintains professional internal and external relationships throughout the company.
• Demonstrates a high level of integrity.
• Interacts and collaborates with company employees at all levels in a respectful manner.
• Leads by example, builds trust, values others, and communicates effectively with others in a team environment.
• Demonstrates sense of urgency in accomplishing goals and objectives.
• Demonstrates flexibility and ability to work nights and early mornings as training, team-building, and other circumstances dictate.

Minimum Requirements:

• Education equivalent to associate degree from a two-year college or technical school or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3 years of relevant sales or marketing experience. Experience in the three-tier system of beer, wine, or spirits preferred.
• Demonstrated successful and positive personal leadership, interpersonal, organizational, administrative, and written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to articulate distinct brand and product attributes and competitive position.
• Excellent listening, negotiating and presentation skills with retailers and community partners.
• Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office suite.
• Demonstrated success in setting priorities; exceptional analytic, organization, and problem-solving skills; strong ability to multi-task across diverse projects, issues, and scenarios, with the ability to pivot quickly.
• Demonstrated successful working relationships with clients, suppliers, and other internal and external contacts.
• Demonstrated continuous improvement in areas of responsibility.
• Excellent driving record.

The following list of physical requirements are required to perform the entire job: standing; walking; sitting; stooping; fine finger and hand manipulation; speaking clearly; hearing so as to be able to maintain conversation; seeing so as to be able to read and to drive a vehicle; able to regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, frequently lift and/or move more than 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds.

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EOE