Marketing Manager (Wine Jobs: Sales & Marketing)

  Authentic Wine & Spirits Merchants (http://www.awsm.ca)

  Burnaby, British Columbia

Authentic Wine and Spirits Merchants (AWSM) is a national wine & spirits agency that represents some of the most iconic brands in the world including Champagne Louis Roederer, Vina Cono Sur, Masi, Victoria Distillers, Halewood, Pascual Toso, Fantini, Michter’s American Whiskey, Hine and other world-renowned brands. Our team is expanding, and we are looking for driven team players.

Job summary: 

Brand planning, execution, performance review, and management control for the AWSM portfolio of wine in British Columbia. The BC Marketing Manager, Wine, will combine a passion for the world of wine with their skills in portfolio management. This is a 360-degree role with significant responsibility, including forecasting, budget management, leading supplier communication, pricing, product launch, and supporting supply chain and inventory management. Successful applicants should have considerable commercial experience and be prepared to contribute immediately as a member of the leadership team.

Market and competitive analysis, business intelligence: 

•  Making use of proprietary business intelligence software and industry resources such as journals, personal network, and trade sites, maintain expert knowledge of the main import wine categories, market, and the local economy, and be able to provide verbal or written insights to suppliers.
•  Evaluate market trends, competitive activity, and brand performance. Identify portfolio and market opportunities to create cohesive brand strategies. Communicate these to stakeholders by producing periodic marketing reports.
•  Use proprietary software to manage and control monthly volume forecasts and A&P budgets, reviewing performance and making and communicating adjustments.
•  Routinely explore the market for new opportunities and work collaboratively with suppliers on new product development. Build comprehensive new product offerings that are ready for the Sales Manager and Chain Account Director to present to buyers.
• Produce monthly internal performance vs plan report, focusing on mitigating brands or SKUs that are tracking behind plan, with SMART recommendations for correction.

Portfolio management: Brand planning, execution, adjustment:

• Create and manage an annual brand plan for each wine supplier in BC. This includes forecasting, A&P budgeting, and all promotional activities. Ongoing review and management of plan, reporting to Marketing Director on risks and opportunities.
• Perform pricing reviews biannually, and ongoing as required. Manage competitive price positioning by identifying benchmark competitor SKUs and performing category analysis. Maintain knowledge of retail margins for BCL and key chains, and within the independent channel. Use this to inform recommendations for wholesale pricing, and manage accordingly, supported by the Business and Costing Analyst. Run different pricing models to evaluate and recommend best pricing scenarios.
• Work collaboratively with the Sales Manager and Chain Account Director to keep them informed of brand performance, strategy, and priorities, and ensure sales and key account programming activities are aligned with the brand plan. Collaborate to set sales team quarterly targets.
• Work closely with the logistics team and external stakeholders to ensure inventory is available for programmed SKUs, helping by communicating any recent changes to forecast.
• Supported by the marketing team, manage and lead the production of quarterly, and ad-hoc marketing materials, such as sell-sheets and portfolio, delivering on time, and ensuring they are on-brand, ethical, and legal.
• Communicate with suppliers as the main point of contact for day-to-day issues and provide regular brand updates. Collaborate on new product development, route to market strategy, pricing, and all product management details such as labels, abv, volumes, case formats, vintages, and codes.
• Manage the AWSM wine portfolio and our relationship with the BCL category management team.
• Develop proposals for new products in BCL, managing all formal tenders and ad-hoc presentations.
• Manage event schedules and priorities, ensuring event materials are timely, professional, and on brand, collaborating with the Sales Manager and Wine Specialist on execution standards.
• Manage supplier visits and brand education, leading communication and itineraries.

Management/administrative responsibilities: 

• Participate actively in leadership and management meetings and generally as part of the Western management team.
• Maintain a good standard of awareness of current affairs and business in British Columbia as a true market expert.
• Maintain expert-level skills in data analysis and use of internal proprietary CHG BI systems.
• Use software to create and monitor forecasts and budgets in PAWA (training provided); manage expenses and promotional budgets in Concur within company guidelines. Approve team expenses.
• Manage Marketing Coordinator; provide leadership and mentoring for the Marketing & Data Coordinator and Graphic Designer and Social Media Specialist.

Job requirements:

• Experience: University degree (BCom preferred) in Marketing or equivalent discipline and/or minimum of 3-4 years sales or marketing experience with a large spirits or wine portfolio or other important consumer products. You will have a portfolio of examples of your work to date. 
• Skills: Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills, confident presenting to senior management teams. Must be highly organized and display excellent commercial and leadership abilities. Must have sufficient business mathematical skills to understand pricing scenarios, including margins, percentages, ratios, and similar business concepts.  You should be prepared to provide examples of your written work.  Must have strong PC skills (Windows: Word/Excel/PPT) and be able to extensively use (with training) the CHG/AWSM web-based applications for sales and planning activities.  Must be able to juggle multiple situations and be self-motivated and able to work independently.
• Knowledge: A passion for wine is essential. We have a large, growing, wine portfolio with significant complexity, especially in international brands. Working knowledge of the marketing of spirits or wine or of an important consumer brand.  Successful completion of wine courses is desirable (such as WSET).
• Physical: Must be able to work a flexible schedule including evenings, weekends and travel (includes overnight stays). Must be physically fit and be able to lift and carry 41+ pounds and able to build displays or handle heavy POS material.
• Other: Must possess and maintain a valid Driver’s license in the province employed and must meet the company’s automobile insurance requirements. Must have and maintain a valid Canadian passport.

Other preferred job qualifications: Existing marketing trade relationships within the wine, spirits or hospitality industry.  Minimum 3-5 years marketing experience overall.  Membership in a professional marketing association. 

Interested? Apply today! 

The above information is representative of the work performed in this position, however it is not all-inclusive.  The omission of a specific duty or responsibility does not exclude it from the position if the work is similar or related to the essential duties and responsibilities.  This document is a ‘work in progress’ and can be reviewed and updated at least annually.

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