Portfolio Program Manager
(Wine Jobs:
Wine Retail & Sommelier)
Full Time
Ministry of Public Safety & Solicitor General - BC Liquor Distribution Branch
Burnaby,
British Columbia
Job Overview
The Portfolio Program Manager is the BCL leader in further developing a culture of prioritized organizational selling. The Manager is responsible for leading, managing and providing direction and training to Product Consultants for sales activities, feedback cycles along with facilitating the bi-weekly tasting program with Category Managers. This position also provides a back-fill for category and product knowledge support for Category Managers as well as a secondary resource for external communications and events. The Portfolio Program Manager is accountable for the financial results of Product Consultant programs.
Accountabilities
· Provides organizational selling plan for Product Consultants (PCs) with BC Liquor (BCL) products in collaboration with Category Managers, garnering feedback from PC’s, Store Operations and Marketing
o Formalizes PC feedback and engagement, developing best practices and providing critical path to all relevant stakeholders.
o Further develops PC product training in tandem with Category Managers, assists Category Managers with regular PC meetings (procuring product, liaising with agents, developing educational materials, and tasting sheets and gathering other key information)
o Provides coaching/mentoring to PCs including building plans for the future with identifying and supporting future PC candidates.
o Provide ongoing input to Category Managers on premium sku sales trends (both within and over-arching across sub-categories) and consolidating in-store feedback.
· Cultivates consistent approach with high-net worth customer lists and outreach, develops tools and communication resources (working in close communication with Marketing to ensure BCL standards adhered to)
o Collaborates with Marketing to develop specialized consumer outreach to support releases, events, or product focuses (in alignment with Category Manager priorities)
o Garners feedback on targeted consumer groups to ensure sub-sets are well identified and action plans are relevant.
o Liaises with Category Managers in reviewing premium product buys where applicable (e.g., store and category opportunities)
· Provide back-fill and resources for CMs on product (selection/recommendations as relevant, product knowledge expert for category support and projects/Marketing support)
o Create content and schedule for customized e-blasts for premium releases (driven by CM priorities and objectives/in tandem with Marketing)
o Further develop priorities, calendar, and content for in-store PC special events/consumer education classes (driven by CM priorities and objectives/in tandem with Marketing)
o Develop direct to customer outreach programs including reviewing ‘Buying’ appointments, corporate gifting (e.g., utilizing delivery services, e.g.) U Need a Bottle etc.), Virtual tasting experiences.
o Lead regular community engagement via speaking opportunities (Communications secondary resource to CMs) and review opportunities for PCs to further engage in the community as well.
· Collaborates with Marketing to measure sales and ROI on special events.
· In collaboration with Replenishment team and Store Operations, assess aged inventory, reviewing inter-store transfer or tag end recommendations, liaise with Category Managers and PCs to build exit plans.
· Provides expertise, organizes, teaches, and conducts product tasting as requested by Category Managers along with product consultants, branch management, and staff for training purposes or to provide input on product quality.
· Coordinates projects: prepares terms of reference, resource requirements, and timelines; gathers information; conducts analysis; identifies, quantifies, and evaluates options; and follows-up to ensure expected outcomes are achieved.
· Contributes to the development of recommendations for policy, procedures, and operational methods to enhance program objectives.
· Develops and maintains an in-depth understanding of the LDB’s vision, mission, and business priorities.
· Prepares and contributes to the preparation of briefing notes, reports, publications, project charters, presentation materials, contracts, training materials, correspondence, website content and other documents (e.g., including strategic plans).
· Leads and manages or prepares presentations and training for stores; and represents BCL at meetings, conferences, etc.
· Maintains expertise in the product category, including trends, characteristics, emerging threats, and other issues.
· Supervises some aspects of subordinate employees' performance focused primarily on selling effectiveness and customer service and liaises with Store Managers for formal and informal performance assessments. Responsible for PC job description.
· Leads Product Consultants to develop targeted selling programs, communicate portfolio opportunities with consolidated PC and store feedback, review premium product performance against sales expectations and develop best practices. Through further development of a Product Consultant selling program, the Portfolio Program Manager aligns with Category Managers on priorities and acts as a resource in driving and monitoring sell through. The Manager provides a back-fill resource for the Category team with product expertise as well as external communications and event hosting. The Portfolio Program Manager is accountable for the financial success of targeted selling initiatives.
· Works directly with:
o Director, Merchandising and the BCL Merchandising management team: Aligns with category and Merchandise Program priorities, collaborates with Category management and Merchandise Program teams to develop organizational selling programs.
o External stakeholders/Industry representatives: Provides back-fill representation for BCL for PR opportunities or community events. Liaises with agents for detailed product information inquiries as directed by CM’s, vintage reports, ratings etc.
o Product Consultants: Directly oversees Product Consultants’ selling priorities, providing tools, information and tracking to support program targets.
o Store Operations: Maintains close communication with Regional Managers, Store Managers and Store Operations representatives to ensure alignment of Product Consultant job description, priorities, and manageable workload. Develops and oversees direct to PC communication including detailed product information.
o Marketing: Maintains close communication with Special Events team to ensure seamless delivery of both in and out of store tasting events along with coordination of internal product knowledge training (including linkage with Category Managers, Merchandise Programs team) and providing support for special releases. Liaises with Marketing in fine-tuning information on premium customers and outreach recommendations.
o Replenishment: Reviews aged inventory reports in conjunction with Replenishment team, identifying sell through priorities with PCs and providing tools, resources, and direction to move through product
· Directly supervises up to 16 employees.
· Leads project teams of up to 10 employees.
· Provides formal training to up to 100 employees.
· Performs other related duties, as required.