State Manager - Wine and Spirits

Job description:

State Manager Florida

Location: Remote (Southern Florida based)
Salary: $150,000 base plus bonus, car allowance and excellent benefits package
Industry: Premium Wine & Spirits
Reporting to: Regional Sales Manager
Team Management: 34 Market Sales Managers (Brand Ambassadors/Activators)

Role & Responsibilities

The State Manager Florida will be responsible for driving growth across Florida by managing sales, distributor relationships, and leading a team of 34 Market Sales Managers (known in Europe as Brand Ambassadors/Activators). The role covers both on- and off-premise channels and will focus on delivering volume, visibility, and value for the portfolio.

Key responsibilities include:

- Collaborate with the Regional Sales Manager to define and execute the annual sales strategy

- Manage and support a team of Market Sales Managers across the state

- Oversee the full brand portfolio, ensuring executional excellence by SKU

- Drive volume, pricing, and merchandising performance across key accounts

- Build strong working relationships with distributors, wholesalers, and key customers

- Plan and execute pricing strategies, programming, and promotional activities

- Ensure visibility through POS, displays, menus, and consumer
activations

- Personally lead and support high-impact key account calls

- Identify market trends, competitor activity, and opportunities for
growth

- Regularly travel throughout the territory to oversee execution and mentor team members

- Participate in wholesaler meetings, sales planning, and brand strategy sessions

- Maintain tight control of budgets, expenses, and commercial return on investment

Remuneration & Benefits

- Base salary: $150,000 per annum

- Bonus: 25% performance-based

- Car allowance: Calculated based on location

- Business expenses covered: Home office, petrol, travel,
accommodation

- Remote-based role with frequent field activity across Florida

Qualifications:

Key Requirements

We are looking for a seasoned commercial leader from the alcoholic beverages industry who brings deep supplier and distributor experience, strong people management skills, and a powerful industry network within Florida.

Candidates must be based in Southern Florida.

Essential Skills & Experience:

- Minimum 5 years experience in the premium alcoholic beverages sector

- Must have experience working for both suppliers and distributors

- Demonstrated success managing a state or regional sales territory

- Proven track record of managing and developing sales teams (34 direct reports)

- Strong network of industry relationships across Florida able to open doors and create momentum quickly

Strong connections within RNDC, ideally at executive/decision maker level

- Strong commercial capabilities managing volume, pricing, distribution, and promotional execution

- Excellent leadership, coaching, and communication skills able to lead from the front

- Entrepreneurial, self-starting mindset able to operate with minimal supervision

- Skilled in working with distributors, key accounts, and internal stakeholders

- Technically proficient confident with Microsoft Office Suite

- Valid drivers licence and willing to travel 45 days per week throughout Florida

Preferred:

- Experience activating premium spirits and wine brands in both on- and off-premise channels

- Familiarity with field marketing, menu placement, and POS deployment

Why is This a Great Opportunity:

About the Company
Our client is a dynamic, family-run wine and spirits company known for its eclectic portfolio of premium brands. With five distinctive labels and a strong international footprint, they collaborate with global partners to activate and distribute their products across diverse channels.

This is a high-impact, mid-to-senior level leadership role for a commercial sales professional ready to represent a globally recognised portfolio of premium brands. If you bring deep beverage industry expertise, team leadership experience, and a robust Florida network wed love to hear from you.

Salary Type : Annual Salary

Salary Min : $ 140000

Salary Max : $ 150000

Currency Type : USD

Nigel