Director – Beer, Wine, and Spirits

COMPANY:
A regional independent grocery chain.

REPORTS/RELATIONSHIPS:
This position will report directly to the Vice President of Center Store Sales and Merchandising and will lead a team of category managers and category analysts.

BASIC FUNCTIONS:
The Director of Beer, Wine, and Spirits will be accountable for all procurement, merchandising, sales, and marketing efforts for the beer, wine, and spirits department. The successful candidate who is hired in this position is experienced, strategic, motivated, self-confident, humble, collaborative, and passionate about the business – outwardly demonstrating the company’s values.

Specific duties will include, but not necessarily be limited to:

• Supervise, coach, and provide feedback to direct reports, helping them attain performance excellence.
• Develop, execute, and review promotional plans, including ad planner surveys for internal and external use.
• Build local/regional marketing and ROP advertising and promotional strategies.
• Analyze sales and trends to make key assortment decisions for designated categories to maximize sales and profits.
• Maintain retail pricing to achieve designated profitability goals.
• Direct a wine advisory group, comprised of senior company leaders, store directors, department directors, and operations leads to plan quarterly sales and marketing strategies, and review competition.
• Plan the purchasing strategy for holiday/seasonal items.
• Manage and monitor vendor deals to procure products at the best possible price and ensure profitability.
• Lead quarterly top-to-top business reviews with key vendors and senior management.
• Communicate effectively with individuals at all levels within the organization and with external partners.
• Coordinate special events and promotions with the marketing/advertising department and other departments.
• Develop and implement category reviews in conjunction with space management to build plan-o-grams.
• Maintain integrity for stores on the booked order lists.
• Visit competition to stay current on category trends, new/unique items, new/unique merchandising, and retail pricing.
• Attend trade shows, as needed.
• Research and reply to stores, office personnel, and vendors on inquiries pertaining to these categories.
• Complete special projects as directed by senior management.
• Complete performance reviews.
• Other duties, as assigned.
  
  

REQUIREMENTS:

• Five+ years of experience with retail pricing and merchandising, especially working with beer, wine, and spirits procurement and merchandising; deep knowledge of beer, wine, and spirits.
• Prior experience with category management and category management software preferred.
• Store experience and buying experience preferred.
• Experience analyzing both internal scan data and external source data such as Nielsen, IRI, Spectra, etc., preferred.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office systems, especially Excel.
• Able to travel, as required.
• Able to work weekdays and be available some weekends when required.
• Able to pass a criminal background check and drug screen.
  
  

COMPENSATION:
Compensation will be commensurate with experience including a competitive base salary, bonus opportunity, and competitive benefits package.

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Gregory Lynn Tennent, Consultant
gltennent@CLCBsearch.com
704.377.0362