Buyer/Portfolio Manager for France

ALLIANCE WINE | BUYER

Role: Buyer/Portfolio Manager for France.

Reporting to: Head of Buying, Brand Management and Technical.

Hours: Full-time, permanent contract.

Location: UK based. We have offices in Ayrshire and London but are open-minded about your location.

Salary: Competitive salary commensurate with experience, company bonus scheme and additional benefits.

Alliance Wine has an exciting opportunity for a high performing wine professional, with a passion and specialist knowledge of France, to join our dynamic buying team, combining expertise in selecting and collaborating with world class producers, whilst bringing a strong commercial perspective to the role.

We are entering an exciting new phase of premium wine growth, and this unique opportunity sits at the heart of the business. The right candidate will work in partnership and nurture our internationally acclaimed French producers, whilst creating an industry leading portfolio that meets the needs of a fast paced business and the changing wine landscape.

Alliance Wine is a forward-thinking specialist wine importer and top-rated supplier across multiple sales channels in the UK and internationally. Ranked in the top 2 spots in consecutive years at the Harpers Top Wholesaler awards, and 2026 ‘Fine Wine Merchant of The Year’ at the Sommelier Wine Awards.

Are you currently buying at a senior level for a major UK wine business, or have the required expertise and experience to bring this role to life? Do you thrive on developing successful and commercially sounds relationships with small and large producers alike and have the ambition to develop a world class line up of French wines that work in every part of the trade, then we’d love to hear from you.

As an Alliance Wine Buyer, you would be responsible for developing, managing, and ensuring the success of your portfolio, in line with the company’s overall vision and buying philosophy.

The ideal candidate would bring drive, interpersonal skills, creativity and passion to this pivotal role, with responsibility for not only managing relationships and generating new opportunities across the premium supply base, but the commercial acumen to ensure success throughout the product’s life cycle. As such, strong industry knowledge, commercial instinct and analytical skills are necessary to develop and deliver product strategy. A vital element of the role is upholding and championing Alliance’s values within the company and the broader market.

The successful candidate will have:

• A proven track record, strong contacts and a minimum of 3 years’ wine buying experience, with a specialist knowledge of France (across Fine Wine, Premium Wine and core categories).

• Strong multi-channel experience of the UK trade, spanning on-trade, independent off-trade and national accounts.
• Exceptional negotiation, communication and presentation skills, with an ability to work across departments, enthuse and impart knowledge to sales teams and customers alike.
• An ability to build strong and collaborative partnerships with suppliers, and optimise their sales, distribution and reputation in the UK market.
• A high level and breadth of wine knowledge (min. WSET Diploma or equivalent).
• Strong commercial judgement and the ability to drive success and profitability.
• Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, travel regularly to producers, company offices and support customer visits where required.
• Accountable, credible, proactive, and with the confidence to take ownership and responsibility for the French portfolio.
• Experience of using Power BI analytical tools to inform and support commercial decision making, and awareness of trends.
• Fluency in French is essential.

What Alliance can offer you:

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
• Attractive company bonus scheme.
• 33 days holiday allowance including Bank Holidays with additional long service awards.
• Exciting staff discount.
• Personal development plan.
• Employee Assistance Programme; offering advice and support on Life Support, Legal Information, Medical Information and Bereavement Support.
• IT hardware package.
• Opportunities to work with a respected, ambitious, and growing business.

To apply for this position, please send your CV to Jean Wareing MW at [email protected] – The closing date for applications is 9 November 2026.