Sales Manager - London

Will you help us bring joy to people’s lives by making the world of Scotch whisky a more interesting place?

We’re Scotch whiskymakers relentlessly focused on reimagining the spirit we love so much. And we’re looking for new team members with insatiable curiosity, excited to share our passion with the world.

Why we need you

We’ve got ambitious goals and we need someone to put their heart and soul into helping us drive brand passion for Compass Box in the UK. The good news is that we’ve got exceptional products that any Sales Manager would love to put their name behind.

This is an exciting opportunity to help us build an enduring brand and create an incredible legacy. We believe that no other spirits company does things quite like us — we’re fuelled by creativity and curiosity, and we intend to be pioneers leading the way.

Who will be right by your side?

You’ll report into the International Commercial Director, but we want it to feel like more of a collaboration than a hierarchy.

Where it all happens

Our main office and blending rooms are in London. However, this is a truly “in-market” role. You’ll spend most of your days working with our distributor and in the trade, up and down the UK, with a focus on London and key cities.

What we’d love you to do

As the UK Sales Manager, you’ll wear many hats. Your primary responsibility is to drive net sales performance and execute brand priorities through programming initiatives and distributor management. You’ll establish and nurture great relationships with distributor personnel, consumers and on- and off-trade stakeholders. Critically, you’ll understand where Compass Box should be sold, and you’ll have the strategic mind and perseverance to make those placements happen!

You’ll be courageous, daring to do things differently. Ever-curious, you’ll never settle for tried-and-tested when there’s opportunity to do things differently. You’ll love our culture of generosity, because the more we share, the more rewarding life gets. And you’ll believe in transparency and honesty, because…well, that should be obvious.

You’ll have some important responsibilities

• Deliver the annual sales plan for the UK market, including achievement of depletion and distribution goals along with personal KPIs.
• Work across the key areas of trade customer activation, brand advocacy, consumer activation and insight; develop and implement creative programs to activate consumer awareness and sales, e.g. sampling events, staff education, whisky festivals.
• Develop and nurture relationships with key customers, including the top bars, restaurants and hotels in the UK, and the top spirits retailers.
• Work closely with our distributor and wholesalers to maintain their positive attention on Compass Box, helping manage their activities and responsiveness.
• Use appropriate metrics to measure your progress against goals, such as new account listings, cocktail listings, consumer tastings and brand-led events.
• Provide accurate and timely reporting of shipment forecasting, depletions, brand activity and expenses.
• Travel whenever appropriate to observe business conditions, call on key buyers and host events.

A little bit about you

• You have a passion for Compass Box; for whisky and the premium craft spirits category; and for the bartending and gastronomy scene in general.
• You express your passion in a charismatic way.
• You’re open, transparent, collaborative, and inclusive.
• You’re naturally creative and have a pulse on the zeitgeist.
• You take responsibility for delivering what you promise.
• You believe in teamwork and know that egos are better left at the door.
• You’re proud to have exceptional personal integrity and will always do the right thing.
• You love to be in the market – engaging with trade partners and consumers is what it’s all about.

Here’s what we’re looking for professionally speaking

• Demonstrable experience in the UK beverage alcohol industry, with current distributor and trade relationships.
• Good understanding of industry trends, social influences and business drivers.
• Strong organizational and communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Experience and enjoyment of presenting and teaching groups of people.
• Outstanding project management skills; results-oriented and comfortable in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Ability to both work independently and operate within a collaborative team environment.
• Willing to be “hands-on” to get the job accomplished.
• Computer-literate, with experience using Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently and work evenings & weekends, as needed