National Sales Performance Coach (UK)

This role offers a fantastic opportunity to join one of the most exciting spirits companies in the World, Sazerac UK is one of the UK’s leading spirit distributors and brand builders representing an award-winning range of Sazerac owned and third-party agency spirit brands. Our enviable, diverse portfolio of award-winning brands include Buffalo Trace, the UK’s largest American whiskey liqueur brand, Southern Comfort, and the number 1 Sambuca brand in the UK, Antica Sambuca.

We are looking for a passionate and driven individual who has a solid understanding of the UK spirit’s market. Ideally, we are looking for candidates who have worked within the FMCG/ alcoholic beverages industry. If you’re looking to make your mark in a fast-paced environment and join a rapidly growing drinks company, then this opportunity might just be for you.

Job Purpose

The National Sales Performance Coach will be responsible for delivering best in class training and onboarding. They will lead the development and facilitation of all field sales curriculum and training incorporating our sales systems and standards. This role will help deliver the execution component of the Sazerac Vision to ensure we deliver yearly and long-term objectives for growth and share. The NSPC positively impacts the sales team’s execution and results to deliver contribution goals.

Responsibilities & Critical Success Measures:

• Connect sales team to the FYI skill assessment process and train them to understand and leverage the programme. Help identify skill gaps in new hires and work with them and their manager to develop plans to improve the target skills. Help lead and develop the training program for entire field sales organisation.
• Partner with key stakeholders within the team to help ensure we have the training and tools to drive performance across all Divisions.
• Introduce new direct reports and all team members to the CDS system. Coach individuals on the skills required to meet their career objectives. Work with the Line Managers to help build great CDS plans for the sales team.
• Experienced leader who understands the importance of aligning the sales team internally around the company’s long-term strategies and fiscal plans. Recruit, mentor, motivate and retain highly skilled professionals to deliver quality products and services to drive business growth and profitability.
• Business savvy and current on industry trends, market changes, customers, and the use of new technology to drive in-store performance.
• Coordinate with sales execution and strategy teams to ensure onboarding and training curriculum is aligned to deliver volume, share, and KPI growth.
• Coach and develop the team to drive for results. Teach the backward planning process that starts at the goal and works towards a plan to achieve the targets and KPIs. Be an active participant in the planning process and help lead the delivery of all KPIs for the US.
• Builds a strong network across the accounts and penetrates at the appropriate levels to ensure Sazerac gains operational control of the accounts. Continually seeks new ways to drive efficiencies by connecting with key stakeholders that have influence across multiple locations.
• Inspirational leader that role models line management with the ability to direct, motivate and develop a large team and role models the characteristics of an ideal Sazerac Team member. Must drive culture within self and team and ultimately influence the culture across the entire field sales organization through onboarding, training materials, and market development work.
• Recruit, mentor, motivate and retain highly skilled professionals to deliver best in class onboarding and training to entire field sales organization to drive business growth and profitability across the UK.
• Role model great line management for Sales, ensuring all team members are provided with clear and consistent business objectives and PDS plans, and the development of high team member engagement. Deploy resources wisely, timely and creatively.
• Experienced leader who understands the importance of aligning the sales team internally around the company’s long-term strategies and fiscal plans.

Functional Competencies:

Planning & Organising

• Demonstrates an ability to plan, organise and execute activities using own initiative.

Communication

• Expresses self in a clear, succinct, and compelling manner in both individual and group situations.

Customer/Consumer Commitment

• Knowing, understanding and delivering a high level of quality service to both internal and external customers.

Business Awareness

• Has a comprehensive understanding of own business area and its impact on the wider organisation.

Action Oriented

• Has a “can do” attitude, to positively influence towards the team, channel, and business.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience
• 7 years Training, coaching, and curriculum development
• 3 years’ experience training in a sales & marketing environment
• Excellent oral & written communication skills
• Strong planning and organizational skills
• Excellent analytical, interpersonal, communication and presentation skills
• Working knowledge of MS Office Products (Word, Excel and Outlook)
• Ability to manage multiple projects at one time
• Willingness to travel
• Strong facilitation skills
• Record of successful leadership

Personal Characteristics:

• A highly passionate and motivated team member
• Ability to demonstrate professionalism, credibility, trust, and respect both internally and externally
• Creative with an entrepreneurial spirit and passion to build and develop the on-trade business
• Strong relationship management skills
• Adaptable and resilient