The Manager, Regional Sales - Inspired Mixology (Central) is responsible for driving profitable sales growth, expanding distribution, and strengthening brand presence across the Central region, including Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. This role partners closely with distributors, brokers, and key customers to execute sales strategies that deliver revenue, contribution margin, and market share growth.
The Manager serves as a key field leader, building strong distributor relationships, identifying growth opportunities, and ensuring outstanding marketplace execution across both on-premise and off-premise channels. The role is responsible for identifying and expanding strategic growth opportunities within local/regional chains, golf, resort, hospitality, brunch, and other experiential consumption occasions that drive brand visibility, trial, customer engagement, and revenue growth. This position plays a key role in developing customer engagement programs, expanding strategic account relationships, executing sampling and activation initiatives, and representing the Inspired Mixology portfolio at industry and trade events.
Essential Functions:
Develop and manage annual sales plans, budgets, and business objectives that focus on quality of sales development, drives revenue and contributes margin growth.
Identify and execute opportunities to expand distribution, increase velocity, and grow share within key channels and accounts.
Develop channel-specific strategies and action plans to achieve sales KPIs and overall execution objectives, including pricing, distribution, displays, menus, features/ads and profit.
Build and maintain strong partnerships with distributors, chain customers, and key account stakeholders to maximize business performance.
Identify, develop, and execute growth opportunities within strategic channels, including local/regional chains, golf courses, resorts, hospitality venues, brunch destinations, entertainment venues, and other on-premise and off-premise accounts that align with the Inspired Mixology portfolio.
Create and implement customer activation programs, sampling initiatives, and promotional activities designed to increase brand awareness, product trial, distribution, and customer engagement across targeted channels and accounts.
Serve as the primary field resource for distributor partners throughout the assigned region.
Conduct regular market visits, ride-withs, account calls, distributor blitzes, and general sales meetings (GSMs) to ensure effective execution and market penetration.
Train and coach distributor sales teams on Inspired Mixology products, features, benefits, selling strategies, brand positioning, and priority initiatives.
Collaborate with distributors and key accounts to develop annual pricing strategies, promotional calendars, and activation plans.
Monitor distributor performance and provide recommendations to improve sales effectiveness and execution quality.
Track and analyze key performance indicators, including distribution, display execution, menu and feature activity, merchandising compliance, national account mandates pricing, and promotional effectiveness.
Utilize data and insights to identify opportunities, address performance gaps, and improve business outcomes.
Manage trade investment, incentive programs, and promotional spending to maximize return on investment while supporting distribution and merchandising objectives.
Provide regular business updates, sales performance analysis, and market insights to leadership.
Partner with Sales Leadership, Marketing, Category Management, and Commercial teams to support strategic initiatives and customer opportunities.
Assist in the development of training materials, selling tools, and customer-facing resources that improve marketplace execution.
Support national and regional trade events, customer meetings, product sampling activities, and other brand-building initiatives.
Participate in special projects and cross-functional initiatives that support overall business objectives.
This position will not sell, promote, or otherwise manage spirit-based Inspired Mixology products until all required licensing requirements have been obtained.
This list is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed. This is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities required for this role.
Proven sales, business development, and relationship management skills.
Strong analytical, planning, detail oriented, and complex problem-solving abilities.
Ability to motivate, influence and collaborate across customers, distributors, and cross-functional teams.
Excellent communication, presentation, and training skills.
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities across a large geographic territory.
Results-oriented with a high level of urgency, accountability and ownership.
Self-starter with an entrepreneurial mindset and ability to work independently in a remote environment.
Adaptable, resourceful, and committed to continuous improvement.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, PowerPoint and utilizing sales reporting, CRM, and business intelligence tools to analyze performance and drive decisions.
Education/Experience/Qualifications/Certifications:
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field.
7 years of progressive sales or sales management experience within the beverage alcohol industry.
Experience at a spirits beverage supplier or distributor management (Beer, Wine, Spirits and Grocery).
Proven success managing distributor relationships and driving profitable sales growth.
Proven experience building relationships and achieving growth with key accounts and chain customers in both on and off-premise channels.
Experience developing and executing plans and processes to achieve goals.
Experience managing trade spend, pricing strategies, promotional programs, and incentive initiatives.
Experience developing Proven success in developing and presenting programs to key stakeholders, as well as educating and training sales teams.
Experience in entrepreneurial or high-growth organizations.
Physical Requirements and Work Conditions: Ability to remain seated at a workstation for extended periods (up to 8 hours per day).
Frequent use of hands and fingers for typing, writing, and handling office equipment.
Ability to view computer screens and read printed materials for prolonged periods.
Occasional standing, walking, and reaching within the office environment.
Ability to lift and carry office supplies or equipment weighing up to 15–20 lbs.
Adequate hearing and speech to communicate effectively in person and via phone/video.
Regular, predictable attendance during core business hours in a remote work environment is an essential function of this position. Employees are expected to be responsive, accessible, and actively engaged throughout the workday.
Ability to travel regularly throughout the assigned territory (30-35%), with monthly travel to priority states
Work AuthorizationApplicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Zing Zang is unable to provide or assume sponsorship for an employment visa now or in the future.
