Bulk Sales Director

Pernod Ricard•Louisville, KY

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Bulk Sales Director will be developing the bulk aged & contract distillation business for North American Whiskeys in the midst of challenging environments by demonstrating high personal commitment, professionalism, and commitment to integrity, serving as a role model to those in within and external to Pernod, additionally serving as a brand ambassador to Pernod Ricard’s distillation and warehousing sites. A key aspect of the role is building a network of customers and fostering strong cross-functional relationships within the Pernod network to align site capabilities with commercial strategies.

Requirements

Prior operations experience in distillation (minimum 3 years), ideally 10 years in spirits industry
Extremely strong oral, written, virtual and in-person communication skills
Demonstrated negotiation skills
Flexibility / ability to travel, and ability to work nights and weekends and respond to customer needs on their schedule
Excellent organizational and planning skills
Attention to detail – precision is crucial in distillation & contract management
Strong teamwork and cross-functional communication skills
A passion for and knowledge of the bourbon industry
Leverage strong financial and analytical skills to make operational decisions based on sound financial analysis and long-term business strategies
Nurture strategic working relationships that promote operational effectiveness and world class customer service levels
Ability to lead team through change process and foster an environment that promotes innovative approaches, continuous improvement and personal development
Strong leadership skills to manage and coach reports handling barrel procurement and bulk sales support/customer service
Undergraduate degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering or related field
10 years' experience in bulk sales and/or spirits industry

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a clear, measurable plan for bulk whiskey sales and contract distillation aligned with organizational vision and market needs.
Drive business strategy, including identifying risks, trends, and competitor insights.
Set pricing structures, negotiate terms, and create action plans to achieve KPIs and profitability targets.
Build and maintain strong relationships with customers, industry contacts, and internal stakeholders.
Expand customer network through trade shows, cold calls, social media, and mutual contacts.
Conduct market research to stay informed on trends, customer preferences, and competitive offerings.
Lead end-to-end management of contracts for bulk aged liquid and new-fill distillation, including negotiation, execution, and compliance.
Oversee communication, sampling, allocation, documentation, invoicing, and inventory removal for bulk whiskey sales.
Ensure legal and regulatory compliance, including excise, GMP, and alcohol regulations.
Ensure quality of delivery across sampling, product, transportation, invoicing, and customer relationships.
Coordinate logistics for bulk spirit shipments to ensure timely delivery.
Work with site teams to organize samples and maintain traceability and documentation.
Monitor revenue, costs, and profitability for bulk sales and distillation contracts.
Manage administrative processes, including transfers, COAs, production details, and analytical data.
Lead cross-functional teams to meet contractual obligations and internal requirements.
Promote safety awareness and compliance to ensure health and welfare of employees and contractors.
Formalize and implement the process needed including: Bulk sale agreements, Contract distillation agreements, Aging warehouse agreements, Blending, sampling and other service agreements as required, Capacity planning input to site planner(s), Communication to customers and operations personnel, Customer relationship management and communications, Attendance and booth management at trade / industry event, Timely follow-up on customer leads and questions, Facility tours and customer handling, Bulk shipping and barrel handling input based upon customer needs, Procurement support & pricing for customer-related needs (such as finishing barrels) and services.