Bulk Sales Director

Pernod Ricard • Louisville, KY

8d • $143,300 - $179,100 • 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 processes for bulk sale agreements, contract distillation agreements, aging warehouse agreements, blending, sampling and other service agreements.
• Provide capacity planning input to site planner(s).
• Communicate with customers and operations personnel.
• Manage customer relationships and communications.
• Attend and manage booths at trade/industry events.
• Follow up on customer leads and questions.
• Handle facility tours and customer interactions.
• Provide input on bulk shipping and barrel handling based upon customer needs.
• Provide procurement support and pricing for customer-related needs (such as finishing barrels) and services.

Benefits

• Flexible work policy with most positions offering a hybrid option with flexibility to work remotely 2 days a week.
• Employees are empowered to work the hours that make the most sense for them and their team’s schedules.
• Great benefits and perks

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior