Business Development Manager

our company•New York, NY

15d•$80,000 - $90,000

About The Position

IJW Whiskey Company, LLC (IJW) is a fully integrated spirits company with a portfolio that includes bourbon, rye, tequila, and mezcal brands. The Business Development Manager is a newly created, field-focused sales role located in New York. The position drives distribution, visibility, and sales velocity for IJW Spirits brands in on- and off-premise accounts through direct customer selling, brand execution, and education of trade partners and consumers. Success calls for competitiveness, self-starting discipline, urgency, and a strong focus on market results.

Requirements

3–5+ years of experience in spirits sales, brand development, or field marketing.
Proven success selling directly to on- and off-premise accounts.
Strong understanding of the three-tier system.
Demonstrated ability to execute brand standards consistently and without compromise.
Experience working with distributor partners and leading from the field.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, performance-driven environment.
Ability to motivate and inspire team members, distributors, customers, influencers, and consumers.
Valid driver’s license and ability to travel extensively within the assigned territory.
Deep knowledge of the spirits category, competitive set, and on/off-premise dynamics.
Exceptional selling, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
High level of industry curiosity, discipline, personal accountability, and attention to detail.
Strong work ethic and a “do-the-work” mindset.
Ability to prioritize, execute, and deliver results with limited supervision.
Confident communication and the presence to influence customers and distributor partners.
Comfort with being measured by execution and results; competitive approach.
Ability to be a good teammate.

Responsibilities

Sell IJW brands directly to on- and off-premise customers; recruit consumers through education and sampling; sell in distribution; secure menu and back-bar placements; ensure shelves meet standards; and achieve display goals.
Build off-premise brand velocity by educating staff and buyers and evaluating pricing, positioning, visibility, and promotional merchandising.
Build on-premise brand velocity by developing relationships with bartenders, bar managers, waitstaff, and owners to drive drink features, cocktail menu placements, staff advocacy, education, and sustained brand pull-through.
Out-execute competitors in the assigned territory, identify performance gaps, and maximize opportunities.
Partner with distributor sales teams to prioritize activities, lead by example in the field, and deliver agreed-upon goals; attend and motivate distributor personnel at General Sales Meetings.
Monitor competitive pricing strategies and consumer dynamics to inform actions that drive volume.
Plan and execute tastings, promotions, education, events, ride-withs, and market blitzes that generate results, earn distributor support, and build long-term brand momentum.
Use provided systems to track performance, distribution, and execution wins, and provide market intelligence and insights to sales and marketing leadership.