District Manager - Illinois

Bonterra Organic Estates • Chicago, IL

5d • Remote

About The Position

Bonterra Organic Estates, a Certified B Corporation, is seeking a District Manager for Illinois to grow the VCT-USA portfolio in both off-premise and on-premise channels. This role is primarily sales and activation-focused, responsible for driving performance and executing key initiatives to strengthen customer relationships and support commercial growth. The position requires influencing results through effective communication, collaboration, and on-the-ground execution. This role reports to the Regional Manager and is ideally based in the Greater Chicagoland area. Overnight travel is approximately 10% - 15%.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business/marketing or related field plus a minimum two to five years progressive sales experience in wine and spirits or beverage industry, or equivalent combination education/experience
• Proven success in alcohol beverage industry sales and account management including extensive knowledge of on- and off-premise wine channels and trade
• Knowledge and passion for both commercial and luxury/premium wines and excitement for selling a wide spectrum of price points and formats
• Strong verbal and written communicator with strong public speaking and presentation skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the highest level of integrity
• Proficiency in Microsoft 365 office applications including Word, PowerPoint and Excel
• Valid Driver’s License and the ability to be insured
• Overnight travel approximately 10% - 15% of time; weekend and evening work as required
• Travel throughout region required

Nice To Haves

• Experience selling imports and/or organic categories, advantageous
• Circana/Nielsen information experience, a plus
• Familiarity with KARMA/iDig or similar CRM/sales execution platforms, advantageous
• Wine education or certification, a plus (WSET or CSW preferred)

Responsibilities

• Accountable for market-level sales activation and driving key brand programs.
• Build strong relationships with top retail accounts and local chains and identify key selling opportunities.
• Develop strong relationships with distributor teams to multiply efforts and gain share of mind.
• Coordinate market work-withs, surveys, and sales blitzes with distributor teams.
• Provide weekly market performance recaps and identify execution gaps to Region Manager.
• Track program compliance, competitive pricing, and feature execution.
• Accountable for market activation and KPIs within assigned area of responsibility.
• Execute all confirmed chain/brand programs applicable to assigned territory.
• Accountable for Luxury Brand Collection execution, where assigned.
• Grow distribution on brand focus programs.
• Communicate progress on execution priorities with Region Manager and distributor teams.
• Adhere to assigned budget limits within assigned territory.
• Submit all requests for additional spend to Region Manager for further submission and processing.
• Manage distributor relationship priorities including Key District Managers and Sales Reps, Division Managers, and Chain Account Managers.
• Attend General Sales Meetings (GSM) and training sessions when applicable.
• Be present in the market 85%-90%.
• Conduct distributor 'work withs' and perform key account development.
• Provide market health audits with the Region Manager and ensure pricing compliance with VCT-USA standards.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life & Disability
• Tax Savings (401k with company match)
• Short and Long-Term Disability
• Paid vacation, sick leave and company holidays for eligible employees
• Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account benefits available to eligible employees
• One day/shift off per year as Volunteer Time Off (VTO)
• Employee-focused health, wellness, training and safety-related programs
• Scholarship opportunities for dependents
• Transportation-related benefits

What This Job Offers

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