Division Sales Manager - On-Premise

Johnson Brothers•Saint Paul, MN

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Johnson Brothers is a leading family-owned distributor of wine, spirits, and beer, delivering exceptional service since 1953. We proudly represent the world’s top beverage brands and are committed to excellence, innovation, and growth. Johnson Brothers offers exciting opportunities in a variety of areas. Join our passionate team and help shape the future of the beverage industry! Johnson Brothers is seeking a dynamic and strategic sales leader to serve as Division Sales Manager for our Johnson Brothers On-Premise Division. This role is responsible for leading a high-performing sales organization, developing supplier partnerships, driving profitable growth, and executing division-wide business strategies through network needs. The ideal candidate combines strong commercial acumen with exceptional leadership capabilities and a proven ability to build brands, develop people, and translate market opportunities into sustainable business growth. This individual will serve as a critical link between executive leadership, suppliers, operations teams, and sales professionals to ensure strategic priorities are effectively communicated and executed throughout the organization.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Sales, Finance, or related field; equivalent professional experience may be considered.
Minimum of two years in an Area Manager role or higher, with demonstrated leadership success.
Significant supplier management and business planning experience.
Proven ability to lead, develop, and motivate high-performing teams.
Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, profitability analysis, and inventory management.
Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and strategic thinking skills.
Excellent verbal, written, and presentation communication skills.
Multi-task in high pressure situations
Demonstrated ability to influence and collaborate across multiple organizational levels and functions.

Nice To Haves

Beverage alcohol industry experience.
Experience managing large supplier portfolios and complex business partnerships.
Proven track record of delivering sustained sales growth and profitability improvements.
Experience leading organizational change and cross-functional projects.

Responsibilities

Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing team of sales professionals and leaders.
Create a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and executional excellence.
Continuously evaluate team structure, performance, and resource allocation to ensure alignment with evolving business needs.
Coach and develop managers and sales professionals through performance management, training, and succession planning.
Lead organizational change initiatives and encourage innovation throughout the division.
Serve as a trusted advisor and communication bridge between ownership, executive leadership, suppliers, operations teams, and sales personnel.
Develop and execute annual business plans, budgets, forecasts, and division growth strategies.
Manage division profitability while balancing supplier objectives and company goals.
Utilize market data, consumer insights, and sales analytics to identify opportunities and drive strategic decision-making.
Monitor division performance and implement corrective action plans when necessary.
Maintain inventory oversight and forecasting processes to support sales growth and operational efficiency.
Ensure divisional activities remain aligned with overall company objectives and financial targets.
Drive sales growth, market share, and brand performance across a diverse supplier portfolio.
Develop and implement commercial sales strategies that capitalize on market trends and emerging opportunities.
Create and execute impactful programs that generate results while maintaining profitability goals.
Lead division-wide alignment around strategic brands, key initiatives, and supplier priorities.
Oversee pricing strategies, profitability analysis, supplier bill-back programs, and related sales systems.
Represent the company at industry events, customer engagements, and supplier meetings to strengthen market presence and identify new business opportunities.
Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with suppliers and supplier representatives.
Partner with suppliers to establish and achieve mutually agreed-upon business objectives.
Lead supplier business reviews, planning sessions, and growth initiatives.
Manage portfolio priorities and resource allocation to maximize supplier performance and division results.
Consult with supplier and marketing teams to improve brand execution, programming, and market penetration.
Foster a culture of partnership and transparency that supports long-term supplier success.
Provide project leadership for new supplier launches, overseeing implementation from onboarding through acceleration and growth.
Coordinate with logistics, operations, finance, and marketing teams to ensure successful execution of divisional initiatives.
Identify opportunities to improve routes to market, streamline business processes, and leverage technology for enhanced productivity.
Lead high-visibility presentations for executive leadership, suppliers, and cross-functional teams.
Conduct educational sessions, product trainings, and business reviews to strengthen team capabilities and market expertise.