Market Development Specialist

Enthuse-Marketing•Chicago, IL

8h•$70,000 - $80,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Market Development Specialist serves as the dedicated in-market representative for spirit’s portfolio within an assigned territory. This role is responsible for bringing the portfolio strategy to life by expanding distribution, increasing portfolio presence, building influential trade relationships, and identifying opportunities that drive sustainable growth. Working closely with distributor partners, key accounts, and trade stakeholders, the MDS acts as a consultative seller, market expert, and portfolio advocate — leveraging data, local market knowledge, and strong relationships to influence decisions and drive commercial performance. Success in this role requires strong business acumen, entrepreneurial thinking, relationship-building skills, and a passion for helping brands win in market.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree preferred
3-4 years of beverage alcohol, hospitality, field sales, distributor, broker, or related commercial experience
Strong understanding of the three-tier system and beverage alcohol landscape
Existing relationships within the local trade community preferred
Demonstrated ability to influence, sell, and build relationships
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to utilize data to identify opportunities and drive action
Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills
Self-starter with an entrepreneurial mindset and ability to work independently
Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends as business needs require
Must reside within assigned market and possess a valid driver's license
Manage administrative tasks with attention to meeting agency compliance guidelines and standards

Nice To Haves

Existing relationships within the local trade community

Responsibilities

Drive distribution growth across a focused set of priority brands
Identify and secure new placement opportunities within target accounts
Increase menu presence, feature activity, back-bar visibility, and account penetration
Partner with distributor teams to influence account decisions and accelerate growth opportunities
Utilize sales data, market intelligence, and local insights to identify opportunities and prioritize efforts
Develop account-specific recommendations and action plans designed to improve performance
Execute against core portfolio priorities, including designated focus brands, seasonal initiatives and/or market-specific opportunities
Manage a defined universe of priority on premise accounts within an assigned market
Build and maintain relationships with operators, bartenders, beverage directors, retail buyers, and distributor personnel
Establish and grow a core group of high-value accounts that drive long-term market impact
Serve as a trusted advisor and portfolio advocate within the local trade community
Conduct regular account visits and maintain consistent follow-up against identified opportunities
Deliver product education and training to trade and distributor partners
Build awareness, advocacy, and recommendation within the trade community
Support distributor education efforts and local selling initiatives
Identify opportunities to strengthen portfolio relevance and visibility within market
Execute local programming, events, and activation initiatives that support commercial objectives
Analyze sales performance, distribution data, and account trends to identify opportunities and gaps
Monitor competitive activity and emerging market dynamics
Capture and communicate account feedback, market insights, and business recommendations
Maintain accurate reporting and KPI tracking
Provide actionable recommendations designed to improve market performance and accelerate growth
Participate in quarterly market blitzes and concentrated growth initiatives
Support priority business needs, distributor mandates, market launches, and portfolio priorities
Collaborate across markets to maximize impact and share best practices