Regional Manager - Illinois

Bonterra Organic Estates • Chicago, IL

3d • Remote

About The Position

Bonterra Organic Estates (formerly Fetzer Vineyards), a Certified B Corporation, is seeking a Regional Manager for Illinois to grow market share in on-premise and off-premise channels, including regional/local chain development. The role focuses on ensuring market penetration, brand awareness, and sell-through. This is a remote, home office-based position, ideally located near the Greater Chicagoland area. The Regional Manager will work independently and collaboratively with distributor personnel and sales/marketing teams, actively engaging in the market multiple days a week. Responsibilities include making sales calls, managing a key account list, participating in local trade activities, and maintaining communication with distributor teams and leadership. The role involves extensive driving within the field, with approximately 15%-20% overnight travel. The Regional Manager is responsible for overseeing business performance within their assigned state, achieving the regional business plan, and driving results through coordination, influence, and collaboration. They must ensure adherence to VCTUSA’s established ‘Ways of Working’, including company standards, processes, and compliance expectations.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business/Marketing or related field plus a minimum five years progressive sales experience in wine and spirits, beverage alcohol (or relevant CPG) 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 luxury/premium and commercial wines and excitement for selling a wide spectrum of price points and formats
• Demonstrated success in developing and managing distributor partnerships to maximize results and achieve mutual goals.
• Proven leadership and motivational skills with a track record of mentoring and developing sales talent
• Strong knowledge of off-premise and chain execution levers (pricing, promotions, merchandising) and comfort leading account strategies
• Practical selling experience in food and beverage industry with meaningful distributor management exposure
• Thorough knowledge and demonstration of wine principles, winegrowing/making process, food and wine pairing and related industry knowledge
• 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; willingness to spend significant time traveling in-market
• Overnight travel approximately 15% - 20% of time; weekend and evening work as required
• Travel throughout region required
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. and push/pull up to 30 lbs. on a frequent basis
• Ability to frequently sit and work at a desk for long periods of time
• Requires ability to frequently walk and occasionally stand, reach outward and upward, climb, crawl, squat, kneel, and bend
• Requires hand and finger dexterity for keyboarding and frequently working at computer for extended periods of time.
• Additional physical requirements required as related to domestic/international travel via air and ground transportation.

Nice To Haves

• Experience selling imports and/or organic categories, advantageous
• Circana/Nielsen information experience, a plus
• Wine education or certification, a plus (WSET or CSW preferred)
• Familiarity with Breakthru Beverage Group, a plus

Responsibilities

• Manage state-level depletions, KPIs, and distributor targets.
• Conduct monthly performance reviews with key distributor teams.
• Manage monthly work-withs, market visits, and key-selling activities.
• Build and execute state-level road maps (i.e., programming/activity calendars).
• Manage relationships with key state distributor personnel.
• Monitor pricing accuracy, inventory health, and forecast inputs.
• Ensure district manager(s) performance aligns with region strategy and goals.
• Accountable to plan performance within assigned state(s).
• Conduct weekly/monthly performance updates with state distributor leadership around active monthly programs and key initiatives.
• Accountable for inventory management within assigned region ensuring Days of Inventory on Hand (DOH) and DOO remain within targeted guidelines.
• Accountable for execution of chain/brand programs within assigned region.
• Accountable for Luxury Brand Collection execution.
• Ensure all brand spending for assigned region remains within annual budget.
• Responsible for submitting discretionary spending requests in accordance with policy.
• Ensure state distributor banks are being targeted to highest ROI activities.
• Conduct monthly meeting with Sales Operations to review YTD budget performance.
• Facilitate monthly performance review meetings and QBRs with distributor personnel.
• Coordinate surveys around key selling periods.
• Conduct monthly meeting with portfolio managers to review pricing, programming, and inventory.
• Present in market 60%-70% of time.
• Team development, business reviews, and key distributor meetings.
• Cultivate relationships with key account buyers and ensure execution of focus programs.
• Regional/local chain development.
• Monthly/quarterly market audits and program compliance.
• Ensure district manager(s) performance aligns with region strategy and goals.

Benefits

• First day Medical, Dental, Vision, Life & Disability
• Tax Savings (401k with company match)
• Short and Long-Term Disability
• Paid vacation, sick leave and company holidays.
• Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account benefits available to eligible employees.
• Community engagement is encouraged with one day/shift off per year as Volunteer Time Off (VTO).
• Many 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