Senior Associate Buyer, Spirits

Total Wine & More

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Total Wine & More is seeking a Senior Associate Buyer, Spirits to join their Merchandising team onsite in Bethesda, MD. In this role, you will manage supplier relationships, lead product development initiatives, and support the execution of sourcing strategies to drive sales and margin performance within the Spirits Direct portfolio. You'll act as a category expert and a key cross-functional partner, contributing to the success of strategic supplier programs and helping shape the future of direct label spirit offerings. This is a high-impact individual contributor role with visibility across the business, offering the opportunity to influence brand strategy, innovation pipelines, and supplier collaboration. In this position, you will report to the Sr. Director, Spirits.

Requirements

Strong analytical and Excel skills with experience analyzing assortment, sales, and margin data.
Demonstrated experience working with suppliers and cross-functional teams, including marketing, compliance, and supply chain.
Proven project management skills and the ability to manage multiple timelines across a high-volume category.
Passion for spirits and staying current with consumer trends, competitive products, and new brand opportunities.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's Degree Business, Merchandising, or a related field
1-4 years experience in buying, sourcing, or merchandising, preferably within the alcoholic beverage industry.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain strategic supplier partnerships across key global spirit categories, supporting over $150M in sales.
Lead end-to-end development and execution of new items, from concept through launch, across a range of spirit segments, including entry-level to ultra-premium tiers.
Partner with compliance and legal teams to ensure timely federal approvals and adherence to all regulatory standards.
Build and execute brand launch and promotional plans in partnership with Marketing, Digital, and Store Operations teams to support product performance and in-store execution.
Drive assortment planning decisions based on trend analysis, market dynamics, and portfolio optimization strategies in collaboration with Category Management.
Work closely with the Supply Chain team to manage inventory planning, replenishment accuracy, and timely order execution.
Act as a subject matter expert for internal stakeholders by delivering insights, analysis, and recommendations tied to margin, sales, and market opportunities.
Mentor junior associates on the Spirits Direct team, providing guidance and helping build functional and product expertise across the team.