Wine and Spirits Educator

Columbia Distributing • Kent, WA

13d

About The Position

The Wine & Spirits Educator is a newly created role designed to elevate internal knowledge, confidence, and selling capability across our organization. This individual will serve as a strategic link between supplier priorities and front-line execution--translating brand stories into compelling, actionable learning experiences. From onboarding and classroom training to market work-withs, trade events, and curated educational dinners, this role helps bring our brands to life in every setting. By blending product expertise with engaging storytelling and hands-on support, the Wine & Spirits Educator will play a critical role in developing talent, driving sales, and strengthening our culture of excellence.

Requirements

• High level of knowledge and selling experience in wine and spirits categories
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Effective organizational and time management skills
• Ability to develop strong relationships with internal and external customers
• High School diploma or GED required
• High level of wine and spirits knowledge required
• 5+ years in the beverage industry, preferably in sales, brand or education
• Comfortable presenting to large and small groups; excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Highly organized and self-motivated with a passion for education and storytelling
• Willingness to travel for market visits, trade events, and regional trainings
• Lift, carry, push, pull up to 55 lbs.
• Use arms, wrists, hands, grasp
• Must be proficient in the use of industry tools including hand truck, six-wheeler, manual pallet jack, box cutter, etc.
• Must be able to drive and operate a vehicle

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree preferred
• Strong foundational knowledge of Wine and Spirits; certifications like WSET, CSW or CMS preferred
• Previous beverage industry sales experience

Responsibilities

• Design and deliver onboarding programs tailored to wine and spirits knowledge for new hires
• Develop and facilitate ongoing internal training sessions to elevate category confidence and sales acumen
• Collaborate with Learning and Development to build training modules, e-learning content and certification tracks
• Conduct market rides and work-withs to provide in-the-moment education and performance feedback
• Partner with sales leaders to identify knowledge gaps and create customized learning solutions
• Serve as a key liaison for supplier educational initiatives, trade activations, and launch events
• Support educational dinners, tastings, and trade shows with engaging and informative presentations
• Help translate supplier brand stories into compelling sales tools and field messaging
• Assist in building scalable learning experiences, from live workshops to digital learning
• Track participation and impact of training programs and recommend improvement

Benefits

• Employees (and their families) are eligible for medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance.
• Employees are able to enroll in our company's 401k plan.
• Employees are also eligible for 80 hours of vacation every year and 7-8 days of paid holidays throughout the calendar year (depending on location).
• Hired applicants may be eligible for incentives/bonuses/annual bonuses.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees