Associate Manager, Barrel Programs

Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits that Stir the World. Rooted in two centuries of family heritage, Beam Suntory has evolved into the world's third largest leading premium spirits company ... where each employee is treated like family and trusted with legacy. With our greatest assets - our premium spirits and our people - we're driving growth through impactful marketing, innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit. Beam Suntory is a place where you can come Unleash your Spirit by making an impact each and every day.

The following position is open in Clermont, KY., - Associate Manager, Barrel Programs

What makes this a great opportunity?

The following position is based in Clermont, Kentucky and will require on-site presence at the distillery. The role reports into the Knob Creek Brand Manager in the Global Brand House.

This role leads the execution of the day-to-day Single Barrel activities, oversees Single Barrel kit creation and delivery, and is the primary contact across Hospitality, North American Marketing & Distillery Operations for communications, questions and concerns related to the Single Barrel Program.

This role not only manages the current barrel program, but also provides critical input to the evolution of the Single Barrel Program underway to deliver the industry’s best experience

What makes this a great opportunity?

This role presents the opportunity to be the single day-to-day lead of the barrel programs for the James B. Beam Distilling Company, and will be a key and crucial voice in the future strategy and evolution of those programs with the rest of the Small Batch Brand House team.

Based on-site at the new, world-class whiskey distillery of James B Beam Distilling Co., this opportunity will lead Single Barrel Center of Excellence communications, oversee execution of Knob Creek & future brand sample kits, and be responsible for flawless execution of the Single Barrel Program as a whole. The primary brands of focus are Knob Creek as of today with future brands being added, which are critical brands embedded in the DNA of JBBDCo.

Reporting into the Global Brand Manager, Original Brands on the Global Small Batch team, this role will be responsible for delivery of off-campus Single Barrel experiences on a national scale (Kit Delivery) and serve as the on-campus program conduit with the Hospitality Team in Clermont KY. This role engages with many cross-functionals, including marketing, operations, and hospitality, and therefore is a strong platform into future career growth at JBBDCo and Beam Suntory. The role will also provide critical input and consult on the future of the Single Barrel Experience on & off-campus, working closely with counterparts in New York. And, the role will play an active role in cross-functionally leading other key projects within the Small Batch Original Brands team across brands like Knob Creek, Booker’s, & Baker’s.

• Opportunity to support priority whiskey brands at a world-class distillery
• Hyper-focused on premium customer experiences and support of design of future program
• Collaboration with sales & marketing organizations
• Part of a growing and exciting team within the Beam Suntory Global Brand House organization – the JBBDCo Small Batch team looks after 11 brands globally including Basil Hayden, Knob Creek, Legent, Overholt, Booker’s, Baker’s, Little Book, Old Grand-Dad, Old Crow, & new brand platforms.

Role Responsibilities

Management of Single Barrel Execution

Oversee Entire Single Barrel Experience

• Oversee kit delivery, which will be led by the Single Barrel Coordinator, and provide coverage when necessary, paying special attention to program productivity and efficiency improvements
• Work closely with hospitality team to support tour needs, ensure brand strategy is consistently upheld through the experience
• Support custom barrel needs, such as ad hoc charity requests, packaging customization, lead navigation of TTB & COLA requirements
• Responsible for overall delivery of Single Barrel Program Experience both on-site & off-site

Lead Cross-Functional Communications

• Provide frequent and regular reports on program performance, inclusive of depletion and shipment performance
• Lead timely & proactive correspondence with customers indirectly through North American Marketing counterpart, drive critical communications with Senior Leadership in Global Brand House through direct line manager
• Partner with distillery contacts, including Master Distiller and Family Distiller
• Gather insights from program stakeholders around Single Barrel Experience, review and drive changes for current program or utilize as input into future state optimizations

Global Brand House Support

Lead Pertinent Small Batch Projects

• Manage Brand Investment budgets & Salesforce Purchase Orders – budget lead on behalf of Original Small Batch Brands Team
• Lead delivery of 5 Booker’s batches annually inclusive of PR & rollout plans with markets
• Update all barrel program POS to match new visual identify & brand language

Engage with Brand House Team

• Provide input into Monthly Business Reviews for data relating to Single Barrel Programs
• Attendance of weekly status calls with Global Brand House Team & Direct Line Manager
• Role may require minimal travel – 2x-3x per quarter

Future Single Barrel Design

Consult on redesign of Single Barrel on- and off-campus experience

• Identification of improvements tied to kit & off-site selection processes

• Provide input into the development of new on-site experiences and remediation plans
• Support rollout of new Single Barrel experience through clear, concise communication

Qualifications & Experience

• College Degree with focus on Communications, Marketing, Business
• Minimum 3 years of Business or Agency experience
• Clear understanding of whiskey category, with an understanding of the whiskey production process
• Knowledge of Liquor Regulations, rules, market trends and competition is preferred
• Distillery experience is a plus
• Proven strong customer relationship experience
• Familiarity of budget & inventory management
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and as an individual
• Persuasive selling and negotiation skills are required to develop and maintain strong relationships
• Highly organized and flexible; proactive problem-solver
• High level of responsiveness, strong communication skills, and meticulous attention to detail
• Proactive timeline management skills with flexibility to manage multiple work streams and timelines, all while providing clear communication
• Able to lift 50 lbs. and carry over 100 yards

At Beam Suntory, people are our number one priority, and we believe our people grow together in diverse and inclusive environments where their unique insights, experiences and backgrounds are valued and respected. Beam Suntory is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, military veteran status and all other characteristics, attributes or choices protected by law. All recruitment and hiring decisions are based on an applicant’s skills and experience.