Head of Advocacy - Whiskey

GMR Marketing is currently hiring for a Head of Advocacy - Whiskey to join our team.  Under the direction of the GMR Account Supervisor and the Client, the Head of Advocacy - Whiskey will serve as a national ambassador for trade education, relationship-building, and consumer-driven events for all whiskey Proximo Spirits brands - premium brands with a deep respect for craft and connoisseurship.

The ideal Head of Advocacy - Whiskey is an engaging, charismatic, professional, polished, and articulate candidate with a strong connection to their market, a robust social media presence, and expert-level knowledge of the bartending and mixology community.

This is a full-time, salaried position that requires full and open availability, as 50% of obligations will take place during normal business hours, while the other 50% will require evening and weekend work. Mileage reimbursement, a monthly cell phone stipend, and up to 10 accrued days of PTO per calendar year is also available in this role. There will also be numerous trips to Proximo Spirits distilleries!

Program Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• People Management & Engagement
• Support in training on standard operating procedures; ensure brand ambassadors have the proper understanding of product and brand history
• Coach and mentor brand ambassadors to improve performance and develop key selling and operational skills that enhance customer experience
• Support customer-facing team via mentorship to ensure they develop a level of expertise on Proximo Brand and the whiskey category
• Help establish and define a comprehensive training platform to develop and elevate field ambassadors
• Brand Champion
• Regularly review company’s email and other communication tools to ensure applicable messages are shared with brand ambassadors and to act on those messages in a timely manner
• Develop and help implement programming that communicates key brand messages in a unique and compelling way
• Represent Proximo’s whiskey brands at nationally recognized trade events
• Other responsibilities may be added to meet the needs of the business
• Customer Relationships & Management
• Engages and mobilizes sales and distributor partners to communicate brand strategy, vision, sales tactics, as well as drive enthusiasm for the brand and executional excellence of all programs and initiatives
• Maintain strong relationships with key on-premise and off-premise accounts within the assigned key account groups and influential national account universe to develop strong working relationships
• Participates, as needed, in Proximo and distributor sales meetings and scheduled work-withs within home territory
• Aid in the development, implementation, and execution of engaging brand and category educational presentations for trade, accounts, and consumers
• Brand Representation
• Be the face of the brands and develop strong relationships with sales and key distributor stakeholders in core markets
• Exhibit expertise and detailed knowledge of the Proximo Spirits whiskey portfolio by becoming an extension of our distilleries sought after by trade and press influencers for insights on brand history, production and category trends
• Advocates for assigned brand, including hosting events, leveraging social media and other tools to promote Proximo sales within the community
• Complete weekly activity reports detailing event results including consumers contacted, staff trained, cocktail features, and more
• Complete and submit detailed expense reports for work-related activity
• Create quarterly updates that identify key learnings, competitive and local market insight and future program recommendations
• Always reflect the brand by remaining polished, well-groomed, and professional in appearance
• Participate in weekly management and client team calls

Program Required Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

• Motivated self-starter, outgoing and gregarious, engaging, articulate, charismatic, and persuasive
• Previous industry experience in bartending, mixology, field sales, etc.
• Knowledge of whiskeys that can be versioned out for novices and expert
• Adept at selling and interacting with diverse groups of people
• Strong written, verbal, and public speaking skills
• In-depth understanding of account universe in activation regions
• Connected to and involved in the community of greater assigned market
• Strong social media presence and following
• Ability to travel extensively outside of assigned market on a regular basis
• Ability to travel for mandatory product training and press tours at the client’s distilleries in Mexico

Qualifications:

• Degree in a related field preferred (sales and marketing; hospitality management; culinary)
• 5 years of liquor sales, bartending, and fine dining background required
• Previous experience in program management, marketing, field sales, or other related fields required
• Working knowledge of computers with average to above average skills in Windows, PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Email
• Must be 21 years of age or older
• Must have reliable transportation to travel to surrounding markets and make in-market visits while transporting program materials (liquor, giveaways, etc.)