What are the responsibilities and job description for the Spirits Buyer - Northern California position at K&L Wine Merchants?
ABOUT US
K&L Wine Merchants is widely recognized as one of the leading independent wine retailers in the United States. We offer a world-class selection of wine, spirits, and beer at four retail locations and through our website. We are a growth-minded company made up of a tight-knit team dedicated to providing excellent, knowledgeable service to our loyal customers. If you are seeking an exciting career and an ‘all-access pass’ to the business and culture of wine and spirits, K&L Wine Merchants is the perfect match!
BENEFITS
- Medical/Dental/Vision insurance - K&L pays 100% of individual premium
- 401k plan, with company contribution
- 3 weeks of paid time off per year – time off accrual increases at 5 years of service
- 8 paid holidays
- Generous product discount
- Weekly staff tasting and sales training; exposure to world-class products and producers
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
We are seeking an industry leading Spirits Buyer who possesses profound product knowledge, deep sourcing experience, who is capable of managing inventory at a large scale. The ideal candidate will be technically adept, a trendsetter, and a tastemaker. Success in this role relies on the ability to source spirits both locally and internationally, with a keen eye for profitability and a proven record of building fruitful supplier relationships. This individual must be growth-oriented, a proactive initiator, and a leader to staff and clients. Whether it is an off-the-beaten-path discovery, a highly acclaimed single malt whiskey, or a blue-chip bourbon offering, The NorCal Spirits Buyer must curate a category-leading selection and possess the requisite knowledge to support it. If you are an experienced Spirits Buyer looking to share your experise, we want to hear from you!
PRINCIPLE RESPONSIBILITIES
- Build and maintain an industry-leading selection of dynamic and rewarding Spirits offerings.
- Expertly manage and cultivate direct imports, local supplier relationships, and grey market sourcing.
- Be a steadfast advocate for all the products in the category.
- Grow profitability within the category while maintaining and managing appropriate inventory levels.
- Use all the tools available to maximize the quality and efficiency of the category: reporting, tastings, marketing, events, and more.
- Be a clean and accurate record keeper to support all layers of the organization from management to finance to operations.
- Build talent within the organization by leveraging leadership skills, technical proficiency, and product expertise.
- Have a grounded, customer-first approach that fosters long-term customers and communicates about spirits with both sophistication and approachability.
REQUIREMENTS
- 5 to 10 years of broad-scale spirits procurement experience, locally and abroad.
- Flexible availability on weekends or evenings.
- Must be local to one of our four K&L locations.
- Excellent communicator with a passion for customer service.
- Ability to write comprehensive and engaging content, from tasting notes to long-form stories.
- Knowledge of the broad marketplace and ability to connect to cross-generational trends.
- Proficient in Office applications and the ability to adapt to multiple tech platforms.
Join us at K&L Wine Merchants and be a part of a unique journey in the world of wine and spirits, where your expertise and passion will help shape the future of our company and the experiences of our loyal customers.
K&L Wine Merchants is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants are considered for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, disability, or any other status protected by law.
Salary : $100,000 - $150,000
