Region Manager, Midwest

Region Manager, Midwest

Company Overview

Paradise Spirits America Inc. is a marketing services company dedicated to sharing the authentic legacy of El Tequileño, a premium tequila brand with over 65 years of history. Founded in 1959 by the legendary Don Jorge Salles Cuervo, El Tequileño embodies quality, integrity, and heritage, all rooted in the magical town of Tequila, Jalisco—the birthplace of the world’s most iconic spirit. Today, under the leadership of Jorge Salles Cuervo’s grandson, El Tequileño continues its family legacy, celebrated globally as Mexico’s Best Kept Secret®.

With substantial investments in production, marketing, and exports since 2017, we have driven impressive sales growth across Mexico, the USA, Canada, the UK, Australia, and beyond. Join our agile, enthusiastic, and innovative team as we expand the reach of this storied brand. Discover more about El Tequileño at www.tequileno.com.

Position Overview

We are seeking an ambitious and strategic Midwest Region Manager to drive the growth and success of El Tequileño within the region. This position is based in Chicagoland, covering Illinois (80% focus) and supporting markets in Indiana, Missouri, and Wisconsin. As the Midwest Region Manager, you will be instrumental in driving brand awareness, expanding market share, and building strong relationships with key stakeholders. The role demands a charismatic, customer-centric professional with exceptional relationship-building skills to serve as both a brand ambassador, and the primary point of contact for key accounts.

Location: Chicagoland area (IL Resident)                                                            

Reporting to: Managing Director.

Key Responsibilities 

Market Strategy & Execution

• Spearhead commercial execution to achieve volume, distribution, and market share growth across on- and off-premise channels.
• Serve as a market expert for the tequila/agave category, demonstrating deep product knowledge and advocacy.
• Analyze market trends, competitor activities, and pricing strategies to adapt and innovate.
• Design and implement impactful local programming strategies, managing resources and budgets effectively.

Key Account Management

• Build and nurture relationships with key accounts, ensuring buy-in, consistent growth, and proper brand representation.
• Partner with accounts to organize promotions, events, and training to elevate brand awareness.
• Establish and manage a core list of target accounts, ensuring distribution and sales growth.
• Leverage data insights to drive performance in national and regional accounts.

Class B Distributor Management

• Collaborate with distributors to set performance goals and align on sales strategies.
• Create brand advocacy within distributor networks through training and education.
• Monitor and coach distributor sales teams to ensure accountability and delivery of KPIs.

Business Development & Planning

• Work closely with the executive team to develop and execute local sales and marketing initiatives.
• Drive planning discussions with leadership to address business needs and priorities.
• Present and implement brand plans, promotions, and new item introductions in line with company standards.

Relationship Building

• Cultivate strong partnerships with customers, distributors, and agencies to enhance brand engagement.
• Deliver constructive feedback to partners, ensuring consistent promotion of Paradise Spirits’ positive image.
• Collaborate with internal teams and agencies to bring activations to life.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, or a related field (preferred) or equivalent work experience.
• 4-6 years of progressive sales experience in the spirits, wine, or consumer goods industry, with a proven record of achieving and exceeding sales goals.
• Demonstrated success in managing distributor relationships, setting sales targets, and creating effective strategies for revenue growth.
• Strong knowledge of the spirits industry, including market trends, competitor analysis, and Midwest state liquor laws.
• Experience in leading sales teams, fostering a culture of accountability, and developing team members’ skills.
• Proficiency in CRM software and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) with strong analytical and reporting capabilities.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills with a track record of delivering impactful training and product knowledge sessions to trade and distributor teams.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with strong organizational and problem-solving skills, capable of working independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Passion for brand advocacy, with a dynamic and personable approach to networking and relationship building.
• Licensed driver with the flexibility to travel regularly, including evenings and weekends as needed, and the ability to lift/carry up to 45 lbs.

Salary Range: $100K-$110K, based on years of experience and industry knowledge of the wine & spirits industry.

Why Paradise Spirits:

Paradise Spirits and its brand El Tequileño is one of the fastest-growing premium tequilas in the US, and it’s an exciting time to come onboard as our company keeps growing! We strive to be the best place our employees have ever worked and to produce the best tequila our customers have ever tasted. As a part of our team, you’ll be working with people who are down-to-earth, friendly, and passionate in a fast-paced, start-up environment.

Paradise Spirits Employee Highlights:

• Health Benefit Reimbursement
• Employee Bonus Structure
• Travel Reimbursement: .40 per driven mile
• Paid Time Off: Including Vacation and Holidays

Paradise Spirits is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, color, age, sex, ancestry, marital status, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, present or past history of mental disability, genetic information, or any other classification protected by state or federal law.