VP Sales, East Region

VP Sales, East Region

Sales – South Florida or New York Metro (remote)

Job Description – VP Sales, East

Territory: US East Region – MA, CT, RI, NY, NJ, MD/DC, DE, KY, TN, SC, GA, FL

SIP is a boutique spirit innovation and brand development company focused on the spirits sector. We are passionate about what we do and pride ourselves on our enthusiasm, determination, creativity and professionalism that are the cornerstone of our corporate culture and the brands we bring to market. SIP is comprised of a team of highly seasoned beverage professionals with expertise spanning from branding to package design, procurement to production, sales and marketing, finance to compliance. We have a dedicated national sales team and brand ambassadors that connect our brands and consumers. We partner with the world’s preeminent distributor of beverage alcohol, Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits.

The primary focus of this role is growing and managing sales for the SIP portfolio, with Heaven’s Door Whiskey driving most of the business. The portfolio also includes Rare Hare Whiskey and the upcoming launch of Three Hares Tequila in July of 2025. The VP Sales, East will lead a sales team of 4 State and Regional Directors, oversee regional budgets, ensure distributor and retail programming is in place, track and support execution and pricing, as well as maintain regional chain and key customer relationships. This role will partner closely with East region and national SGWS leadership and sales teams, as well as SIP’s corporate and ambassador teams.  As a small company, we all wear many hats and must demonstrate an entrepreneurial approach to delivering business goals.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensure distribution and sales programming is in place and executed across the region to deliver against revenue and expense goals based on annual sales plans and budgets
• Manage profit and loss responsibility across the region, including market specific P&Ls, overall fiscal implications, and resource management/recommendations. This may included monthly processing of distributor invoices.
• Directly manage business in NJ, MD/DC, and DE where other team members are not covering
• Utilize leadership relationships at distributor and key chain accounts to drive brand growth and generate new opportunities.
• Build program calendars and pricing structures for directly managed markets in conjunction with team and distributor to maximize both volume and revenue.
• Forecast yearly and quarterly goals, rolling up market and SKU level forecasts for region reporting and compile all monthly region reports (quantitative and qualitative)
• Maintain adequate inventory levels at distributor with minimum of 45 days
• Monitor and drive commercial standards across team and in market, ensuring shelf prices, SKU assortment, store placement, and POS utilization match strategy and maximize sales opportunities 

• Communicate effectively across distributor organization, including sales objectives, pricing, programming, educations and kick-offs/blitzes.
• Negotiation, placement, and management of brands and programs to drive sales and velocity in targeted retail chains.
• Analyze sales & marketing environments, distribution gaps, various competitors and develop plans, working closely with marketing team for future programming and needed POS, investment and resource support
• Manage channel mix accordingly, ensuring on-premise sales to make up 20% of overall volume
• Conduct detailed quarterly reviews that result in alignment between Distributor / brand(s) on what actions need to be taken to hit or exceed goals.

Personal Skills and Qualities

• Results oriented: Strong work ethic and drive for success
• Knows the key people at our distributor network to achieve desired results
• Relationships with key retailers in the state
• 10 years of Distributor and/or spirits supplier experience, including with chains, on premise
  • Preferably based in Miami/Ft Lauderdale area or New York Metro
  • Strong relationships with SGWS preferred
  • Experience with franchise states preferred
  • Experience selling bourbon preferred
• Budget management and resource utilization
• Teamwork: Ability to work and communicate productively with colleagues and customers – help bridge the gap between sales and marketing
• Excellent oral and written communication and persuasion skills
• Able to work with Word, Power point, Excel, VIP, KARMA, distributor reporting systems, etc
• A sense of positive urgency in executing everyday responsibilities
• Willingness to “roll sleeves up” and work the streets!
• Position requires regular travel across the region to support team, distributors, customers, and business priorities, at least 50%