Director, Bulk Sales & Contract Distillation

Location: Louisville, KY, US

Careers that unlock the magic of human connection

Pernod Ricard is a global premium spirits and wine company. We're the team behind leading brands such as ABSOLUT Vodka, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Malibu, Kahlua Liqueur, Beefeater Gin, and Avion Tequila, as well as many more superior wines and exquisite champagnes!

Working at Pernod Ricard is all about igniting conviviality in all that we do. Derived from the French word, convivialite...it means human connection, authenticity, friendly, and jovial. Conviviality is energy and spirit with a splash of je ne sais quoi and is a core philosophy around how we live and work at Pernod Ricard. Here, we are team players, dream makers, trailblazers, movers and (cocktail) shakers. We have a passion for living life to the fullest, making new friends every day, and realizing our potential as people and as a business!

The salary range for this role, based in Louisville is $138,000.00to $172,500.00. The range will vary if outside of this location. Base salaries are determined during our interview process, by assessing a candidate'sexperience, skills against internal peers and against the scope and responsibilities of the position.

Position Summary

1) Based upon the long-term commercial sequence of our different brands and the run rates of our different distilleries, manage our contract distillation & aged liquid sales & acquisitions to optimize our inventory, cash and profit.

2) Responsible for the end-to-end quality of delivery (sampling, product, transportation, invoicing and relationship) of whiskey from the site to the customer.

3) Develops a clear, measurable and specific plan against the organization's vision and needs in bulk sales and contract distillation across the North American (Canada and US) Whiskey sites.

4) Drives the development, maintenance, and communication of the business of contract distillation & bulk aged whiskey, in addition to barrel procurement.

5) Builds and develops a network of customers and key contacts through industry knowledge and experience.

6) Builds strong relationships within the Pernod network with all the site leads, legal, head of American Whiskey operations, finance, and external partners to lead cross-functional communication and requirements in conjunction with site capabilities & commercial plans.

7) In conjunction with the VP of American Whiskey Operations, legal, operations personnel and associated financial counterparts, this role will formalize and implement the process needed including:

• Bulk sale agreements.
• Contract distillation agreements.
• Aging warehouse agreements.
• Blending, sampling and other service agreements as required.
• Capacity planning input to site planner(s).
• Communication to customers and operations personnel.
• Customer relationship management and communications.
• Attendance and booth management at trade / industry events.
• Timely follow-up on customer leads and questions.
• Facility tours and customer handling.
• Bulk shipping and barrel handling input based upon customer needs.
• Procurement support & pricing for customer-related needs (such as finishing barrels) and services.

8) Develops the bulk aged & contract distillation business for North American Whiskeys in the midst of challenging environments by demonstrating high personal commitment, professionalism, and commitment to integrity, serving as a role model to those in within and external to Pernod.

9) Serve as a brand ambassador to Pernod Ricard's distillation and warehousing sites, inspiring team members with shared purpose, industry knowledge, and accountability for the how and what of delivering performance.

Key Responsibilities

Identify, build, and curate the Bulk Aged & Contract Distillation plan across the Canadian and US Whiskeys.This includes:

• Development of the business targets based upon industry knowledge & competitor awareness
• Business strategy development including identification of current and future risks and trends
• Creation of action plans and processes to drive and improve KPIs
• Understanding of and contribution to evolution of production strategy in response to market needs and Group strategy
• Ability to leverage individual reputation and Pernod's to build relationships with customers. This will require a combination of efforts including "cold calls," trade show events, using mutual contacts and work-related social media such as websites or LinkedIn. Use of trade-related applications and technology will also be needed.

• Demonstrate leadership as a professional, customer service-oriented team member with the goal of becoming the supplier of choice for bulk aged liquid and new fill contract distillation & services.
• Extensive knowledge of and passion for the North American whiskey industry is a must including:
  • Detailed knowledge of key industry players and history.
  • Technical knowledge of the distillation, blending and aging process.

Prior / existing operations background in managing and understanding of all aspects of distillery and warehousing operations including:

• Milling.
• Cooking.
• Fermentation.
• Distillation.
• Barrel Filling.
• Warehousing.
• Draining, Finishing, and Blending.
• Bulk shipping.
• New and used barrel market.
• Understand individual site processes and work with the operations teams to provide volumes for customer activities.
• Leading cross-functional teams to make decisions as needed to meet contractual obligations and internal requirements and ultimately revenue / profit,
• Creates the start to finish follow-through and ownership on the development, negotiation, and execution of contracts with customers including notification of upcoming contract distillation, sampling/analytical as required, and the shipment of products to customers.
• Creates the start to finish follow-through and ownership of the communication, sampling, allocation, documentation, sale, invoicing and removal from inventory of bulk aged liquid.
• Strong legal awareness & familiarity with alcohol regulations and compliance
• Develops and leads the administrative management including transfers, invoices, COA's, production details, analytical and sensory information amongst other data related to the liquid and traceability.
• Work with site teams to organize samples of bulk aged or new fill as requested by customers or potential customers and for retain samples.
• Ensures excise and regulatory compliance and GMP documents are accurate and up to date.
• Leads the financial management - monitor revenue, costs, profitability related to bulk sales & distillation contracts.
• Overcommunicates activities, inventory and status to the customers and operations personnel.
• Leads by demonstrating and requiring safety awareness and safe work practices to ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees, contractors and visitors; by identifying and reducing safety risks, maintaining a clean work environment, and practicing good health, hygiene, and safety practices.
• Logistics - coordinates logistics for bulk spirit shipments, ensuring timely delivery to clients.
• Sets pricing and negotiation - determine pricing structures, discounts and terms for bulk spirit sales with support analyst.
• Market research - stays informed about market trends, customer preferences, and competitive offerings.
• Sales strategy - develops and executes strategies to maximize bulk spirit sales, including identifying potential clients, negotiating contracts, and maintaining strong relationships.

Required Skills & Abilities

• Prior operations experience in distillation (minimum 3 years), ideally 10 years in spirits industry
• Extremely strong oral, written, virtual and in-person communication skills
• Demonstrated negotiation skills
• Flexibility / ability to travel, and ability to work nights and weekends and respond to customer needs on their schedule
• Excellent organizational and planning skills
• Attention to detail - precision is crucial in distillation & contract management
• Strong teamwork and cross-functional communication skills
• A passion for and knowledge of the bourbon industry
• Leverage strong financial and analytical skills to make operational decisions based on sound financial analysis and long-term business strategies
• Nurture strategic working relationships that promote operational effectiveness and world class customer service levels
• Ability to lead team through change process and foster an environment that promotes innovative approaches, continuous improvement and personal development
• Strong leadership skills to manage and coach reports handling barrel procurement and bulk sales support/customer service

Education

• Bachelor's degree, Business / Supply Chain, Engineering
• Preferred: Degree in addition to minimum 3-5 years' experience with bulk sales and/or in the bourbon industry and 10 years in spirits industry

brands and a long-standing commitment to sustainability, safety, and giving back to the people and communities where we work. We know that happiness at work starts with that feeling of belonging you get from an inclusive culture where being uniquely you is celebrated. Our values are lived, they drive our behaviors, and it's what brings our culture to life.

Our work philosophy celebrates the magic of human connection with the flexibility needed to provide one's most meaningful contribution. We offer a flexible work policy, with most of our positions offering a hybrid or remote option. As a global employer, we understand that not everyone's working hours are the same, and we empower our employees to work the hours that make the most sense for their and their team's schedules.

We offer employees great benefits and perks to toast to a life filled with support. Check out PRUSABenefits.com for details.

Pernod Ricard USA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It employs qualified individuals based solely on ability, training, and experience, and does not and will not, discriminate for or against any employee or applicant for employment or promotion based upon actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, national origin, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service or any other classification protected by law. Offers will be subject to United States local terms.

Pernod Ricard USA is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Pernod Ricard USA will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. To request reasonable accommodation during the application process, contact your talent acquisition manager.

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