Job Details

Our Story

Since 1859, our family estate has raised sugarcane on the banks of an ancient Mississippi River oxbow. This sharp bend in the river has made for fertile land and the finest Louisiana sugarcane. Made from 100% Grade A sugarcane molasses, these fine sipping rums embody the essence of Louisiana's sugarcane harvest.

Every drop of Oxbow Estate Rum is made from scratch. We farm, mill, and distill each batch ourselves to ensure every sip embodies the essence of Louisiana's finest sugarcane. A testament of integrity and perseverance, without compromise. Pure. Natural. From humble planting to mighty yields, from distillation to bottle. With integrity in every step, and truth in every sip.

The rum category has historically lacked transparency and regulation. Consumers often wonder what's really in the bottle. We want to share our authentic rums with fans seeking a true sipping experience. With Louisiana's rich history of growing sugarcane, we see the state becoming America's premium rum destination.

Who are you, and what can we achieve?

We are looking for a true sales expert ready to hit the ground running—an entrepreneurial individual with the comfort and confidence to lead a sales team effectively. You are not only an exemplary leader in sales but also proudly serve as the brand's ambassador. Your foundation is built on hands-on market experience, and you are a strong executor who encourages your team and distributor relationships to take action and get things done.

You are an authentic communicator who still believes in picking up a phone, getting in the car or on a plane, understands the importance of open communication, and can handle hard conversations face-to-face. You have the drive to continue to develop and hone your skills while contributing dynamic, strategic ideas and leadership to your team.

You have the unwavering desire to “win daily" and be part of a proud team of creative, disrupting, and innovative industry professionals; you're ready to join the adventure, achieve big goals, and grow a brand.

Position Summary

Oxbow is looking for a strong sales executive from the spirits industry with experience dealing with key accounts on and off-premise, chains, and distributors. As the Sales Director, you will drive performance by providing overall sales strategy and leadership. You will have the oversight of creating your team from recruitment through talent development. Leading efforts to attain new markets of distribution will also fall under your auspices, which must be underpinned by fostering a robust ongoing working relationship, not mere management thereof. Your efforts will rely on field execution, team performance, and profitability management.

The person in this role is a self-starter that thrives in an entrepreneurial, results-driven environment. You have the ambition to build something authentic and use your strong people skills to develop and maintain relationships with distributors and industry members. You and your sales team will be responsible for developing and delivering the company's annual sales operating plan that the overall company will depend on and rely upon, which currently includes the following Oxbow Rum Distillery distributor partners:

1. Louisiana: RNDC
2. Texas: RNDC (LibDib) – seeking new partnership ASAP
3. Georgia: Empire Distributors
4. Tennessee: Lipman Brothers (launching April 2025)
5. South Carolina: Breakthru Beverage (launching May 2025)

Our Expectations

1. Motivate distributor and sales personnel to achieve goals and drive revenue.
2. Ensure effective execution of strategic plans.
3. Increase sales and revenue year over year, while efficiently controlling costs and maximizing dollars spent.
4. Provide strong leadership within the company and with distributors by setting an example, providing guidance and inspiring all key stakeholders towards company profitability.
5. Allocate roughly 50% of time out of the office/home and in the market.
6. Secure new Texas distributor partnership within 6 months of start date.

Responsibilities (including but not limited to)

Manage Distributors

1. Educate distributor staff and the trade to ensure their understanding of our products, brand story and positioning.
2. Motivate distributor teams to become champions of our brands; create a framework that holds them accountable through agreed upon marketing & sales plans; conduct review meetings to evaluate brand performance against objectives and recommend improvements.
3. Monitor inventory level of product and POS to avoid out-of-stocks and alert Oxbow's Operations Manager accordingly for production and ordering.
4. Increase market share by conducting trade and competitor data research and gap analysis.
5. Develop strategic alliances to enhance sales, profitability and brand presence.
6. Implement creative and targeted distributor incentives that maximize their attention to our brands.
7. Coordinate and prepare presentations for General Sales Meetings.

Manage Brands

1. Develop and execute distribution strategy, commercial plans and growth drivers in line with brand strategy.
2. Develop merchandising and point of sale programs and guidelines, working with the Marketing Manager and Director of Operations on design and ordering.
3. Co-develop and implement brand plans to deliver annual goals, in terms of share, volume, revenue, contribution, distribution and pricing.
4. Promotions, especially on-premise, will be an important element in the development of the company's brands. The Director of Sales will supervise promotions to ensure effective implementation of promotional activity and adherence to brand positioning guidelines.
5. Co-develop and execute experiential programs for consumers, bartenders and trade.
6. Conduct pre and post promotion/event ROI analysis.
7. Establish and monitor marketing and sales expense budgets to ensure proper control.

Manage Trade

1. Develop and maintain effective personal relationships with key trade customers, including distributors, wholesalers, and on and off-premise accounts.
2. Develop plans to motivate key on and off-premise accounts to purchase and promote company brands; ensure proper shelf management; spearhead creative activations, dealer loaders, etc.
3. Monitor accounts sold and distribution levels regularly to ensure achievement of brand goals.
4. Monitor trade inventory levels of product and POS to eliminate out-of-stocks.
5. Create targeted sampling program across all markets.

People Development/Relationships

1. Lead, mentor, and inspire the sales team to perform at their fullest potential by utilizing reports on the company's Karma/VIP platform, monitoring performance, and establishing ambitious but achievable KPI's.
2. Collaborate with the President and Marketing Manager for online marketing initiatives.
3. Represent the company at industry events, trade shows, and other networking opportunities to promote brand awareness and foster new partnerships.

General

1. Co-develop and participate in quarterly sales reviews for the company's board and owners.
2. Maintain a monthly report to the President, including, but not limited to:

1. Performance versus plan (sales/marketing expenditures per case, pricing, volume, etc.)
2. Distribution and key account performance and relationships
3. Competitive activity
4. Changes in the market environment

Assist the President with information and other special projects as required.

Collaborate cross-functionally with marketing, operations, and finance teams to ensure alignment of sales efforts with overall business objectives.

What we look for in an employee

1. Professional and personable
2. Very diligent and detail-oriented
3. Deadline-focused and goal-driven
4. Resourceful
5. Helpful and service-driven
6. Self-motivated with strong time management skills and thorough follow-through
7. A sincere individual with strong ethics
8. You are eager to learn
9. You are an excellent communicator who values face-to-face conversations
10. A strong executor who gets things done
11. You are trustworthy and exercise great humility
12. You love what you do; your craft is your passion

Required Qualifications

1. Proven ability and experience in selling, marketing, and promoting fast-moving consumer goods.
2. At least +10 years of sales leadership experience in the spirits segment
3. Knowledge of distribution channels and experience in managing distributors.
4. Must possess a strong business acumen focused on leadership & entrepreneurial business skills
5. Self-motivated individual, thriving in both autonomous and team environments
6. Strong interpersonal skills with excellent written and oral communication
7. Strong presentation skills
8. Financial and business acumen in the areas of data analysis, budgeting, reporting, planning, and sales knowledge
9. A successful track record in executing sales strategies and initiatives
10. Able to obtain and meet industry licensing requirements as needed
11. Self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced environment and can contribute strategically to the bottom-line objectives of the company
12. Passion for people and developing brands
13. Excellent organization skills, multi-tasking, and project management skills are required, including the ability to manage multiple competing priorities
14. Must be able to travel as needed
15. Must possess a valid driver's license and secure and maintain auto-liability insurance by state laws
16. Must be 21 years of age
17. Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Teams, Powerpoint, Excel, Word); Adobe; VIP/iDig/Karma CRM program

Benefits

1. Full benefits including health, dental, and vision
2. Paid time off
3. Flexible work environment

Physical Demands & Work Environment

1. Prolonged periods of standing and walking
2. Ability to lift up to 30 pounds