Advocacy Lead- San Antonio, TX

About the role

The Advocacy Lead will lead initiatives focused on bartender engagement, category education, and on-premise influence-building on behalf of a large spirits portfolio. The Advocacy Lead will serve as a connector between supplier, distributor network, hospitality community, and trade stakeholders while generating actionable market intelligence to shape future commercial and marketing strategies.

Responsibilities

• Maintain all legal and marketing code guidelines
• Build authentic relationships with bartenders, beverage directors, bar owners, retailers, distributor partners, and industry influencers
• Develop and execute advocacy strategies that strengthen a spirits portfolio’s reputation and influence within the spirits and hospitality community
• Represent the portfolio at trade events, industry conferences, tastings, cocktail competitions, and customer activations
• Conduct staff trainings, trade seminars, customer workshops, and distributor education sessions
• Design and deliver engaging educational programs focused on spirits categories, production methods, cocktail culture, and brand storytelling
• Help customers improve category understanding, menu development, cocktail execution, and premiumization opportunities
• Gather qualitative and quantitative insights from customers, bartenders, distributors, and industry stakeholders
• Complete accurate and timely management of agency initiatives including budget and expense management, all reporting responsibilities, and tracking and management of performance data using agency-appointed platforms
• Serve as key liaison for the portfolio, distributor, trade, and customers within a designated market
• Develop/deepen knowledge in spirits across several categories and skills in verbal and written presentation

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in spirits, beverage alcohol, hospitality, brand advocacy, or related industries
• Strong understanding of spirits categories, cocktail culture, and hospitality operations
• Existing network within the bartending and beverage community preferred
• Exceptional presentation, communication, and relationship-building skills
• Experience delivering educational programming and trade-facing events
• Commercial acumen and ability to connect advocacy efforts to business outcomes
• Strong analytical and observational skills with the ability to synthesize market insights into actionable recommendations
• Ability to tailor communications for a variety of on-premise environments
• Strong budget management skills
• Ability to work flexible hours and travel on an ad hoc basis including nights and weekends required
• Must have access to reliable transportation to travel to and from accounts
• Desire for mentorship and willingness to contribute to team culture
• Bilingual (English and Spanish-speaking) a plus
• Manage administrative tasks with attention to meeting agency compliance guidelines and standards

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in spirits, beverage alcohol, hospitality, brand advocacy, or related industries
• Strong understanding of spirits categories, cocktail culture, and hospitality operations
• Existing network within the bartending and beverage community preferred
• Exceptional presentation, communication, and relationship-building skills
• Experience delivering educational programming and trade-facing events
• Commercial acumen and ability to connect advocacy efforts to business outcomes
• Strong analytical and observational skills with the ability to synthesize market insights into actionable recommendations
• Ability to tailor communications for a variety of on-premise environments
• Strong budget management skills
• Ability to work flexible hours and travel on an ad hoc basis including nights and weekends required
• Must have access to reliable transportation to travel to and from accounts
• Desire for mentorship and willingness to contribute to team culture
• Bilingual (English and Spanish-speaking) a plus
• Manage administrative tasks with attention to meeting agency compliance guidelines and standards

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• 401k with match
• PTO time

Pay

Base compensation range for this job classification is between $90,000.00-$105,000.00 annually. The determination of what a specific employee in this job classification is paid depends on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, prior employment history/job-related skills and qualifications, length of service, brand program, and geographic location. This job classification is bonus-eligible, with bonus potential subject to applicable bonus plan terms and conditions.

Schedule

Flexible schedule with occasional nights and weekends required.