District Manager - Greater Chicagoland

This is a remote role based in Greater Chicagoland with approximately 10% - 15% overnight travel.

Responsibilities

• Grow the VCT-USA wine portfolio across Illinois in both on-premise and off-premise channels.
• Manage daily operations for wine brands within the distributor network and key accounts, balancing time across off-premise chains, independent retail, and on-premise accounts.
• Drive market-level sales activation and execute key brand programs.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with top retail accounts, local chains, and distributor teams to identify selling opportunities and gain share of mind.
• Coordinate market work-withs, surveys, and sales blitzes with distributor teams.
• Provide weekly market performance recaps and identify execution gaps to the Region Manager.
• Track program compliance, competitive pricing, and feature execution.
• Accountable for market activation and KPIs within assigned territory as part of annual business planning.
• Execute all confirmed chain/brand programs applicable to the territory.
• Responsible for Luxury Brand Collection execution where assigned.
• Grow distribution on brand focus programs.
• Communicate progress on execution priorities with the Region Manager and distributor teams.
• Adhere to assigned budget limits and submit requests for additional spend to the Region Manager.
• Manage distributor relationships, including key District Managers, Sales Reps, Division Managers, and Chain Account Managers.
• Attend General Sales Meetings (GSM) and training sessions when applicable.
• Be present in the market 85%-90% of the time in a customer-facing role to sell against VCT-USA key brand/chain/channel programs.
• Conduct distributor "work withs" and perform key account development.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, or related field plus a minimum of two to five years of progressive sales experience in the wine and spirits or beverage industry, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proven success in alcohol beverage industry sales and account management, including extensive knowledge of on- and off-premise wine channels and trade.
• Knowledge and passion for both luxury/premium and commercial wines, with excitement for selling a wide spectrum of price points and formats.
• Valid Driver’s License and ability to be insured.
• Overnight travel approximately 10% - 15% of the time; weekend and evening work as required.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. and push/pull up to 30 lbs. on a frequent basis.
• Ability to frequently sit and work at a desk for long periods of time; requires frequent walking, occasional standing, reaching, climbing, crawling, squatting, kneeling, and bending.
• Hand and finger dexterity for keyboarding and extended computer use.
• Additional physical requirements related to domestic/international travel via air and ground transportation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience selling imports and/or organic categories.
• Circana/Nielsen information experience.
• Wine education or certification (WSET or CSW preferred).

Benefits

• First-day medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
• 401k with company match.
• Short- and long-term disability coverage.
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and company holidays.
• Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible employees.
• Volunteer Time Off (VTO): one day/shift off per year for community engagement.
• Employee-focused health, wellness, training, and safety-related programs.
• Scholarship opportunities for dependents.

Pay

Compensation for this role includes a base salary target of $90,000 to $102,000, an annual incentive target aligned with individual and company performance, and transportation-related benefits.

About the Company

Part of the Viña Concha y Toro family of wineries since 2011, Bonterra Organic Estates operates a California winery in Mendocino County, including production and approximately 830 acres of vineyard locations.