The "Venturers"/Innovation Brand Ambassadors are a group of market intelligence masterminds dedicated to executing a brand-building playbook that helps us win at the store level. They will be focused on targeting the right stores to maximize sales and build brands. They will flawlessly execute the Mark Anthony Ventures "Innovation Testing Playbook" to ensure maximum results. They will be the eyes and ears on the street, quickly sending feedback to the business about the consumer, the liquid, and the packaging.

The Venturers work closely with the Mark Anthony Ventures Marketing Team and Sales. Venturers are curious and experienced professionals passionate about seeking new consumer beverage opportunities. A Venturer has a sense of urgency and can make it happen with a "figure it out" mentality. Venturers "live" the brands every day and are the eyes and ears of the brands at the point of purchase, listening to and gathering market intelligence at a rapid pace.

Venturers are focused on executing the Innovation Testing "playbook" and act entrepreneurially and aggressively to drive awareness and trial of these brands in the marketplace. They will also ensure that we are winning at Retail by developing great relationships with key customers and distributor sales representatives, selling incremental placements in accounts, and merchandising our products to ensure they pop on the shelf.

This position will be based in the Chicago, IL area.

POSITION RESPONSIBLITIES & REQUIREMENTS:

• Lead marketing activation for innovation test markets. Act aggressively to ensure our innovation performs brilliantly in the market.
• Execute all aspects of the developed sales plan with our distributor partners, and work with the distributor sales team to build our brands in key accounts.
• Execute flawless promotional events, providing product education with key customers and events
• Deepen relationships with target consumers and brand fans through in-person engagements and social media
• Drive awareness and trial of innovation in the marketplace:
  • Plan and execute weekly sampling events
  • Identify and activate local influencers
  • Distribute coupons as appropriate to consumers
  • Aid in event execution onsite and assist with branded assets and building displays.
  • Train Brand Ambassadors to be experts on our products ahead of samplings through Taste the Difference training.
  • Identify and execute other scrappy tactics to drive brand performance
• Ensure brand(s) are winning at Retail by ensuring perfect store execution (POS, shelf auditing, managing displays, etc.)
• Provide weekly recaps on progress against KPIs, customer updates, and brand competitive activity.
• Manage back-office functions as needed:
  • Manage event supplies and inventory in storage units.
  • Coordinate product delivery and samples with distributors for events.
  • Coordinator between event logistics, agencies, and samplings.
• Venturers will travel frequently and may transition from market to market to accommodate our test market cadence

QUALIFICATION & SKILL REQUIREMENTS:

• 3-5 years of Field Sales Experience, promotional experience for brands or distributors
• Event execution and product sampling experience required
• Knowledge of the beer and/or alcohol industry and 3-tier system
• Ability to work irregular hours, including nights/weekends, as the role requires
• Ability to travel frequently
• Valid Driver's License and clean background
• Social media knowledge preferred
• Demonstrated ability to operate entrepreneurially, to be scrappy and resourceful, and to challenge the status quo
• Holds themselves to the highest standards with everything they do
• Demonstrates amazing initiative
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

At Mark Anthony, we live by our 5 Core Values every day:

Sense of Urgency

• We value sense of urgency because we are a fast-paced company in a fast-paced industry
• You act as if there is no tomorrow and get it done today

Authenticity

• We value authenticity because we need to stay real
• You are authentic, diplomatic, respectful, thoughtful and you always have the best intentions

Simplicity

• We value simplicity; why use 50 words when you can use 5?
• You thrive in ambiguity, are comfortable with change and bring simplicity to complex situations or grey area

Humility

• We value humility; there is no room for egos here
• You're not stubborn, you listen, take feedback/direction and respond quickly to changing direction. We are a team that supports each other

Trust

• We value trust because unless we are both trusted and trusting, we will not succeed as a team
• You put trust in others and do your best to never let anyone down