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General Description:
The Sake ONO Key Account Specialist is responsible for driving the distribution and visibility of our products through new account placements. This role focuses on acquiring new accounts, building relationships, and programming with existing accounts to achieve goals. This position will report directly to the Director of Market, Southeast.
Mission/Objectives:
Our mission is to enhance Sake ONO's brand visibility and drive sales growth through the development and execution of strategic trade marketing initiatives. We aim to collaborate seamlessly with sales, brand, and field marketing teams to create innovative and impactful programs that align with our overall brand strategies. By doing so, we strive to achieve our business objectives, strengthen our market presence, and elevate Sake ONO as a leader in the retail and on-premise channels.
Our Culture:
At Sake ONO, we are passionate brand builders striving to invigorate the Sake category with innovative, premium experiences. Our agile, performance-focused team values respect, excellence, and accountability, treating the business as our own. Celebrating diverse backgrounds, we foster creative thinking and unified communication. We balance confidence with humility, embracing challenges and staying curious. As ambitious challengers, we aim to rethink luxury branding, out-thinking and out-pacing big brands with fresh insights. Join us to make a meaningful impact in the industry, constantly pushing boundaries and learning from success and failure.
Key Responsibilities:
Account Targeting and Relationship Development:
- Identify Key Accounts: Strategically identify key accounts to drive the distribution and usage of Sake ONO.
- Relationship Management: Develop and maintain strong, direct relationships with accounts to ensure ongoing collaboration and support.
- Expand Brand Visibility: Explore and capitalize on opportunities to enhance Sake ONO's brand visibility through various means, including distribution, displays, shelf placements, menu listings, drink features, and special events within the assigned accounts/market.
Program Development and Execution:
- Collaborate on Program Development: Work closely with the Director of Market, Southeast, to create effective programs for key accounts, encompassing displays, in-store promotions, menu listings, features, back bar placements, etc.
- Event Planning and Execution: Plan and execute events with key accounts to build brand awareness, engagement, and loyalty for Sake ONO.
- Staff Training and Incentive Programs: Assist the Director of Market, Southeast, in conducting training sessions and developing incentive programs to ensure the Sake ONO brand remains top-of-mind among staff in targeted establishments.
- Follow-up and Compliance: Ensure proper execution of brand placement and account exposure through diligent follow-up.
- Brand Education: Comprehensive brand education should be provided to accounts and consumers to increase awareness and understanding of Sake ONO.
Coordination with Distributors:
- Distributor Coordination: Collaborate with local distributor management to ensure maximum efficiency and avoid redundancy.
- Relationship Building: Develop and maintain strong relationships with local distributor teams.
- Incentive Program Collaboration: Work with the Director of Market, Southeast. on incentive program development and implementation.
Reporting:
- Weekly Reports: Provide detailed reports to the Director of Market, Southeast, including account visits, status updates, opportunities, and needs.
- Ongoing Reporting: Maintain continuous reporting of account opportunities, programs, and key performance indicators (KPIs).
Brand Building:
- Competitive Monitoring: Monitor and report on competitive supplier activities and other volume-increasing activities in assigned key accounts.
- Strategy Improvement: Use competitive information to inform and enhance future brand promotion strategies in all key accounts.
Distributor & Sales Team Partnership:
- Annual Operating Plan: Assist in implementing the annual operating plan, including financial, volume, and distribution objectives.
- Sales Collaboration: Work with critical salespeople from the distributor network to drive distribution, display, promotion, awareness, and trial for Sake ONO in assigned key accounts.
Internal Management:
- Budget Management: Manage assigned budgets, including incentives, travel & entertainment, and other departmental expenses.
- Compliance: Ensure all sales practices comply with state and federal laws and regulations, including all company-wide policies and procedures.
Skills
- Industry Knowledge: In-depth understanding of the alcohol industry, including trends, regulations, and market dynamics.
- Event Management: Proven experience in planning and executing events and activations.
- On-Premise Experience: Specific experience in working with on-premise accounts and implementing on-premise strategies.
- Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Networking: Ability to build and maintain professional relationships.
- Analytical Skills: Proficiency in analyzing data and metrics to measure success.
- Creativity: Ability to develop innovative and engaging promotional strategies.
- Project Management: Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Adaptability: Flexibility to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
Qualifications
- 3+ years of experience in sales/ hospitality management, preferably in the alcohol/beverage industry.
- Proven collaboration skills with the ability to work with a high-performing sales team.
- Ability to work independently as this is a remote role
- Analytical and strategic thinking abilities.
- Proven communication and negotiation skills.
Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:
At Sake ONO, we believe in building more value together; thus, we see diversity as a source of enrichment in all forms. Our employment policies and practices ensure that we are committed to providing equal employment opportunities in all aspects of employment without regard to any individual’s race, religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or characteristics or expression, political affiliation or activity, age, veteran status, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Note to Applicants:
Your application will be assessed based on your abilities, expertise, general knowledge, and experience, not because of any confidential, proprietary, or trade secret information you may possess. You must not disclose any such information to Sake ONO. Suppose you are asked a question that cannot be answered without disclosing confidential, proprietary, or trade secret information (including from a current or prior employer or their vendors or customers). In that case, you must decline to answer the question.
