ABOUT STRATEGIC GROUP
Strategic Group is a full-scale marketing agency specializing in experiential programming and sales support initiatives. For more than two decades, we’ve built a reputation for engaging our clients’ retail customers and influencing their hard-to-penetrate consumer base.
REGION MANAGER, BRAND SPECIALISTS:
This position will collaborate directly with Director of IHUB 21+ Brand Specialist team and co-manage the Brand Specialists team, who work exclusively on behalf of Gallo Spirits brands (SOG), as it relates to day-to-day functions. They must coach the team to understand legal constraints of the industry, and appropriate ways of working within the Distributor and SOG. They must develop the skill sets of the team from transactional representatives to trusted advisors of the top accounts in the IHUB 21+ territories. The Region Manager will be responsible for ensuring consistent execution for the Specialist on premise programming and achievement of all client’s objectives.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
• Manage the financial aspects of the business in the IHUB 21+ territories as follows:
➢ Review and approve expense reports for Brand Specialists monthly
➢ Assist in team budget management
➢ Assist with quarterly, bi-annual and/or annual reconciliationprocess with team
➢ Monitor incremental Scopes of Work according to approved budgets to avoid budget overages
➢ Review planned and past spends as needed with local market SOG and Distributor leads, as needed
➢ Provide detailed recaps on spending and forecast with accuracy
• Collaborate directly with Strategic Group’s Director and Human Resources as it relates to employee relations and Brand Specialist organizational growth, including, but not limited to:
➢ New Hire On-Boarding
➢ Assist with all Agency and Brand Trainings
➢ Implement Performance Improvement Plans
➢ Resolve employee relations as well as cross-functional issues
➢ Assist Brand Specialists in recruiting, hiring, and training Brand Specialists’ Brand Advocate sampling agent teams
➢ Assist in building, planning, and hosting annual Brand Specialist summit training retreats
• Liaise with client management team as needed to meet all established KPIs
➢ Develop individual KPIs together with SOG and Director
➢ Assist in account selection and prioritization to ensure business strategies are aligned with market needs, and fall within brand and budget guidelines
➢ Manage and coach team to help achieve KPIs
➢ Align with SOG Market leads on additional tools or resources needed to achieve KPIs
➢ Generate and deliver regular reports to stakeholders via Concur, Pinata, Account Analyses and Monthly Recaps
➢ Communicate weekly and monthly and provide analysis of program KPIs and Programming
➢ Manage client expectations and communication among all brand, local sales, and advocacy team stakeholders
➢ Provide post market visit recaps equipped with next steps for Brand Specialists and all stakeholders
➢ Ensure that content curation for Specialists and Advocates involving presentations, social media feeds, sizzle reels, customer pitches are up to brand standards
• Direct each Brand Specialist to ensure deliverables of SOG objectives in the following ways:
➢ Provide mentorship to individuals as needed
➢ Develop the team to be the local market experts of their respective markets, delivering insights on market nuances, consumer trends, and insights
➢ Ensure all Brand Specialists understand each Brand’s design target consumer and assist in developing tactics for recruiting in each respective market
➢ Ensure consistent execution for the Brand Specialist on-premise programming
➢ Accompany the Brand Specialists in the field across 6 markets a minimum of (10 days) per month –providing feedback on presentation skills, account solutions and overall understanding of the business.
➢ Ensure the Brand Specialists are preparing professional sales presentations utilizing all brand tools available
➢ Communicate and deliver specific programming for designated accounts to ensure Gallo Spirits brand KPI’s are met
➢ Ensure Brand Specialists are equipped with updated distributor pricing, inventory, POS,ratings, and local market changes
• Support Brand Specialists in their relationship with key accounts in the following ways:
➢ Communicate programming
➢ Assist in developing account presentations
➢ Ensure Brand Specialists understand their tools and resources and how to communicate such to accounts
➢ Answer brand questions
➢ Provide team feedback on monthly Specialist presentations, account relationships, and overall understanding of the business
➢ Resolve any issues with Sales Representatives / Distributor Managers / SOG Sales Managers or Marketing Managers
➢ Attend 1-3 trainings/ events per week, as needed to support and coach
➢ Maintain transparent and collaborative relationships with SOG Team members and the Distributor
ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Train and develop the Brand Specialists regularly
• Enforce policies/procedures for Sampling Team Ways of Working, Program execution, troubleshooting and communication protocol for the team
• Ensure federal, state, and local level alcohol beverage industry practice compliance
• Support the communication process among client team, distributor team, and AgencyHQ
• Maintain and manage quantitative submissions/reporting online (Agency Portal, Concur, etc.) for accurate reports.
QUALIFICATIONS:
• Strong Leadership and management skills with the ability to motivate teams to work efficiently
• Excellent Communication skills, providing thorough and insightful information with a sense of urgency
• Ability to problem solve
• Self-motivated, determined, and accountable
• Ability to see opportunity and provide value to the client
• Strong time management and organizational skills to ensure that all region plans are delivered on time, to budget and to the required quality standard
• Presentations skills (verbal and written) are a priority
• Strong interpersonal skills as well as public speaking are required
• Experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals
• Strong understanding of alcohol beverage compliance and familiarity with a variety of beverage/spirit concepts, practices, andprocedures
• Requires irregular hours, including nights and weekends
• Requires 50-75% travel to multiple states
• Strong computer skills – Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe, Canva, Microsoft 365 Office Suite, VIP, and IDIG, and finance systems
REPORTING RELATIONSHIP AND EVALUATION:
Reports directly to and is evaluated by the Vice President.
The above description is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of the job of Region Manager, Brand Specialists. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of essential functions, responsibilities or requirements nor should it be construed as creating a contract of employment, which is terminable by the employee or Strategic Group at any time for any reason.
IHUB21+ MARKETS:
Ann Arbor, MI – Athens, GA – Baton Rouge, LA – Bloomington, IN – College Station, TX – Columbus, OH – Columbia, MO – Columbia, SC –– Gainesville, FL – Iowa City, IA – Madison, WI – Tallahassee, FL.