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Southern California District Manager, Centerra Wine Company

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Opportunity Snapshot

This position offers you the opportunity to join the largest wine company in the world, represent outstanding brands, and work directly with major name distributors in our highest volume market. You will enjoy the best of both worlds: the resources and stability of the industry leader, and the entrepreneurial energy of a company that is constantly changing and growing. We are committed to helping our people develop professionally, and your success in this role could set you up to take your career in a number of directions in Centerra or Constellation.

You will be one of two District Managers driving the chain distribution channel for our Centerra portfolio of fine wines in Southern California, including working at multiple levels within our distributor, grocery store chain headquarters, and internal Centerra teams. To be a good fit for this opportunity you will have significant experience calling on distributors and/or managing a distribution network in the wine, spirits, or beer industry, preferably selling to retail chains. We're looking for a solution oriented professional with a demonstrated ability to develop and maintain relationships based on trust and credibility.

Centerra Wine Company is the value and specialty wine company of Constellation Wines US, and currently produces and markets affordable popular and specialty wines and beverages in 11 market segments, ranging from premium and value domestic and imported wines to brandy, sparkling wines, and wine with fruit. Leading brands include Arbor Mist, Cook's, Vendange, Paul Masson Grande Amber Brandy, Talus Collection, Mouton Cadet, Escudo Rojo, and Manischewitz. Constellation Wines US is part of $3.77 billion Constellation Brands.

What Else You'll Bring to the Table

Ideally, although it is not required, you will have started at the merchandizing/retail level of the three-tier distribution system, graduated to calling on grocery chain headquarter buyers, and then to account management at the distributor level. Experience at the supplier level is a plus. In addition to the qualifications detailed above, you'll need:

A results orientation, solid work ethic, and track record of success based more on substance than style.
Excellent computer skills, including MS Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
Familiarity with syndicated data, such as IRI or ACNielsen.
The ability to develop and deliver fact-based presentations.
A demonstrated ability to grasp information quickly and put that information to work in short order.
Strong initiative and self-motivation.

What's in It for You

Great brands, high profile market -- as the largest chain business in our company, Southern California is a high profile market, and your successes will be noticed. You'll leverage the Centerra and Constellation names to influence a top national distributor, Southern Wine & Spirits, and major chains such as Ralph's and CVS.

Entrepreneurial autonomy -- being the biggest doesn't keep us from being agile; in fact, a strong entrepreneurial spirit drives our success. Being big means you'll have industry-leading resources at your disposal, but we'll still look to you to assume ownership of your objectives and achieve them with a good deal of independence.

Career development -- Constellation and Centerra are constantly evolving and acquiring new brands. As we grow there always will be opportunities for top performers, particularly those who have the mobility to take on the challenges of new markets.

Excellent compensation -- in addition to a generous base salary and bonus incentive program, we offer highly competitive benefits, including all you would expect plus some pleasant surprises, such as a profit sharing plan, stock purchase plan, tuition reimbursement, and product allowance. We'll also supply all the tools you need to succeed, including a company vehicle, gas card, home office setup, and more.

More About Your Role

If you're a good fit for this position, you already know most of what this job entails. However, to be sure we're providing a complete picture, here are some details.

Reporting to the Area Manager for California, you will be one of two new District Managers (DMs) we are bringing on board to enhance Centerra's distributor network relationships in Southern California. The Southern California district extends from Santa Barbara to San Diego, although you'll spend most of your time in LA and Orange Counties, so the ideal candidate will live in one of those two counties.

We'll divide up the responsibilities once both DMs are on board, depending on what each brings to the table. Just the same, your objectives will focus on three key areas:

Partnering with Vice Presidents and Account Executives at Southern Wine & Spirits (SW&S) to set the directions and performance targets for the distributor network.
Ensuring your SW&S partners have the tools they need to keep Centerra products at the top of their portfolio.
Collaborating with Centerra's chain management team, which also works closely with SW&S.
Presenting major programs and opportunities to grocery chain corporate buyers.

More specifically, your activities will include:

Developing and conducting annual Joint Business Plans, periodic tactical business plans, monthly tactical business reviews, market surveys, competitive pricing surveys, and weekly progress checks of customer performance.
Conducting customer sales meetings and conducting/monitoring field sales activities with select distributor personnel.
Communicating Centerra brands and implementing standards with distributors.
Reporting weekly depletion numbers and other performance metrics to the division office as requested.
Communicating monthly shipment targets and securing the shipments from distributors.

You can count on spending two to four days each week out in the field, and there may be occasional overnight travel to, say, San Diego.

Keys to Success

If you are a good fit for this opportunity you are drawn to our entrepreneurial culture; on the other hand, if you need someone to provide a lot of structure and direction, this isn't the position for you. In addition, in order to be an outstanding District Manager, you will:

Be the face of Centerra for the distributor, and be effective interacting and cultivating relationships with people at all levels within the distributor's organization.
Leverage your strong interpersonal skills to influence, motivate, and lead people over whom you have no direct authority.
Become adept at navigating through our three-tier system, understanding how the tiers interact and knowing whom to contact for answers.

If this sounds like the right mix of challenge and opportunity for you, and you meet the minimum qualifications, we want to hear from you!

Who We Are

Centerra has deep roots and rich heritage in the wine industry offering consumers a wide array of great tasting wines and beverages that are perfect for everyday enjoyment and special occasions. From popular to premium, we bring more wines to more people.

As the world's largest wine company, Constellation Wines US has a collection of wines and wineries that represent the entire spectrum of wine styles and price points. Each and every day, in everything we do, we blend craftsmanship and acumen, vision, and market-level savvy. We turn insight into action, ideas into innovations, and creativity into growth to deliver truly satisfying and innovative wines for every consumer preference and lifestyle.

Constellation Brands, Inc, is a leading international producer and marketer of beverage alcohol brands with a broad portfolio across the wine, imported beer into the United States, and spirits categories. Constellation is the largest wine company in the world; the largest multi-category supplier of beverage alcohol in the United States; a leading producer and exporter of wine from Australia, New Zealand and Canada; and both a major producer and independent drinks wholesaler in the United Kingdom.