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Account Development Specialist

Job Overview

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Employment Type

Full-time
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Compensation

Hourly
Range $21.75 - $30.00
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Work Schedule

Standard Hours
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Benefits

Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Paid Time Off
Retirement Plan
Employee Discounts
Career Development
Equal opportunity employer

Job Description

Breakthru Beverage Group is a leading beverage alcohol distributor providing a diverse portfolio of products across the United States and Canada. The company is recognized for its commitment to excellence, innovation, and developing strong partnerships with both suppliers and customers. With a robust presence in the beverage industry, Breakthru Beverage Group is dedicated to delivering exceptional service, fostering growth, and driving market success through strategic sales approaches and community engagement. The organization emphasizes a culture of inclusivity and equal opportunity employment, making it a desirable employer for professionals passionate about the beverage industry and sales excellence.

The Account Development Specialist role at Breakthru Beverage Group is a full-time sales position focused on driving growth and market share within an assigned portfolio of beverage products. This role is designed for a highly skilled sales professional who will serve as the sales lead for their assigned accounts, dedicating approximately 80% of their time to in-market activities. The specialist acts as an expert consultant, tasked with increasing both sell-in and sell-out velocities of strategic brands by implementing focused brand activation plans and fostering strong relationships with key account stakeholders.

Account Development Specialists play a crucial role in executing marketing strategies tailored to their assigned categories and supplier portfolios. They are responsible for staying abreast of market trends, consumer behaviors, and competitive landscapes, using these insights to craft and present compelling sales proposals and product offerings. Their day-to-day activities involve collaborating with on-premise and retail sales teams to ensure alignment on merchandising objectives, create impactful consumer activations, and enhance brand visibility.

In addition, the position requires specialized knowledge of beverage categories, which may include spirits, wine, beer, or other alcoholic beverages. Candidates typically hold relevant industry certifications such as CSS Certification, WSET Spirits Level 2, or category-specific credentials in whiskey, tequila, sake, or beer. The role mandates ownership of account planning and execution based on detailed brand plans, requiring excellent communication, multi-tasking abilities, and proficiency with digital tools like MS Office.

The Account Development Specialist also functions as a brand ambassador by conducting educational workshops for sales teams and customers, developing beverage menus, and ensuring compliance with safety and confidentiality protocols related to alcohol sales and customer interactions. The position supports both retail and on-premise environments, focusing on factors such as product placement, cold box share, and menu inclusion to maximize market penetration and consumer engagement.

Ideal candidates bring three to five years of sales or industry-related experience, preferably with on-premise or hospitality backgrounds, and demonstrate strong analytical, reporting, and problem-solving skills. They must hold a valid driver's license and be capable of operating a motor vehicle frequently during business operations. The role offers a dynamic, fast-paced environment where individuals can leverage their beverage expertise and sales acumen to make a measurable impact on company growth and customer satisfaction.

Job Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in related field and/or equivalent training and work experience
  • Minimum of 3-5 years in sales or industry related and category expertise experience for category specific roles
  • Must have a valid driver's license and be able to operate a motor vehicle
  • Proficient PC skills using MS Office and other various computer programs including presentation software
  • Must be a results-oriented professional with verbal/written communication skills using diplomacy and discretion as well as customer service skills
  • Ability to multi-task, work independently and/or within a team, pay attention to detail and meet deadlines
  • Analytic and reporting skills
  • Utilize sound judgement and problem-solving skills
  • Ability to work in fast-paced, high-volume, team environment

Job Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in related field and/or equivalent training and work experience
  • Minimum of 3-5 years in sales or industry related and category expertise experience for category specific roles
  • CSS Certification or WSET Spirits level 2
  • Category specific certifications (Whiskey, Tequila, Sake or Beer)
  • Fine Wine Accreditation preferably WSET Level 2 or similar (CSW, Level II Court of Master Sommeliers)
  • Specialized knowledge of category or responsibility that this role will support
  • Must have a valid driver's license and be able to operate a motor vehicle
  • Proficient PC skills using MS Office and other various computer programs including presentation software
  • Must be a results-oriented professional with verbal/written communication skills using diplomacy and discretion as well as customer service skills
  • Ability to multi-task, work independently and/or within a team, pay attention to detail and meet deadlines
  • Analytic and reporting skills
  • Utilize sound judgement and problem-solving skills
  • Ability to work in fast-paced, high-volume, team environment

Job Duties

  • Drive and deliver on revenue and market share of assigned portfolio in assigned account base spending 80% of working time in market
  • Serve as the expert and resource for the division or group in developing beverage and marketing strategies and plans for growth of assigned category or large supplier
  • Research trends, category, and portfolio to ensure that the group or division and company meet supplier goals as established
  • Present new products and beverage offerings and conduct monthly business reviews
  • Plan high-end consumer activations within key accounts to elevate category awareness based on customer needs
  • Drive real time market insights to inform, apply, unlock and accelerate growth
  • Lead, organize, report, field intel and insights for assigned territory and categories
  • Collaborate with on-premise and retail sales teams, developing creative solutions to help drive business and growth in assigned categories across their assigned territory
  • Develop and deliver training modules to the sales team, customer, and supplier regarding sales trends
  • Establish merchandising objectives relative to brand priority for each account by understanding company priorities and defining POS needs to the supplier
  • Focus on increasing share and velocity of assigned category
  • Ownership of account plan and execution based on brand plans
  • Obtains appropriate distribution of category throughout account base by presenting and selling based on the brands' features and benefits, including beverage menu development
  • Conduct staff educations and building of the category
  • Maintain and build strong relationships with the key stakeholders/gatekeepers of the assigned accounts
  • Participate in supplier and category specific work-with sales calls
  • Attend educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks to build and maintain specialized industry and/or commodity knowledge
  • Work to obtain all relative advanced certifications for the brand(s)/product becoming the market expert and resource in your assigned product or major supplier brand
  • Maintains customer confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential
  • Maintains a safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules and regulations
  • Drive specific market share based on work in either retail or on-premise accounts
  • Retail ADS will focus on number of facings and their placement, cold box share and additional displays to planogram placement
  • On-Premise will focus on menu placement (featured or within the cocktail list), customer visibility at the bar
  • Responsibly handle beverage alcohol product and conduct safe and responsible interactions with the public
  • Other duties, as assigned by the jobholder's supervisor, may also be required

Job Criteria

Experience

Mid Level (3-7 years)


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