Partner Manager/Brand Builder - On Trade - North West

Master of Malt; Tonbridge; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff discount on 15,000+ SKUs

Job summary

Maverick Drinks is seeking an On-Trade Partner Manager (Brand Builder) to grow its North West portfolio across Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds. You will own a territory, build relationships with key on-trade operators, and drive distribution and performance.

The role emphasizes winning new business, getting brands listed on bars and menus, managing A&P spend, and supporting tastings and training. A proven track record in spirits and strong commercial instincts are required.

Qualifications

• Solid account management experience within the spirits industry.
• Genuine network in the UK on-trade and operators.
• Track record of winning new business.
• Knows how to build brands, not just sell cases.
• Experience with A&P investment and activations.
• Industry knowledge of craft and premium spirits.
• Requires a valid driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Own a territory and a customer base in the North West, building relationships with key on-trade contacts.
• Win new business using your network, knowledge and commercial instinct.
• Get our brands listed from back bars to lighthouse accounts to build credibility.
• Grow distribution and rate of sale; ensure listings translate to performance.
• Advise customers with industry insights on spirits, cocktails and trends.
• Manage A&P spend and ensure activations deliver a solid ROI.
• Launch and build brands with Brand, Trade Marketing, Sales and Brand Ambassador teams.
• Support tastings, training and category sessions with customers and teams.
• Own the commercial picture across territory including pricing, positioning and negotiations.

Skills

Account management

UK on-trade network

New business development

Brand building

Spirits category knowledge

Sales data analysis

Negotiation

A&P budgeting

NPD launches / trade marketing

Driving licence

Education

WSET qualification

Job description

Love great spirits? Know the best bars? Know how to get brands onto the back bar? We're looking for an On-Trade Partner Manager (Brand Builder) to help grow Maverick Drinks across the North West (Manchester/Liverpool/Leeds). Maverick Drinks is home to a seriously good portfolio of craft, premium and characterful spirits brands. For the past 12 years, we've built a reputation for finding brilliant brands, backing them properly and helping them grow. Now we want someone who can take that portfolio into more of the right hands.

What will you actually be doing?

You’ll own a territory and a customer base in the North West, building relationships with the people who matter across the UK on-trade.

That means:

• Winning new business - using your network, knowledge and commercial instinct to open doors and create opportunities.
• Getting our brands listed - from back bars and cocktail menus to strategic "lighthouse" accounts that help build credibility and demand.
• Growing distribution and rate of sale - not just getting the listing, but making it work.
• Being a consultant to your customers - bringing them insight into spirits, cocktails, consumers and category trends and helping them make better ranging decisions.
• Making investment count - managing A&P spend brilliantly and making sure activations and trade marketing deliver a return.
• Launching and building brands - working closely with our Brand, Trade Marketing, Sales and Brand Ambassador teams to give our brands the best possible chance of success.
• Bringing the brands to life - supporting tastings, training and category sessions with customers and the wider team.

You’ll also own the commercial picture across your territory - pricing, positioning, negotiations, distribution and ultimately the performance of your portfolio.

Requirements

• Has solid account management experience within the spirits industry
• Knows the UK on-trade and has a genuine network of customers and operators
• Has a track record of winning new business
• Understands how to build brands, not just sell cases
• Has strong knowledge across spirits categories, particularly craft and premium
• Is commercially sharp and comfortable using sales data to spot opportunities
• Can negotiate confidently and build relationships at every level
• Understands A&P investment and how to make it work
• Ideally has experience with NPD launches, cocktail lists or trade marketing
• Bonus points if you've spent some time on the other side of the bar
• WSET qualification is great, but your experience, relationships and passion for the category matter more

This is a field-based role with nationwide travel, so you’ll need a full UK driving licence.

Why Maverick?

We're not interested in doing things just because that's how the drinks industry has always done them. We like people who are curious, commercially minded and willing to challenge the obvious answer. You'll have a brilliant portfolio to work with, a team of people who know their stuff and the freedom to get out there and make things happen. If you know the UK on-trade, have the relationships and get genuinely excited about putting great spirits in great places, we'd love to hear from you.

At Atom, we back curious, ambitious people who want to win. You'll have real autonomy to run your area, challenge ideas and make decisions that directly impact the growth of a fast-scaling brand. We move quickly, care deeply about results, and give high performers the trust and ownership to deliver. You'll be accountable for outcomes, not activity. There's no politics or red tape here. Just smart people, high standards and the expectation that you show up, think commercially and get things done.

Benefits

• Alongside core benefits, you’ll get a generous staff discount on over 15,000 brand SKU's.