Beverage Brand Manager

Gilder Search Group; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Gilder Search Group is seeking a Brand Manager for Emerging Brands in Los Angeles. You will lead brand strategy, program execution, and partnerships with distributors and on-premise accounts to accelerate regional growth.

The role requires 5+ years in brand marketing within beverage/alcohol, with an entrepreneurial mindset and strong communication skills. You will engage in local activation, events, and in-market representation to drive awareness and loyalty.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of brand marketing experience.
• Strong understanding of the three-tier beverage alcohol system.
• Experience building brands in regional or emerging markets.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with bias toward action and execution.
• Experience developing consumer-facing marketing programs from the ground up.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Willingness to be hands-on and in-market.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute brand strategies designed to create significant growth in targeted regional markets.
• Build localized marketing programs that generate strong consumer awareness, trial, and loyalty.
• Partner closely with sales teams, distributors, retailers, and on-premise accounts to drive brand growth.
• Develop and execute experiential, sampling, event, social, influencer, and consumer engagement programs.
• Identify opportunities to create outsized local successes that can scale nationally.
• Manage brand budgets, calendars, agencies, vendors, and external partners.
• Translate consumer insights and market trends into actionable brand initiatives.
• Work directly with distributor partners and sales representatives to ensure strong execution in the market.
• Represent the brand at key events, bars, restaurants, and industry functions.
• Monitor performance, analyze results, and optimize marketing programs.
• Help establish the foundation for significant national brand growth over the next several years.

Skills

Brand marketing

Regional market growth

Three-tier system

Entrepreneurial mindset

Communication & presentation

Job description

Brand Manager

Los Angeles, CA | $150,000–$180,000 Base + Potential Bonus

We are seeking an entrepreneurial, commercially minded Brand Manager – Emerging Brands to help build and accelerate the next generation of beverage brands.

This is an opportunity for a hands‑on brand leader who understands the fundamentals of the beverage alcohol industry and the three‑tier distribution system, while also bringing the creativity and entrepreneurial mindset needed to build genuine consumer connections in emerging and regional markets.

The ideal candidate will be equally comfortable developing a strategic brand plan, working with distributors and sales teams, activating in‑market, and walking into a premium bar or restaurant to personally represent the brand.

What You'll Do

• Develop and execute brand strategies designed to create significant growth in targeted regional markets.

• Build localized marketing programs that generate strong consumer awareness, trial, and loyalty.

• Partner closely with sales teams, distributors, retailers, and on‑premise accounts to drive brand growth.

• Develop and execute experiential, sampling, event, social, influencer, and consumer engagement programs.

• Identify opportunities to create outsized local successes that can ultimately scale nationally.

• Manage brand budgets, calendars, agencies, vendors, and external partners.

• Translate consumer insights and market trends into actionable brand initiatives.

• Work directly with distributor partners and sales representatives to ensure strong execution in the market.

• Represent the brand at key events, bars, restaurants, and industry functions.

• Monitor performance, analyze results, and continuously optimize marketing programs.

• Help establish the foundation for significant national brand growth over the next several years.

What We’re Looking For

• 5+ years of brand marketing experience, preferably within beverage alcohol, CPG, or another highly consumer‑driven category.

• Strong understanding of the three‑tier beverage alcohol system and how brands work with distributors and retailers.

• Demonstrated ability to build brands within regional or emerging markets.

• Entrepreneurial mindset with a strong bias toward action and execution.

• Experience developing consumer‑facing marketing programs from the ground up.

• Strong understanding of premium beverage, on‑premise, and experiential marketing.

• Comfortable working directly with sales teams, distributors, bartenders, retailers, and consumers.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills.

• Willingness to be hands‑on and in the market rather than operating solely from behind a desk.

• Ability to balance strategic thinking with detailed execution.

• Passion for emerging brands and the ability to identify opportunities before they become obvious.

Ideal Background

Candidates may come from high‑growth beverage and emerging‑brand environments such as:

• Cutwater

• High Noon

• Surfside

• Sun Cruiser

• Other entrepreneurial beverage alcohol or high‑growth CPG brands

Why This Role?

This is a chance to join an organization focused on building the next generation of beverage brands. The immediate objective is to create meaningful, measurable successes in select regional markets over the next six months — with the long‑term goal of turning those successes into nationally recognized brands over the next two years.

If you're an entrepreneurial brand builder who understands beverage alcohol, loves being in the market and wants the opportunity to make a visible impact, we'd like to hear from you.

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Compensation: $150,000–$180,000 base salary + potential bonus
Industry: Beverage Alcohol / Consumer Brands
Position: Full-Time, Brand Management
#IND1000