Category Developer - On-Premise Spirits (Denver)

Breakthru Beverage Group; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 56,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Bonus program

Health benefits

Life insurance

Time off benefits

401(k) plan

Job summary

Breakthru Beverage Group seeks a Category Developer to lead sales for a designated portfolio from a Denver base. You’ll drive brand activations, educate in-market teams, and build strong supplier relationships to achieve share growth and velocity across accounts.

The role emphasizes strategy, event planning, and in-market education, with a focus on on-premise channels. A bachelor’s degree and 3+ years in sales are required, plus a valid driver’s license and MS Office proficiency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent training/experience.
• Minimum of 3 years in sales or industry-related experience.
• Deep knowledge of the category the role supports.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to operate a motor vehicle.
• Proficient PC skills including MS Office and presentation software.
• Results-oriented with strong communication, diplomacy and customer service skills.
• Ability to multi-task, work independently or in a team, meet deadlines.
• Analytical and reporting skills.
• Sound judgment and problem-solving abilities.
• Able to work in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.

Responsibilities

• Drive and deliver on sales and marketing goals of assigned category and brands.
• Serve as expert resource for division on beverage and marketing strategies for growth.
• Present new products and conduct monthly business reviews.
• Plan high-end consumer activations within key accounts to increase category awareness.
• Drive real-time market insights to inform growth strategies.
• Lead and report on insights for assigned territory and categories.
• Collaborate with on-premise & retail sales teams to drive growth.
• Develop and deliver training modules on sales trends.
• Identify growth opportunities across territories and accounts.
• Establish merchandising objectives per account and secure brand distribution.
• Increase share and velocity of assigned category; own account plans.
• Conduct staff education and category related activities.

Skills

Sales

Communication

Analytical skills

Multi-tasking

Team player

Presentation skills

Driver's license

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

MS Office

Job description

Time Type:

Full time

Job Family Group:

Sales

Job Description Summary:

The Category Developer is the sales lead for their assigned portfolio within a targeted account base. They are focused against increasing share and velocity of their assigned commodity using tactics that help sell-in the right brands to customers and sell-out to consumers via planning and execution of brand activations. This role must maintain strong relationships with the key stakeholders/gatekeepers of the supplier accounts and be the ‘go‑to’ consultant for the accounts. The Category Developer will be active with in-market events and education.

This is an on-premise focused role based in Denver, Colorado. Position supports the Diageo spirits category.

Job Description:

Job Responsibilities:

Drive and delivery on sales and marketing goals of assigned category and brands

• Serve as the expert and resource for the division or group in developing beverage and marketing strategies and plans for growth of assigned category.
• 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 & 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
• Determines specific areas in which the category has opportunity for growth (Territories, Accounts, etc)
• Establishes 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
• 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 industry knowledge.
• Maintains customer confidence and protects operations by keeping information confidential.
• Maintains a safe and clean working environment by complying with procedures, rules and regulations.

Other duties, as assigned by the jobholder’s supervisor, may also be required.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field and/or equivalent training and work experience
• Minimum of 3 years in sales or industry related experience
• Deep 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

Preferred Qualifications:

• 5 years’ experience in industry or related and category expertise experience; such as:
  • CSS Certification or WSET Spirits level 2; or
  • Category specific certifications (Whiskey or Tequila)
• On‑premise/hospitality experience
• Strong understand or background of consumer engagement mechanics

Physical Requirements:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to, stand, sit; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone
• Required to be able to operate a motor vehicle and possess a driver’s license.

Competencies:

• Accountable for results which impact the department.
• Selects best option from a set of defined procedures/ solutions using common sense and experience of similar situations.

This job description is only a summary of the typical functions of this position, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks and duties. Responsibilities, tasks, and duties of individual jobholders may vary from the above description.

Salary and Benefit Statement_:_

Any salary offered is determined based on internal equity, internal salary ranges, market data/ranges, applicant’s skills and prior relevant experience.

Compensation package: Range: $56,280- $76,200 + $6,000 car allowance.

This position is eligible to participate in a bonus program. Metrics and level of participation are determined annually.

This position is eligible for health care benefits, life insurance, time off benefits and participation in the Company’s 401(k) plan.

Breakthru Beverage Group is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics. The EEO is the Law poster is available here. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please call [phone] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.