Category Development Specialist - Hudson and Union Counties

Allied Beverage Group; Elizabeth (NJ); On-site; USD 60,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision insurance

401K plan with company match

Life Insurance

Job summary

Allied Beverage Group, New Jersey’s largest wine and spirits distributor, seeks a Category Development Specialist to drive Hemp Direct Sales, RTD, Low and No Activation across off- and on-premise accounts. You will manage KPIs, implement brand strategies, and grow profitable, long‑term brand performance.

Ideal candidates have 1–2 years of sales experience, a 4-year degree, and strong negotiation, leadership and analytical skills, with flexibility for extended hours and travel within the region.

Qualifications

• 4-year college degree or equivalent (required).
• Comprehensive understanding of Hemp/RTD/Low/No Alcohol brands and categories.
• Ability to adapt and support various internal customer groups.
• Strong negotiation, entrepreneurial spirit and proactive selling skills.
• Flexibility to work early mornings, evenings, and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Sell hemp beverage portfolio and deliver on volume and profitability targets.
• Ensure compliance with brand strategies across Hemp/RTD/Low/No Alcohol.
• Develop annual account plans and drive category management initiatives.
• Engage buyers to build trusted advisor relationships and secure preferred supplier status.
• Set and monitor KPI targets, perform business reviews, and adjust strategies.
• Lead account planning, forecast outcomes, and deliver programs aligned with brand strategy.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Leadership

Presentation skills

Interpersonal skills

Sales skills

Analytical thinking

Brand marketing

Finance basics

Time flexibility

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Excel

Access

Word

PowerPoint

Job description

Join the team at New Jersey’s largest wine and spirits distributor! At Allied Beverage Group, we’re proud of our dynamic, family-based culture and our role in keeping the beverage industry moving. If you're looking for a great company with great people—this is the place to be!

Overview

The Category Development Specialist role will be responsible Hemp Direct Sales, RTD, Low and No Activation inclusive of achieving customer objectives in both the Off & On Premise, Key Performance Indicators (KPI), and targets by implementing strategies and tactics while managing customers in a manner that will achieve profitable long-term growth for Hemp, Low / No Alcohol brands within the portfolio.

Responsibilities

Customer

• • Sales of THC Hemp Beverage Portfolio
• Deliver on volume and profitability objective by brand
• • Ensure compliance to Corporate Hemp / RTD /Low / No Alcohol Brand Strategies
• • Increase the quality/quantity of accepted innovative business building proposals
• • Cold Box Management
• • Category Management
• *Understand best practices
• *Apply comprehensive market, product and consumer information to generate brand and volume building activities
• • Increase number of accounts where we are considered trusted advisor:
• *Become part of customers planning process
• *Obtain preferred supplier status (right of first refusal)
• *Understand and deliver on account’s goals, strategies and opportunities
• *Set goals, measure, evaluate and adapt to changes
• • Meet and exceed customer expectation on fundamental business needs

Organizational

• • Identify and adopt key account management best practices beyond customer and industry
• • Lead development of annual plans for key accounts that reflect agreed brand and customer strategies and support the delivery of business goals
• • Develop preferred supplier status with accounts by participating in the accounts planning process
• • Communicate market, brand and consumer developments/trends/best practices inside and outside the category and/or industry
• • Influence Allied Beverage Group sales teams to develop account specific programs in line with RTD / Low / No Alcohol brand strategies using local consumer insight as well as category trends.
• • Recommend suitable account specific brand and volume mix targets
• • Oversee account performance and implement corrective business building actions
• • Proactively participate in strategy briefing sessions and provide continuous feedback on execution and program effectiveness
• • Ensure delivery of specific Category Management guidelines and principles to strategic account category manager resource aligned against customers
• • Set and achieve KPI’s (Depletions, Distribution, Ads, Displays, Features, Shelf Execution, Digital Posts, Menu Placement, Wells, House Pours, POS, Permanent Signage etc.)
• • Engage in relationship building activities with buyer for all key accounts

KPI’s

• • Weekly Pre-plans and Recaps
• • Achieve Hemp Beverage Sales and Distribution KPI’s
• • Achieve monthly KPI Goals
• • Communicate and Manage Targets
• • Work with Allied Beverage Group Managers on key priorities
• *Weekly check-in on targets – Business Reviews and opportunity discussions
• *Supplier ride-withs
• *Key Account Manager ride-withs
• *Presenting updates at weekly team meetings
• *Attend events
• • Responsibility for Core list of Off Premise accounts
• • Responsibility for Geographic Area for Portfolio of Brands
• • Plan & Prepare Account/Activities
• • Account Business Reviews
• • Activate Hemp / RTD / Low / No Alcohol Brand Marketing Programs
• • Execute Retail Controllables and Brand Standards at L3F
• • Account audits
• • Assess and implement account needs
• • Consumer Sampling
• • Staff Education
• • Digital Posts

Qualifications

• 1-2 years Sales Experience
• Budget, sales, and marketing experience
• 4-year college degree or equivalent
• Comprehensive understanding of Hemp / RTD / Low / No Alcohol brands to include knowledge of categories, basic production, and service
• Ability to adapt and can assist a variety of internal customer groups and varying personality types
• Strong negotiation skills; demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit
• Ability to create and sell innovative ideas
• Goal oriented, focused, and assertive individual who needs little direction or supervision
• Ability to work flexible hours which include early morning evenings, and/or weekends
• Ability to participate in business meetings, company initiatives and events upon request
• Managing complex customer relationships
• Strong sales skills, superior negotiation and influencing skills
• Leadership capabilities with strong presentation and interpersonal skills
• Proficient in fact-based selling and analysis of syndicated consumer data (IRI, Nielsen)
• Basic brand marketing and finance skills
• Basic computer skills (excel, access, word, PowerPoint etc.)

Compensation and Benefits

The starting salary for this role is $60,000. In addition to salary, this role is eligible for a discretionary bonus and offers a comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K plan with company match, Life Insurance, Long Term Disability, Flexible Spending Account, Employee Assistance Program, Pet Insurance Plan and more.

Why You Will Love Allied Beverage Group

Industry Leader

We are New Jersey’s Largest Wine and Spirits Distributor

Culture

We may be a big corporation, but we are still family owned and we like to think that influences our work environment. We promote a culture based on trust, respect and collaboration

State of the Art Facility

We opened a brand-new corporate office and distribution center in Elizabeth, NJ in 2019

Your Continued Growth

Our company encourages our employees to reach high, live up to their potential, and advance in their careers. We offer over 9,000 professional development courses that employees can take at any time

Competitive Pay and Quality Benefits

Allied Beverage Group offers competitive pay commensurate with experience along with a comprehensive benefits package

Allied Perks!

Associate recognition, discounts with several vendors and more

The Company is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our team members and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct a drug and background check for all new team members post-offer and prior to the start of employment. The Immigration Reform and Control Act requires that verification of employment eligibility be documented for all new employees by the end of the third day of work.

Allied Beverage Group participates in theE-Verifyprogram to confirm employment eligibility of all new hires in the United States.

EEO and AI Disclosure Statement

Allied 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, or any other legally protected characteristics.

As part of our recruitment process, Allied Beverage Group uses artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support the initial review of applications. These tools are designed to assist our recruiters in identifying qualifications and experience that align with the requirements of each role. The tools do not make hiring decisions. All final decisions are made by our recruitment team and hiring managers.

We are committed to fair and equitable hiring practices. If you have questions about this process or need an accommodation, please contact Human Resources.