Regional Sales Manager

Kirin Brewery of America; Illinois; Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical & Dental Insurance

401k Match

PTO

Short Term Disability Insurance

Flexible Spending Account

Employee Assistance Program

Profit Sharing

Job summary

Kirin Brewery of America in Chicago, IL seeks a Regional Sales Manager to drive commercial performance for the Kirin portfolio across the U.S. region, building strong distributor and key account relationships and executing annual plans.

Ideal candidates have 5–7 years in beverage alcohol sales, a proven track record, and strong analytical skills with CRM proficiency. Travel 50–75% and on-site work in the Chicago area are expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Business/Marketing or related field is required.
• 5-7 years beverage alcohol sales experience; spirits experience preferred.
• Proven sales track record of meeting/exceeding targets.
• Strong distributor management experience and understanding of 3-tier system dynamics.
• Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Strong analytical skills and proficiency with CRM systems and Microsoft Office tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute annual regional commercial plans aligned with national sales and marketing strategies.
• Manage shipments, depletions, forecasts, and inventory planning to meet volume and profit targets.
• Strengthen distributor and broker relationships for alignment and market execution.
• Conduct regular business reviews and adjust plans based on performance insights.
• Use data sources (Nielsen, NABCA, VIP, Great Vines, Power BI) to identify trends and guide decisions.
• Manage brand presence, pricing strategy, and trade spend for profitability and competitive positioning.
• Conduct market visits with distributor teams to assess execution and growth opportunities.
• Collaborate with internal teams on brand registrations, activation tools, and market programs.

Skills

Sales experience

Distributor management

CRM proficiency

Communication skills

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business/Marketing

Tools

CRM systems

Power BI

MS Office

Job description

The employer for this position is Kirin Brewery of America, LLC, and not New Belgium Brewing. The Regional Sales Manager (RSM) is responsible for driving commercial performance and brand growth for the Kirin portfolio across an assigned U.S. region. This role builds and maintains strong distributor and key account relationships, executes annual commercial plans, and leverages market insights to achieve sales, distribution, and profitability targets. The RSM partners closely with distributor teams, national accounts, and internal commercial teams to deliver consistent, high‑quality execution aligned with company priorities. Ideal candidate will be based out of Chicago, IL. Current region includes - IL/WI/MN/TX/OK.

Essential Duties:

• Develop and execute annual regional commercial plans aligned with national sales and marketing strategies.
• Manage shipments, depletions, forecasts, and inventory planning to achieve volume and profit targets.
• Strengthen distributor and broker relationships to ensure alignment, accountability, and effective market execution.
• Conduct regular business reviews and adjust plans based on performance insights and market dynamics.
• Use data sources (Nielsen, NABCA, VIP, Great Vines, Power BI) to identify trends, track brand performance, and guide commercial decisions.
• Manage brand presence, pricing strategy, and trade spend to maintain profitability and competitive positioning.
• Conduct market visits with distributor teams to assess execution and identify growth opportunities.
• Manage key account relationships across on-premise, off-premise, and select national accounts.
• Support brand education programs and coordinate trade visits, ambassador activities, and regional events.
• Collaborate with internal compliance, marketing, and sales strategy teams on brand registrations, activation tools, and market programming.
• Represent the company at industry events, conferences, and market-level engagements.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education / Experience / Skills:

• Required: Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Marketing, or related field.
• 5-7 years of beverage alcohol sales experience; spirits experience preferred.
• Proven sales track record with demonstrated ability to meet or exceed targets.
• Strong distributor management experience and understanding of 3-tiers system dynamics.
• Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, and relationship‑building skills.
• Strong analytical skills and proficiency with CRM systems and Microsoft Office tools.
• Ability to develop effective trade marketing tools and execute structured sales processes.
• Highly organized, self‑directed, and capable of managing multiple priorities.

Preferred:

• Experience working with startup or emerging brands.
• Experience working across multiple states or regions.

Physical Requirements:

• This role requires regular standing, walking, bending, and lifting during market visits and field work.
• Must be able to communicate clearly, operate a computer, and navigate varying market environments.

Percent of Travel:

50% - 75%

Working Conditions:

Sales accounts, distributor locations, industry events, home office, travel.

Wage Information:

The compensation offered to the successful applicant may vary based on factors including experience, skills, education, location, or other position‑related reasons. Starting Salary Range: $130,000-$150,000

Benefits:

• Medical & Dental Insurance (options available for dependents)
• Basic Term Life and AD&D Insurance
• Short Term Disability Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account
• Employee Assistance Program
• PTO
• 401k Match
• Paid Caregiver Leave
• Profit Sharing

Details will be shared and questions answered during our interview.

EEO Statement:

Bell's and New Belgium welcomes all. We are committed to building an environment that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive within our own walls and amidst the entire craft beer community. Bell's and New Belgium strictly prohibits and does not tolerate discrimination based on race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex, gender identity and expression (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, past, current or prospective service in the uniformed services, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Company Culture:

When you join our team, you’ll play a role in bringing world-class beer to our fans – and you’ll have a hell of a lot of fun doing it. Empowered people make exceptional beer – and build successful, lasting businesses. At Bells, this philosophy drives us every day. If our commitment to investing in our coworkers makes us a bit eccentric—well, it wouldn’t be the first time someone has used that word to describe us. We believe beer and business can be a catalyst to renew trust and unity in our communities. This includes doing right by our team members through competitive benefit programs, exclusive employment perks, and opportunities for continued education. Over 38 years, we’ve found it’s the best way to build a fantastic community of damn good people with a diversity of identities and perspectives who make the best beer in the world. And our company’s future depends on it, too. While we retain our independent spirit in countless ways, Bells Brewery joined forces with New Belgium Brewing in early 2022. We are integrated two iconic breweries as one company with shared policies, benefits, and programs. As we bring the best of our two companies together, we will continue to strive for transparency with all our current and future coworkers.