Senior General Manager - California/Hawaii

Brown-Forman Corporation; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 201,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Brown-Forman Corporation seeks a Senior General Manager for California and Hawaii to lead the region’s teams in the world’s premium spirits and wine brands. You will drive SNS and gross profit, forge distributor and agency partnerships, and align resources across the geography to deliver strong performance.

You will manage full P&L accountability, shape strategic direction, and guide cross-functional teams through planning and budget processes, while traveling extensively to guide market

Qualifications

• Seasoned beverage/alcohol industry executive with 10+ years of commercial leadership.
• Inclusive leadership to inspire and motivate teams.
• Ability to navigate a VUCA environment and drive results.
• Champion of partnerships and values-based leadership.
• Exceptional communicator with internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead P&L for CA and HI, covering employees, distributors, and partners.
• Set strategic direction for geography, portfolio and cross-functional teams.
• Create annual and long-term plans with full accountability for SNS and margin.
• Identify risks and opportunities and communicate mitigation plans.
• Allocate resources and manage TMF with regional and marketing input.
• Monitor distributor performance and drive program accountability.

Skills

P&L accountability

Strategic leadership

Distributors partnerships

Cross-functional collaboration

Travel readiness

Communication

Negotiation

Agility in VUCA

People leadership

Job description

Senior General Manager – California & Hawaii

Meaningful Work From Day One. Join Brown‑Forman as the Senior General Manager for California and Hawaii! This unique opportunity allows you to lead the California Brown‑Forman teams in the largest and most dynamic US market, working with some of the world’s most iconic and premium spirit and wine brands while managing a substantial P&L. In this pivotal role, you will forge strategic partnerships with regional and local distributors, ensuring alignment in market, portfolio, and people to achieve Strip Net Sales (SNS) and Gross Profit goals. Make a significant impact from day one!

What You Can Expect

• P&L Accountability: Fully accountable for the P&L across the geographic cluster, encompassing Brown‑Forman employees, distributor, and Agency Partners.
• Strategic Direction: Set strategic direction for the geography, portfolio, and cross‑functional team of Brown‑Forman employees, distributor partners, and agency partners to align resources and deliver Stripped Net Sales (SNS) and operating income performance for the cluster of markets.
• Planning: Create annual and long‑term plans that build our future business, holding full accountability for the P&L across all markets, channels, and accounts within the cluster.
• Risk and Opportunity Management: Identify areas of risk and opportunity, developing and communicating plans to address each.
• Resource Allocation: Manage resource allocation and budget processes, collaborating with the region team and marketing groups on the best use of Territory Marketing Funds (TMF).
• Distributor Management: Monitor and measure distributor performance within the cluster; create organizational focus on the Brown‑Forman portfolio and support the Brown‑Forman Sales Execution planning and accountability process; collaborate with the Brown‑Forman team on the strategic direction of all programs delivered to the distributor and hold both the distributor and team accountable for results; negotiate and manage distributor investment and support.

What You Bring to the Table

• Experience: Seasoned sales professional with a minimum of 10 years of experience in the beverage alcohol industry and demonstrated commercial leadership experience.
• Leadership: Inclusive leadership capability, able to inspire, motivate, and challenge to deliver results through a team.
• Agility: Agile learner and leader, capable of leading in a VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) environment.
• Values: Champion of people and partnerships, leading with a strong example of our values and behaviors.
• Communication: Excellent communicator, able to inspire others and articulate a strong vision and direction.
• Partnership Skills: Excellent partnership and relationship skills both internally and externally.
• Travel: Ability and willingness to travel over 50% of the time, including some weekends.
• License: Must have a valid driver’s license.

Pay

The pay range for this role is $175,000-200,000 plus a 15% Cost of Labor Allowance bringing the range of pay to $201,250 - $230,000 paid semi‑monthly and is bonus eligible. NOTE: Base salary range depends on a combination of job‑related factors to include candidate skills, experience and internal equity.

Who We Are

We believe great people build great brands. And we know there is Nothing Better in the Market than a career at Brown‑Forman. Being a part of Brown‑Forman means you will grow both personally and professionally. You will have the opportunity to solve problems, seize opportunities, and generate bold ideas. You will belong to a place where teamwork matters and where you are encouraged to bring your best self to work.

What We Offer

Total Rewards at Brown‑Forman is designed to engage our people to ensure sustainable and profitable growth for generations to come. As a premium spirits company, we offer equitable pay structures for individual and company performance alongside a premium employee experience. We offer a range of premium benefits that reflect our company values and meet the needs of our diverse workforce.

Equal Opportunity Employment

Brown‑Forman Corporation is committed to equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment. It is the policy of Brown‑Forman Corporation to provide full and equal employment opportunities to all employees and potential employees without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, veteran status, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, physical or mental disability or any other legally protected status. Accommodations available upon request including an Interpreter.

Brown‑Forman Corporation has been building exceptional spirits brands for more than 150 years, responsibly upholding our founding promise of “Nothing Better in the Market.” Our portfolio of premium brands includes the Jack Daniel’s Family of Brands, Woodford Reserve, Herradura, el Jimador, Korbel, New Mix, Old Forester, The Glendronach, Glenglassaugh, Benriach, Diplomático Rum, Chambord, Gin Mare, Fords Gin, Slane, and Coopers’ Craft. With a team of approximately 5,400 employees worldwide, we proudly share our passion for premium beverages in more than 170 countries.

Discover more about us at brown-forman.com and stay connected through LinkedIn, Instagram, and X.