State Manager - Louisiana

Brown-Forman Corporation; New Orleans (LA); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Brown-Forman Corporation in Louisiana seeks a seasoned leader to drive brand sales and marketing plans while managing distributor relationships across the state. You will coach a talented team, monitor performance, and ensure alignment with local objectives and priorities.

You will lead pricing strategy, long-term planning, and cross-functional collaboration with finance and operations to deliver strong market results. The role requires travel up to 30% and a commitment to excellence.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in beverage alcohol with demonstrated success meeting key metrics.
• Ability to build relationships with distributors, accounts and internal stakeholders.
• Strong coaching and development skills with regular feedback to partners.
• Knowledge of on- and off-premise business and three-tier distribution systems.
• Willingness to travel up to 30% (air and car).
• Must have a valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coach the Louisiana team to achieve objectives and progress roles.
• Develop and manage brand sales and marketing plans and budgets.
• Oversee distributor relationships and ensure alignment with targets.
• Lead pricing strategies and long-term planning for the state.
• Analyze full channel business and adjust plans based on performance.
• Lead reviews with distributors and report to General Manager and Region Director.

Skills

Leadership

Planning & Analysis

Distributor management

People management

Strategic thinking

Tools

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Meaningful Work From Day One

Join our team at Brown-Forman to play a key role in driving success and leading strategic growth across Louisiana. In this role, you will guide a talented team, develop and manage brand sales and marketing plans, and oversee distributor relationships to achieve key objectives.

What You Can Expect

Leadership

• Serve as coach and leader to the team, ensuring they progress in their roles, preparing them for future opportunities.
• Monitor business performance.
• Ensure the local team remains clear on objectives and prioritization of those objectives.

Planning & Analysis

• Manage and build brand sales/marketing plans and budgets to meet or exceed the net sales targets developed and approved by General Manager and Region Director.
• Leads strategic business decisions within the state of Louisiana.
• With the support of the General Manager, Operations and Finance team; build and communicate the brand commercial plans to Distributor Leadership - agree on objectives, targets, priorities and budgets.
• Lead pricing strategies. Must be able to plan based on long term outlook.
• Analyze and plan full channel business, chain and independent accounts for the state of Louisiana.
• Lead evaluation and adjustment to plans based on performance and success in the market.
• Monitor and communicate competitive, consumer and pricing activity and make changes or recommendations to General Manager, Finance Manager and Marketing Manager.
• Leads the review meetings with distributors.

Distributor & Agency Management

• Serves as the primary contact with distributor leadership.
• Collaborates with distributor General Sales Managers & Managing Directors for oversight of business management and execution.
• Responsible for the execution of all assigned state commercial and chain plans with the distributor team, and holding them accountable to agreed upon targets/goals.
• Monitors and measure performance of all distributor activities that affect Brown Forman brands.
• Reconciliation and consistent management of assigned state distributor investment, brand spending and brand activity support.

What You Bring to the Table

• Seasoned sales professional with a minimum of 5 years of experience in the beverage alcohol industry with demonstrated success meeting key metrics.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships and maintain effective working relationships with distributors and accounts and all internal stakeholders.
• Excellent manager and developer of people: demonstrated commitment to providing regular, constructive feedback to business partners; demonstrated coaching ability; ability to objectively assess both skills and potential.
• Demonstrated knowledge of on- and off-premise business and three-tier distribution system.
• Team leader: Able to build and sustain effective, results-producing teams, within the state, across business functions, and with business partners.
• Action-oriented: Responds in a timely and effective manner to business issues and opportunities.
• Highly organized: capable of meeting multiple deadlines and juggling multiple projects.
• Literate with word processing programs (such as Word), spreadsheet programs (such as Excel), and presentation programs (such as PowerPoint).
• Must be able and willing to travel (by air and car) up to 30% of the time.
• Must be able to lift up to 30 pounds.
• Must be able to work weekends and nights as needed to perform responsibilities of the job including brand activations and marketing initiatives.
• Must have a valid driver’s license.

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.

#LI Requisition Type: Employee Management Level: Leader Global Job Level: L3 Number of Openings Available: 1

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.

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.