State Manager: New Hampshire and Maine
Lawson’s Finest Liquids (“LFL”), based in Waitsfield, Vermont, crafts and delivers the finest and freshest beer to delight our fans. We are a values-driven company with a focus on quality beer, cultivating and supporting vibrant communities, and having fun. We are passionate about delivering world-class beer throughout our distribution footprint, and our State Managers are the frontline representatives for our brand and wholesale business in each of our markets.
The State Manager reports directly to the Senior Sales Manager.
The Lawson’s Finest Liquids State Manager is responsible for driving sales growth aligned with LFL’s strategic plan in New Hampshire and Maine, nurturing and growing key retail and distribution partnerships in both states, and building brand affinity within the states. This role involves building strong relationships with key retailers, closing new business, managing the day-to-day partnership with our distributors and their sales teams, and delivering sales and budgetary objectives. State Managers are equal parts strategy and execution, with a focus on strong communication and business results.
Ideally, our State Manager lives in New Hampshire with easy access to Maine!
The ideal candidate:
- Has a passion for, and a range of experience in, craft beer brand and sales representation.
- Thrives working independently and has robust prioritization skills.
- Is extremely organized, detail-oriented, and has strong follow through with tasks.
- Possesses excellent communication skills, is honest, and is motivated by goals and challenges.
- Exudes natural charisma and has a friendly, outgoing personality.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Embody the company’s core values: be the finest, keep it authentic, take good care, focus on community and have fun.
- Operate in alignment with, and pursuit of, Lawson’s Finest Liquids’ mission and vision.
- Uphold B Corp ethos and general principles in business operations and interpersonal connections.
- Distributor Management (10-15% of the time)
- Oversee and manage the day-to-day performance of the assigned distributor(s) within the states.
- Conduct regular business reviews with distributors and ensure they meet or exceed agreed upon sales targets, distribution goals, and brand standards.
- Analyze sales data, identify opportunities for growth, and developing action plans to address challenges.
- Along with senior sales leadership support, help negotiate distributor agreements and manage pricing strategies within the states.
- Train distributor sales teams on product knowledge, sales techniques, and brand messaging.
- Sales & Market Development (60-70% of the time)
- Create and implement a comprehensive sales plan for the states, aligned with the overall company strategy.
- Identify and target key retail accounts (on-premise and off-premise) to expand distribution and increase sales volume.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with key retailers, understanding their needs and providing exceptional customer service.
- Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and consumer preferences to identify opportunities and adapt sales strategies accordingly.
- Incorporate elements of brand advocacy into sales activities, ensuring clear communication of the brewery's core values and brand message.
- Budgetary Responsibility (