The client is seeking a VP of Sales to drive company growth by leading overall sales strategy and team performance. Working closely with the executive team, the VP of Sales will help develop and execute sales plans, build strong customer relationships, and manage the sales pipeline to support ambitious sales targets and overall business success. The role is based in the Chicago, IL area and will require travel as needed for sales meetings, presentations, and industry events.
The VP of Sales will develop and implement a comprehensive sales strategy to achieve short- and long-term revenue growth goals, while leading, mentoring, and managing a high-performance sales team with clear objectives. Responsibilities include cultivating relationships with key accounts, distributors, and industry partners; identifying and acting on emerging market trends to expand market share; collaborating with marketing on sales materials and promotional campaigns; and partnering with executives to establish and monitor budgets, forecasts, and performance metrics.
The ideal candidate is a highly motivated, strategic leader with a proven record of success in the spirits or a related industry, along with strong leadership, communication, and market-dynamics understanding. Requirements include a bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field (an MBA is a plus) and at least 10 years of progressive sales experience with a minimum of 5 years in a leadership role. The role also calls for a track record of meeting or exceeding sales targets, strong analytical and problem-solving skills, excellent negotiation and relationship-building abilities, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, results-driven environment with quick adaptation to change.