Are you motivated by travel? Do you have the ability to win the hearts and minds of trade and consumers with your passion for wine through detailed storytelling? Do you have experience managing multiple states, interacting with distributors on a regular basis to assist with wine sales through market ride-withs, general sales meetings, trade shows, and building winning incentives? If YES, you might be the candidate we are seeking to propel our winery to success. 

We are seeking a Regional Sales Manager to develop our Central Region: TX,IL,MN,MO,WI,ND,SD,NE,KS,OK,IA,AR. 

This is an OREGON based position.

About Us: 

Forty-one years young, Willamette Valley Vineyards distributes its wine in 49 states, several countries, generating $18.6 million in sales last year. We own and lease 12 Oregon vineyards of 1,018 acres, producing over 200k cases in 2024, and operating 10 retail locations all with the help of 346 employees. 

Willamette Valley Vineyards Estate in the Salem Hills Tasting Room was recently voted the Best Tasting Room in the country by USA Today 10 Best Readers Choice Awards! 

Please consider joining us - we are just getting started! 

What we Offer:

• Competitive pay, incentives, and benefits, including health, dental and vision benefits, plus 401(k).
• The #1 selling Oregon Pinot Noir above $20.00.  
• Support of 26,000 wine enthusiasts and 13,000 wine club members actively supporting and following our brands.
• 10 beautiful winery locations throughout OR and CA to support trade hospitality and education; on-site restaurants, accommodations, world class winery events and tours.
• Working onsite at a beautiful facility in the Salem Hills.

Position Overview and Travel Requirements:

• 85% travel required/ 4 full days per week
• Ride-withs requested and booked 90 days in advance.
• 107 full in market days/year.
• Minimum of 8 full days in the market / 56 account presentations per month
• Manages the winery's sales in the assigned states to increase placements, depletions, and customers for life at all levels of distribution, sales and consumption through effective contact management.
• Increases sales and points of distribution of Willamette Valley Vineyards products through on, off and Omni channel accounts, including chains. 
• Identifies and executes on Direct Sales opportunities in the marketplace.  
• Regularly communicates new placements, programs, or significant impacts to business within the territory to the CEO & Sales Coordinator. 
• Effectively deploys team members, Demo Team, Ambassadors, Owners & Wine Enthusiast contacts to support sales efforts.

Product Distribution/Sales

• Leads wholesale sales efforts in assigned states to increase sales, points of distribution, and brand awareness in all wholesale channels.
• Develops work plans with specific product/account goals and market activities.
• Manages distributor relations and communications, implements sales staff incentives, programming calendar, plans market visits and provides general customer service.
• Monitors and maintains distributor inventories to support programs and avoid out-of-stocks. Assists with establishing allocations, monitoring balances and communicates with distributors to manage results.
• Working with National Chain Accounts Manager, pursues new and expanded chain placements.
• Prepares new item forms, ensures samples are presented to buyers and executes regular calls/meetings with key buyers (on and off premise), with distributor rep when available. 
• Pursues authorizations, placements, programming, floor stacks, cold box, displays, ads, etc.
• Collaborates to pursue chain opportunities that span other territories.
• Understands or seeks to understand drivers of losses and gains within chain accounts.
• Coordinates or delegates coordination of staff trainings, incentives, tastings, dinners etc. to support and leverage placements. Hosts events as needed.
• Ensures price survey information is collected and recorded regularly.
• Studies for price positioning opportunities and provides recommendations to National Sales Director.
• Meets or hosts calls with distributors bi-annually to discuss goals, programming and project depletions for the following year.
• Contacts distributors on a regular basis (monthly) to review progress to goal and discuss actions needed.
• Ensures distributors receive pricing and programming information from the winery annually, in October.
• Collects scan data regularly from distributors and helps to analyze for brand performance indicators and opportunities.
• Supports the launch of new brands/products by assisting with market research, developing targets, goals, programming, and then executes within territory.

Other

• Drafts annual budget for territory
• Ensures data and notes are saved in appropriate databases (GreatVines, WineDirect, Server).
• Works with Marketing department to ensure events in the market are appropriately publicized.
• Supports Company’s effort to create a more sustainable, cross-cultural and “green” environment.

Requirements

• Ability to lead through inspiration.
• Demonstrates emotional intelligence and uses active listening skills to communicate.
• 5 years experience, with applicable knowledge of the Central West Region.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, communication and time management skills.
• Ability to multi-task and work independently or as part of a team.
• Comfortable speaking in front of large groups and making presentations.
• Computer literate, familiar with Excel, Word & Power Point, and must learn Willamette’s systems such as POS, CRM system, WineDirect, Tock, and vendor portals such as MicroStrategy, iDig, etc.
• Independently motivated to generate sales for Willamette Valley Vineyards.
• Able to lift 50 lbs.

Other Skills/Abilities

Thorough understanding and genuine interest in luxury wine business and terminology.

Ability to educate customers about wine with passion, not pretension.