At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead commercial strategy and drive growth in Nordic and Baltic regions.
- Company: Join Brown-Forman, a premium spirits company that values great people.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, premium benefits, and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic team-focused environment.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in FMCG, strong negotiation skills, and strategic vision required.
- Other info: Embrace diversity and equality in a supportive workplace.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
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.
Your Role: Lead the commercial strategy for NWE Partner Markets, collaborating with distributors and regional management to drive growth. Reporting to the NWE Commercial Director and forming part of the NWE Extended Leadership team, this role is key to Brown-Forman’s regional success.
Responsibilities
- Lead multiple distributor relationships with the key Nordic (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway & Sweden) and Baltic (Lithuania, Latvia & Estonia) regions, with a far-reaching impact (~14%) on the NWE Region.
- Strategy & Business Development (about 30%): Lead, develop, and translate the B-F commercial strategy aligned with brand strategy and long-term priorities; explore and accelerate new growth opportunities; lead portfolio expansion; identify opportunities to optimize ways of working in collaboration with cross-functional stakeholders.
- Distributor Management and Execution of Plans (about 40%): Build and strengthen sustainable partnerships with distributor teams; develop annual sales plans (Market/Portfolio/Channel) and deliver against Sales targets; manage KPIs (distribution, listing, merchandising standards, shelf share, pricing and promotions) and qualitative targets (trade education, training, onboarding & coaching); lead development and management of route-to-consumer models; negotiate distributor contracts to drive long-term growth.
- Collaborate with B-F Marketing and Finance to define Annual Country/Brand Business Plans and enrich with trade insights; support planning and evaluation of activity; monitor trade spend and value chain to optimize Net Sales and Margin; implement Revenue Growth Management initiatives.
- Planning & Evaluation (about 20%): Monitor trade spend, plan, order, and allocate POSMs; partner with Marketing for forecasting and resource allocation.
- Business Updates / Ad-hoc Initiatives (about 10%): Provide quarterly business reviews updates on market environment, portfolio developments, and promotions; provide regular in-flight updates and adjust course as needed; lead rolling forecasts with distributor partners.
- Other: Travel up to 20%; IT literacy; project/time management; leading change.
What You Bring to the Table
- Preferred location: London
- 8+ years’ experience in FMCG, preferably spirits, with knowledge of distributor/brand owner relationships.
- Deep commercial understanding with 8+ years of direct customer/distributor expertise.
- Strategic vision, with ability to uncover new market opportunities; translate strategy into operational tactics.
- Commercial acumen to translate business strategy into actionable initiatives; strong decision making.
- Ability to manage workload in a high-pressure environment; initiative and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent negotiation and communication skills (influencing, listening, presenting, writing; fluent English).
- Emotionally intelligent, self-motivated, high-energy, capable of working under stress with professionalism.
- Foster own and team development; be a D&I champion.
- Be part of the Sales Leadership team; collaborate across B-F functions and external stakeholders.
- Willing to travel up to 20%.
- IT literate; project & time management; ability to lead change.
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. You will grow both personally and professionally, solving problems, seizing opportunities, and generating bold ideas in a team-focused environment.
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 and a range of premium benefits that reflect our values and meet the needs of our diverse workforce.
If you are ready to become a part of our team and drive our business to new heights, we want to hear from you!
Equality & Opportunity
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.
Business Development Manager employer: Brown-Forman Australia Pty. Ltd.
Contact Detail:
Brown-Forman Australia Pty. Ltd. Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Development Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, especially those who work at Brown-Forman or similar companies. Use LinkedIn to connect and engage with them; you never know who might help you land that interview.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the company and its culture. Understand their products and market strategies, especially in the Nordic and Baltic regions. This will show you're genuinely interested and ready to contribute to their success.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with the role of Business Development Manager. Highlight your strategic vision and commercial acumen, and don’t forget to showcase your negotiation skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at Brown-Forman and ready to take on new challenges.
We think you need these skills to ace Business Development Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Business Development Manager role. Highlight your experience in FMCG and any specific achievements that align with the responsibilities mentioned in the job description.
Showcase Your Strategic Vision: In your application, emphasise your ability to uncover new market opportunities and translate strategies into actionable plans. We want to see how you can drive growth and make a real impact in the NWE Partner Markets.
Highlight Your Communication Skills: Since this role involves a lot of collaboration and negotiation, be sure to showcase your excellent communication skills. Mention any relevant experiences where you've influenced stakeholders or led successful partnerships.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows your enthusiasm for joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Brown-Forman Australia Pty. Ltd.
✨Know Your Market
Before the interview, dive deep into the Nordic and Baltic markets. Understand the key players, trends, and challenges in the spirits industry. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your strategic vision and ability to uncover new market opportunities.
✨Showcase Your Relationships
Be ready to discuss your experience with distributor management. Prepare examples of how you've built and strengthened partnerships in the past. Highlight your negotiation skills and how you've successfully managed KPIs to drive growth.
✨Align with Company Values
Brown-Forman values teamwork and personal growth. During the interview, share experiences that reflect these values. Talk about how you've fostered team development and championed diversity and inclusion in your previous roles.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills and ability to work under pressure. Think of specific scenarios where you've had to make tough decisions or adapt strategies quickly. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.