Export Manager – Maternity Cover
Export Manager – Maternity Cover

Export Manager – Maternity Cover

Temporary 50000 - 60000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Nc'nean Distillery

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead export relationships and grow partnerships across EMEA and Asia.
  • Company: Join a dynamic, fast-growing B Corp distillery with a focus on sustainability.
  • Benefits: Enjoy free whisky, flexible working, 25 days holiday, and wellness schemes.
  • Other info: Significant travel opportunities and a chance to work with a passionate team.
  • Why this job: Make an impact in the premium spirits sector while developing your career.
  • Qualifications: Experience in export markets and strong commercial acumen required.

The predicted salary is between 50000 - 60000 £ per year.

We are looking for an Export Manager on a fixed‑term 12‑month contract as maternity cover to lead our export relationships across EMEA and Asia. You will be responsible for nurturing and growing our existing relationships as well as identifying and bringing on board partners in new countries.

Role Responsibilities

  • Relationship management: Nurture and grow the relationships with our partners in our export markets to maximise sales across our spirits portfolio: lead quarterly reviews, input to future plans, help with issues, make things happen.
  • Manage performance against agreed objectives / contracts.
  • Agree annual sales objectives by product with all distributors.
  • Obtain sales and stock reporting to optimise performance tracking and quarterly forecasting.
  • Work with distributor sales and marketing teams to maximise sales opportunities, ensure success of new product launches and address any issues.

Supply and demand liaison

  • Liaise between distributors and the internal Nc’nean teams to put plans into action, manage stock requirements and allocations and help with order logistics.

Develop in‑country marketing plans

  • Working closely with the Nc’nean global marketing team and our distributor partners, develop a marketing plan for each country to drive growth to meet our ambitions.
  • Agree total country spend alongside sales targets and activity allocation across marketing levers.
  • Manage marketing activities where relevant (e.g. key events, respond to press requests, organise distillery trips, turnkey UK / central campaigns).
  • Ensure data is received on in‑market activity to determine ROI.
  • Manage key in‑country relationships (e.g. with bloggers or trade customers).
  • Attend consumer or trade fairs in country.
  • Spend time in trade with export sales teams.
  • Provide training on Nc’nean to distributors’ sales and marketing teams.
  • Work closely with our European brand ambassador to make the most of her time across markets.

Working with the Head of Commercial, identify potential distributors in new markets, participate in their selection, negotiate the contract and on‑board the sales and marketing teams to ensure a successful launch.

Key Skills

  • Focus on results: have a good understanding of what constitutes success across all commercial disciplines (sales, consumer marketing, trade marketing).
  • Excellent commercial acumen with a strong understanding of margins, value chains and how to create win‑win commercial outcomes.
  • Self‑starter and experience of making things happen on their own (ideally within a small business).
  • Organised, structured, articulate, personable.
  • Excellent people person: ability to plan and liaise across multiple teams to keep all parties aligned.
  • The ideal candidate would have experience working in export markets and managing distributors in the premium spirits sector.
  • Relevant foreign languages are an advantage.
  • Based in the UK but with significant travel required to current and potential markets (focused on Europe and Asia). Trips to distillery on west coast of Scotland to liaise with team and host guests.
  • Working from home when in UK, with one day a week in shared office space in central London.

Start date: Late August or early September 2026. Fixed term contract for 12‑13 months.

Perks and Benefits

  • Free whisky allocation and staff discount.
  • Flexibility to work from home with one day a week in shared office space in central London.
  • Being part of a dynamic, fast‑growing business in an exciting category with the opportunity to grow and develop your career.
  • Supporting a business that is a force for good (highest scoring B Corp distillery globally with a score of 147.6).
  • Employee wellness scheme.
  • Cycle to work scheme.
  • 25 days holiday per year (plus English bank holidays).

Export Manager – Maternity Cover employer: Nc'nean Distillery

Join Nc’nean as an Export Manager and be part of a dynamic, fast-growing business that champions sustainability and innovation in the premium spirits sector. With the flexibility to work from home and a vibrant office space in central London, you will enjoy a supportive work culture that prioritises employee wellness and career development. Benefit from a generous holiday allowance, free whisky allocation, and the chance to make a meaningful impact in a company recognised as a global leader in responsible distilling.
Nc'nean Distillery

Contact Detail:

Nc'nean Distillery Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Export Manager – Maternity Cover

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend trade fairs, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy to reach out to potential contacts. You never know who might help you land that Export Manager role!

Tip Number 2

Show off your skills! When you get the chance to chat with hiring managers or recruiters, make sure to highlight your experience in managing distributor relationships and your commercial acumen. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've driven sales and growth in previous roles.

Tip Number 3

Research is key! Before any interview, dive deep into the company’s export markets and their spirits portfolio. Understanding their current challenges and opportunities will help you tailor your responses and show that you’re genuinely interested in the role.

Tip Number 4

Apply through our website! We want to see your application come through directly. It shows initiative and gives us a better chance to connect with you. Plus, it’s a great way to stay updated on any new opportunities that pop up!

We think you need these skills to ace Export Manager – Maternity Cover

Relationship Management
Sales Performance Tracking
Forecasting
Marketing Plan Development
Commercial Acumen
Negotiation Skills
Training and Development
Project Management
Communication Skills
Organisational Skills
Self-Starter
Team Collaboration
Export Market Experience
Foreign Language Proficiency

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Export Manager role. Highlight your experience in managing relationships and driving sales in export markets, especially in the spirits sector. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've nurtured partnerships and achieved sales targets in the past. We love a good story!

Show Off Your Commercial Acumen: In your application, don’t forget to showcase your understanding of commercial success. Talk about how you’ve created win-win outcomes in previous roles. We’re looking for someone who knows their stuff when it comes to margins and value chains!

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, we can’t wait to hear from you!

How to prepare for a job interview at Nc'nean Distillery

Know Your Export Markets

Before the interview, do your homework on the EMEA and Asia markets. Understand the key players, trends, and challenges in the spirits sector. This will show that you’re not just interested in the role but also invested in the company’s success.

Showcase Relationship Management Skills

Prepare examples of how you've nurtured and grown relationships with partners in previous roles. Be ready to discuss specific strategies you used to maximise sales and resolve issues, as this is crucial for the Export Manager position.

Demonstrate Commercial Acumen

Brush up on your understanding of margins, value chains, and commercial outcomes. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve achieved sales objectives in the past and how you plan to do so in this role. Numbers speak volumes!

Be Ready for Practical Scenarios

Expect situational questions that assess your problem-solving skills. Think about how you would handle stock management or marketing plans in different countries. Showing that you can think on your feet will impress the interviewers.

Export Manager – Maternity Cover
Nc'nean Distillery

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