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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive brand performance and strategy in the UK market for innovative drinks.
- Company: Join Proof Drinks, the UK's leading independent drinks distributor.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and a dynamic team culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on exciting brands and grow your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in brand management or trade marketing, especially in drinks.
- Other info: Hands-on role with excellent growth opportunities in a fast-paced environment.
The predicted salary is between 42000 - 58000 ÂŁ per year.
Location: Bermondsey Street, London (3 days in office, 2 days remote)
Salary: Up to ÂŁ50,000 (DOE)
About Proof Drinks
Proof Drinks is the UK's leading independent drinks distributor, representing a carefully curated portfolio of innovative and high-quality brands. We work closely with both producers and trade partners to build meaningful, long-term brand success in the UK market.
The Role
We are looking for a Brand Manager to take ownership of a portfolio of brands within our portfolio and drive their performance in the UK market. This is not a traditional, creative-led brand management role. As a distributor, our focus is trade and customer-centric, meaning success comes from how effectively brands are positioned, sold, and activated within the on-trade and off-trade - rather than leading global creative campaigns. You will act as the key link between our brand partners, internal sales teams, and customers - ensuring that each brand has a clear commercial strategy, strong visibility in market, and the right tools to succeed at point of sale. This is a hands-on role, where you’ll be as comfortable building strategy as you are executing it in market, and where you are expected to treat each brand as if it were your own business.
Key Responsibilities
- Brand Strategy & Execution
- Develop and implement UK-focused brand plans aligned with supplier objectives and market opportunities
- Either translate and execute global brand strategies locally, or build bottom‑up, UK‑led plans from scratch, depending on the brand’s level of direction and maturity
- Adapt global assets into impactful, trade‑relevant activations
- Ensure brands are positioned effectively across different channels
- Trade & Customer Focus
- Work closely with the sales team to identify opportunities and win placements in key accounts
- Continuously identify new opportunities for your brands to explore, and proactively spearhead these alongside the sales team
- Present directly to buyers and customers, gaining first‑hand feedback and using those insights to refine strategy and execution
- Build tailored activation plans for on‑trade groups, independents, and retail customers
- Know your customer base in detail and use that understanding to unlock distribution and visibility
- In‑Market Execution
- Take a hands‑on approach to bringing brands to life, including attending events, tastings, and activations on behalf of your brands
- Be willing to roll up your sleeves and support execution wherever needed to ensure success in market
- Take pride in delivering creative, practical solutions that win business and increase brand presence
- Commercial Ownership
- Treat each brand as your own, with full accountability for performance and growth
- Ensure every pound spent is carefully considered, justified, and delivers clear return on investment
- Monitor sales performance, distribution, and rate of sale
- Identify gaps and opportunities to drive growth
- Act as the primary contact for brand partners
- Communicate confidently and effectively, adapting your style to suit different brand owners and stakeholders
- Provide regular updates on performance, activity, and opportunities
- Align on priorities and ensure expectations are met
- Internal Collaboration
- Work cross‑functionally with sales, marketing, and operations
- Equip the sales team with the tools, training, and insight needed to sell effectively
What Makes This Role Different
- Trade‑first: Success is driven by distribution, visibility, and rate of sale
- Commercially focused: Strong emphasis on performance, not just brand storytelling
- Customer‑centric: Tailoring activity to specific accounts and audiences
- Flexible in approach: Working across a mix of brands where you may be executing established global plans or building strategy from the ground up
- Execution‑driven & hands‑on: Bringing brands to life where it matters most — at the point of purchase and in‑market
- Ownership‑led: Managing brands as if they are your own business, with full accountability for results and spend
About You
- Experience in brand management, trade marketing, or a commercial marketing role (drinks experience is a must)
- Proven experience working across both UK on‑trade and off‑trade channels
- Strong familiarity with key UK customers and a clear understanding of how they operate
- Highly commercial mindset with the ability to analyse performance and act on insights
- Comfortable with data analysis and interpretation, using data to inform decisions and identify opportunities
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to adapt your style depending on the brand owner or stakeholder
- Proactive, opportunity‑led mindset with a track record of identifying and driving growth initiatives
- Organised, hands‑on, and comfortable managing multiple brands simultaneously
- Willingness to be in market, attend events, present to customers, and get fully involved in execution
- Pride in ownership, attention to detail, and delivering results
- Passion for premium drinks and the industry
Working Pattern
3 days per week (Tuesday-Thursday) in our Bermondsey Street, London office
2 days per week (Monday & Friday) working from home
Why Join Proof Drinks?
- Be part of a fast‑paced, dynamic, growing business with an exciting portfolio
- Work closely with innovative global and independent brands
- Gain real ownership and impact across your portfolio
- Collaborative, entrepreneurial team culture
If you’re looking for a role where you can combine commercial thinking, brand building, and hands‑on execution in a fast‑paced environment, we’d love to hear from you.
Brand Manager employer: Proof Drinks
Contact Detail:
Proof Drinks Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Brand Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, tastings, and trade shows where you can meet potential employers and showcase your passion for brand management.
✨Tip Number 2
Be ready to talk strategy! When you land that interview, come prepared with ideas on how you’d drive brand performance. Show them you understand the market and can think commercially about their brands.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just sit back and wait for opportunities to come to you. Be proactive! Reach out to companies you admire, even if they’re not advertising roles. A well-timed email can open doors.
✨Tip Number 4
Finally, apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining us at Proof Drinks. Make sure your application reflects your enthusiasm for the role and the industry.
We think you need these skills to ace Brand Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that align with the Brand Manager role. Highlight your experience in brand management, trade marketing, and any relevant achievements in the drinks industry.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've driven brand performance and your understanding of the UK market. Make it personal and engaging!
Showcase Your Commercial Mindset: In your application, demonstrate your ability to analyse data and make informed decisions. We want to see how you've used insights to drive growth and improve brand visibility in previous roles.
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 Proof Drinks
✨Know Your Brands Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the brands you'll be managing. Understand their market positioning, target audience, and unique selling points. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your passion and readiness to take ownership of these brands.
✨Showcase Your Trade Marketing Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully executed trade marketing strategies in the past. Be ready to discuss specific campaigns or activations that drove visibility and sales, as this role is heavily focused on trade and customer-centric approaches.
✨Be Data-Driven
Brush up on your data analysis skills. Be prepared to discuss how you've used data to inform decisions and identify growth opportunities. Highlight any experience you have with performance monitoring and how it led to actionable insights.
✨Demonstrate Your Collaborative Spirit
This role requires working closely with various teams. Share examples of how you've successfully collaborated with sales, marketing, or operations in previous roles. Emphasise your ability to equip teams with the tools they need to succeed.