Retail Operations Manager - Retail & Sales -The Sazerac House

Build your career at Sazerac! With almost 400 years of rich history, Sazerac Company has thrived as an independent, American family-owned company with operations in the United States and around the world. Since the 2000s, Sazerac has averaged double digit growth every year! Sazerac Company produces and markets the most award-winning bourbons and whiskeys in the world, including Buffalo Trace, Pappy Van Winkle, Eagle Rare, Blanton’s, Traveller, and Sazerac Rye. Additionally, Sazerac owns many popular brands across a range of spirits, including Fireball, Svedka, Wheatley, BuzzBallz, Southern Comfort, Seagram’s V.O., Myers’s, Goldschläger, Parrot Bay, 99 Brand, and Platinum Vodka.

We’re proud of our award-winning culture and distilleries. Our Louisville office has been named one of the “Best Places to Work in Kentucky” four times, and our Buffalo Trace Distillery has earned the title of “world’s most award-winning distillery” through the dedication of our craftsmen for well over 200 years. Whether you’re a recent graduate or an experienced professional, Sazerac provides extraordinary opportunities for growth with competitive salaries and benefits in an exciting, entrepreneurial industry.

The Commercial Operations Manager will lead the strategic direction for key profit-driving areas at Sazerac House, including Retail, Event Sales, and other revenue-generating programs. This role calls for an entrepreneurial-minded leader who can enhance overall business performance while fostering a positive and dynamic work culture. As a visionary manager, the ideal candidate will inspire and empower their team to achieve growth across all commercial operations, ensuring daily retail functions run smoothly and effectively.

This role focused on The Sazerac House, a tourist destination and tourist attraction.

Key Responsibilities

Brand Values & Mission Integration

• Uphold and promote Sazerac House’s values and mission, ensuring they are embedded in all operations and guest interactions.
• Lead initiatives that incorporate Sazerac brands into the guest experience authentically, demonstrating professionalism in interactions with team members, guests, and stakeholders.
• Evaluate and develop team talent, creating a successful team that embodies Sazerac's culture, and design a staffing plan suited to a workforce with a significant part-time component.

Retail Operations & Sales Performance

• Oversee daily retail operations, including inventory management, staff supervision, and visual merchandising.
• Monitor and analyze sales performance, producing reports to inform strategic decisions and drive revenue growth.
• Lead the event sales program by attracting and securing events such as private functions and corporate gatherings, managing the process from inquiries and proposals to contract negotiations.

Client & Vendor Relationship Management

• Build and maintain relationships with clients, event planners, and external vendors to enhance Sazerac House’s reputation and encourage repeat business.
• Develop event concepts and proposals that align with Sazerac House and brand objectives, ensuring each event supports brand identity and goals.

Retail Strategy & Campaign Development

• Create and implement retail strategies to maximize revenue and profitability, focusing on product selection, pricing, and promotional activities.
• Partner with internal teams to ensure seamless event logistics and outstanding guest experiences.
• Work with brand teams to design and execute retail campaigns and promotions that align with Sazerac’s priorities.

Performance Development & Team Leadership

• Conduct PDS (Performance Development System) reviews with direct reports, utilizing PDS to support skill enhancement, consistent performance evaluations, and measurable progress tracking.
• Foster a high-performance culture rooted in empathy, integrity, and transparency, motivating a diverse team in a collaborative and growth-oriented environment.
• Support professional development initiatives to guide staff in reaching their full potential, promoting pride and ownership in their contributions.

Cross-Functional Leadership & Collaboration

• Serve as a key member of the Sazerac House Leadership Team, offering innovative ideas that support cross-departmental goals and objectives.
• Model behaviors aligned with company values, setting a positive and forward-looking tone to inspire the broader team.
• Collaborate closely with other departments to ensure all plans promote business synergies and smooth coordination across teams.

To be successful in the role, you’ll need these requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 10+ years relevant experience retail people management and retail operations 
• 5+ years of experience in customer service and retail
• Ability and willingness to work non-traditional hours (nights/weekends)
• Excellent oral & written communication skills
• Demonstrate the ability to work as a team as well as self-directed
• Working knowledge of MS Office Products (Word, Excel and Outlook)
• Ability to communicate with all levels of an org
• A proven track record of driving attendance, experience, and revenue within high volume brand home, attractions, experiential retail space
• Adept interpersonal skills and ability to interact and communicate effectively while maintaining a positive outlook
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills
• Strategic thinker and passionate for achieving long-term success via hands on, solutions oriented approach

PREFERRED

• Strong planning and organizational skills
• Ability to handle multiple tasks at one time
• Master's degree in related field

Physical Requirements

• Ability to pick up and/or move objects up to 25 pounds without assistance
• In-person job attendance

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Compensation: Placement within the salary range is calculated based on years of directly relatable experience for the position. The salary range refers to base salary only and does not include car allowance, annual bonus, fuel, or cell phone reimbursement. 

A career at Sazerac offers you the opportunity to reach your full potential as part of a creative, decisive, high-performance team. Sazerac values the needs and wants of our team members and offers inclusive benefits to attract and retain the best talent. Our culture is built upon the values of hard work, diligence and personal responsibility.

Sazerac Team Members enjoy:

• Competitive Pay
• Comprehensive Benefits from Day One including medical, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
• Family Coverage: Options to cover family members, including domestic partners.
• 401(k) Plan: Immediate access to a matching 401(k) plan.
• Flexible Time Away: Enjoy paid time off (PTO), holidays, and parental leave.
• Mental Health and Wellness: Access to mental health care and wellness incentive programs.
• Educational Support: Benefit from tuition reimbursement and our scholarship program for dependents of Sazerac team members.
• Fun Extras: Enjoy branded apparel, fun events, and a team member bottle purchase program.
• Training and Development: Opportunities for professional growth and development.

Benefits, salary range, and programs may vary by role or location. For roles within our commercial team - the Salary range refers to base salary only and does not include car allowance, annual bonus, fuel or cell phone reimbursement. Please ask your Talent Acquisition Partner for more information about our total rewards package. Sazerac is committed to equality of opportunity 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.