Division Vice President - Control States East

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.

Why Sazerac? 

• Innovative and Forward-Thinking: Join a company that values innovation and excellence and is driving the future of the beverage industry.
• Rich Tradition: Join a team with a strong heritage of craftsmanship and quality, creating memorable experiences for our customers.
• Collaborative Environment: Work in an inclusive, collaborative atmosphere where your ideas and expertise are valued.
• Career Growth: Benefit from continuous learning opportunities and career development programs to advance your career.

The Division Vice President – Control States East is responsible for overseeing Sazerac’s sales operations and administrative functions across the Eastern Control States: ME, NC, NH, OH, PA, VA, VT, and WV. This strategic leadership role guides the Control State Manager team, driving a focused growth strategy and fostering impactful relationships with Control State Boards to increase volume, market share, and brand contribution.
This leader will ensure operational excellence through consistent execution of the Annual Operating Plan (AOP), pricing and promotional strategy, and inventory management—serving as a key liaison with the supply chain. The VP will be a direct partner to senior decision-makers in each state, acting as a thought leader in brand development and building a high-performing team that delivers on business plans and KPIs through customer-centric solutions that expand the category.

Key Responsibilities (job responsibilities may vary by state depending on regulatory and compliance standards for the state):

Strategic Leadership & Execution

• Lead the development and execution of the Control States business plan, aligning resources and priorities to achieve double-digit annual growth.
• Establish performance review cadences to monitor KPIs, ensure accountability, and implement course corrections as needed.
• Develop joint business plans with key trade partners to drive growth and market share.

Financial Management & Operational Rigor

• Oversee P&L and budget management to ensure alignment with revenue and spending targets.
• Drive consistency in AOP execution, pricing and promotional strategies, and inventory processes in collaboration with supply chain teams.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with National Accounts to define management routines, call coverage models, and business reviews that ensure consistent performance across divisions.
• Align with State Managers and National Account teams to optimize programming and execution, accelerating speed to market and share growth.

Talent Development & Team Building

• Champion talent acquisition and retention within the Control States, working with Recruiting and HR to position Sazerac as an employer of choice.
• Build a strong leadership bench, support career development, and reduce voluntary turnover through strategic people planning.

Customer & Consumer Focus

• Identify and prioritize customer and consumer needs within Control States, implementing rollout plans that drive sustainable growth.
• Monitor New Business Development (NBD) initiatives, ensuring project health and making adjustments to maximize incremental volume, revenue, and profit.

Brand Strategy & Market Insight

• Translate brand plans and strategic direction into market-specific programming to drive sales, profit, and share.
• Guide State Managers in local planning with state boards, shaping customer and channel strategies.

Market Intelligence & Innovation

• Leverage consumer, customer, and competitor insights to inform brand development and solve market challenges.
• Foster systems and processes that connect Sazerac brands with consumers, creating exceptional customer experiences and brand loyalty.

Alignment & Execution

• Ensure alignment of priorities across brands, countries, and states, with clear resource allocation and performance measurement.
• Address execution gaps, remove obstacles, and drive results that solve customer and business problems.

Succession Planning

• Develop and maintain a succession plan for key leadership roles within Control States.
• Personally mentor high-potential talent and ensure readiness for future leadership opportunities.
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Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Business or a related field
• Minimum of 10 years of senior leadership experience within the CPG, FMCG, or alcoholic beverage industry
• Proven track record in distributor management, national accounts, or field sales leadership
• Experience managing regional, national, or multi-state territories
• Strong understanding of the three-tier distribution system and/or Direct Store Delivery (DSD) model
• Expertise in budgeting, strategic planning, sales operations, and financial analysis
• Flexibility to work non-traditional hours, including evenings and weekends
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook)
• Willingness to travel extensively
• Valid driver’s license

Preferred Qualifications

• MBA or advanced degree in a relevant field
• Experience in Brand Marketing or Trade Marketing

#LI-KG1

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.