Regional Sales Representative - Houston

Job Status: Full-time

FLSA Status: Exempt

Work Schedule: Expected to work the number of hours required to complete tasks (Varies)

Reports To: CEO

Amount of Travel Required: Varies

Messina Hof Company Overview:
Established in 1977, Messina Hof was developed from a family owned and operated vineyard and winery in Bryan, Texas.  Messina Hof is dedicated to high quality world-class wine production and genuine hospitality in its winery and resort facilities located in Bryan, Fredericksburg, Grapevine and Richmond, Texas.  Messina Hof’s continued dedication to innovation, excellence, and family traditions is exemplified in its premium wines of distinction and landmark wine country destinations.  It has also been continuously named the most awarded winery in Texas.  Messina Hof is made up of a team of honest and passionate people of character that desire to be part of a rapidly growing company in an exciting and thriving industry.

POSITION SUMMARY
Messina Hof Regional Sales Representative is charged with managing the brand and facilitating sales development of Messina Hof products in all possible wholesale channels of distribution and direct sales in the Houston Market. This person must meet the needs and expectations of our customers and the technical information about our products, pricing, and promotions.  This person must have the ability to perform data analysis and make recommendations on sales initiatives and demo plans to support wholesale sales.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Reasonable Accommodations Statement
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable Accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential Functions Statement(s)

• Develop sales volume distribution and profit including direct selling as well as multiplying the sales efforts to ensure distributor sales force execution and focus on the core products and programs by performing the following duties:
• Professionally represent Messina Hof in the market to improve distribution levels, shelf space/schematics, feature/display activity, ad plans, and on-premise programs and ensure the continued sales growth of brands to develop areas of opportunity for new business and new placements of Messina Hof products in new accounts and increased market share of products in existing accounts. 
• Coordinate execution of TPR’s, programming, promotion, incentives, and pricing structure in order to drive sales of the wholesale portfolio.
• Develop, foster, and maintain a close working relationship with retailers, restaurateurs, local organizations, and other industry contacts.
• Provide weekly updates on current market data including sales data, distributor warehouse stock information and make recommendations to RNDC on purchase order requests.
• Undertake various promotional activities, such as tastings, demos, presentation to members of the trade and consumers. Attendance at special promotions such as wine tastings, dinners, festivals, etc.
• Participate in “crew drives” in markets as needed and provide written feedback to distributors within three days, including selling in the market with distributor’s sales force as well as selling into accounts on your own
• Responsible for providing accurate and timely filing of reports including sales reports, retail pricing surveys, market management, expense reports and facilitate communication, via written and verbal, with administrative staff
• Provide management with market intelligence including sales trends, product development and competitor activity.
• Coordinate with the Marketing department on ads and promotions.  Create and execute sales and marketing plans, incentive programs and business proposals.
• Weekly meetings with distributor account representatives and chains to target promotion opportunities and troubleshoot problems.
• Manage activities in compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Perform other duties as required including assisting other departments as needed.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS
Competency Statement(s)

• Minimum of undergraduate degree or 2-4 years related experience and/or training in the adult beverage industry, preferably the wine industry; or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Must be able to travel as necessary to be physically present at events when needed.  
• Must have valid driver’s license with clean driving record.
• Computer proficient in Microsoft Office and wholesale software programs.
• Must have active TABC Certification, Food Handlers Certification and TABC Agent Certification at all times
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to speak to large audiences both internally and externally. Excellent organizational skills. Strong analytical skills with ability to formulate strategies based on correlated data to meet overall Company objectives. Must possess strong negotiation and mediation skills with the ability to assist others to meet objectives under sometimes restrictive timelines.
• Ability to maintain positive work atmosphere by communicating effectively with clients, management, peers, and subordinates. Possess strong project management skills. Must be a person of high integrity, commitment and motivation, and possess a strong work ethic.
• Ability to manage tasks and to exercise independent judgment without supervision. Ability to act as a very “hands-on”, “roll up their sleeves” executor.
• Strong network and relationships with industry professionals, with understanding of the three-tier distribution system.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.  The employee is frequently required to stand, walk and sit.  The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, and crouch.  The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  The employee is frequently required to stand for long periods of time.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Messina Hof Wine Cellars, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and a drug-free workplace.