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.
Job Description/ResponsibilitiesAs a State Manager, you'll be the senior field leader responsible for driving distributor performance, building priority brands, and delivering volume and financial results across one of our most critical markets. This role is designed for a proven distributor manager—someone who knows how to set expectations, hold partners accountable, and win at execution across on- and off-premise channels.
What You'll Do:
- Lead distributor performance across Illinois, setting clear volume goals, KPIs, and execution standards while driving accountability through regular reviews and data tracking.
- Establish strong operating rhythms with distributor leadership to ensure focus on priority brands and consistent in-market execution.
- Develop and execute business plans, owning forecasting, budgeting, and financial performance to meet volume, revenue, and profit targets.
- Identify pricing and revenue optimization opportunities while ensuring disciplined use of trade and commercial spend.
- Drive distribution, visibility, and execution of priority brands across all channels, including new product launches and innovation initiatives.
- Build senior-level relationships with distributor partners and key customers while leveraging market insights to identify growth opportunities and improve execution.
Required:
- Bachelor's degree
- Minimum 5 years of sales management and/or distributor management in CPG or Alcohol Beverage
- Proven experience leading distributors, distributor teams, or direct reports
Preferred:
- Demonstrated ability to set strategy, manage KPIs, and deliver results through distributor partners
- Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, planning, and performance analysis
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to lift up to 35 pounds
Sazerac offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, 401K, paid time off, and more. These benefits may vary depending on location and work type. Learn more about how we support our employees here.
The annual salary range for this role is $142,000 - $213,000. Final compensation will be based on relevant experience, qualifications, geographic location, and internal pay equity considerations. Roles within our Commercial and Sales team may be eligible for additional compensation, such as car allowance, cell phone reimbursement, commissions, and/or annual bonuses. Please ask your recruiter for more details about the total package for your role.
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.
What’s Next:
After you apply, a recruiter will review your application and reach out to qualified candidates. Selected candidates will follow our interview process, which may include a phone screen, hiring manager interview, and panel interviews with business leaders. There may be additional steps or assessments throughout the process dependent on the position. Applicants who are not selected to move through the process, at any stage, will be notified via email.
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Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree
- At least 5 years of sales management and/or distributor management experience in CPG or alcoholic beverages
- Experience leading distributors, distributor teams, or direct reports
- Experience setting strategy, managing KPIs, and delivering results through distributor partners
- Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, planning, and performance analysis
Sazerac Company, Inc. Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Sazerac Company, Inc. and has not been reviewed or approved by Sazerac Company, Inc..
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Pay is considered competitive or fair across many roles, with comments highlighting good or great base pay. Compensation is often viewed as one of the stronger aspects relative to other parts of the job experience.
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is described as strong, with medical, dental, and vision included and cited positively by employees. Benefits are portrayed as comprehensive and available from early employment in some roles.
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Retirement Support — Retirement benefits, including a 401(k) with employer match, are frequently called out as a positive element. These offerings contribute to a perception of a solid total rewards package.
Sazerac Company, Inc. Insights
What We Do
Sazerac Company is an independent, American family-owned spirits producer and marketer with operations in the United States and around the world. It makes and markets award-winning bourbon and whiskey brands such as Buffalo Trace, Pappy Van Winkle, Eagle Rare, Blanton’s, and Sazerac Rye, alongside Fireball, Southern Comfort, and other spirits. Its portfolio spans more than 450 brands, produced at renowned distilleries.
