Business Development Executive

Role Overview

We're hiring a Business Development Manager to lead the day-to-day commercial side of the business. This is a senior, hands-on role with full responsibility for revenue and margin performance across all sales channels (off-trade, on-trade, e-commerce, events, export, private label). You’ll manage and mentor a small sales and marketing team while working directly with the co-founders and board on strategic direction and commercial priorities.

This is a highly autonomous role requiring a commercial operator who can manage P&L-level thinking while executing weekly deliverables and unlocking growth opportunities both short-term and long-term.

Key Responsibilities

• Commercial Leadership: Own top-line and bottom-line performance; build and track key commercial KPIs; identify revenue levers across all channels.
• Strategy: Lead monthly strategy reviews with co-founders; define sales channel strategies and execute new market/channel entry.
• Key Account Management: Maintain and grow relationships with major trade customers; handle commercial negotiations; close high-impact deals.
• New Business Development: Lead prospecting and closing of new stockists, distributors, and export partners.
• Team Leadership: Manage a small, high-performing team across sales, events, and marketing; coach and support team members to hit targets.
• Marketing Oversight: Guide seasonal campaign planning, customer activations, and brand storytelling; align sales and marketing initiatives.
• Operational Oversight: Coordinate with the operations manager to ensure delivery against commercial plans.
• Events & Gifting: Drive the commercial use of events, sampling, and gifting as tools for growth.

Requirements

• Proven experience in a sales, business development, or commercial role, ideally in spirits or a related FMCG category.
• Strong commercial acumen with a clear understanding of P&L, margin drivers, and route-to-market strategy.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills, able to operate cross-functionally and motivate team members.
• Confident in managing large accounts and pitching to C-level buyers.
• Comfortable with start-up/scale-up environments: high accountability, fast execution.
• Entrepreneurial mindset — able to balance structured planning with day-to-day hustle.
• Driver's license and the ability to travel

Nice to have

• Export or international market development experience
• Experience working with independent retailers, wholesale, and/or gifting
• Familiarity with CRM tools and performance reporting dashboards
• Personal interest in spirits, hospitality, and/or sustainable consumer goods