National Wine Sales Specialist Manager at Managed People Solutions

About the Role

You will be responsible for:

• Leading Meridian's premium wine sales strategy
• Growing premium wine revenue and profitability
• Leading and developing a team of Wine Sales Specialists
• Building strategic relationships with premium customers
• Driving premium wine listings and category growth
• Providing commercial insights using customer and wine list data
• Representing Meridian within the premium wine industry
• New customer identification‍

What You'll Do

Commercial Leadership

• Develop and execute the national premium wine sales strategy.
• Drive premium wine revenue and profitability.
• Drive growth of specific brands in the Meridian portfolio
• Identify premium growth opportunities across customers and regions.
• Develop annual commercial plans for the premium portfolio with a focus in the On Consumption channel
• Budget negotiation with clients
• Understanding of the retail landscape and the planning required at outlet level

Customer & Trade Management

• Build strategic relationships with identified customers.
• Engagement with restaurateurs, sommeliers, wine buyers and hospitality groups.
• Advise and support customers with premium wine selection and offering development and optimisation.
• Drive premium listings and menu placements.

Wine Category Leadership

• Provide category insights and premium recommendations.
• Analyse customer premium wine offering and identify growth opportunities.
• Drive premium portfolio management strategy.
• Monitor market and competitor trends.

Team Leadership

• Lead, coach and develop the Wine Specialist team.
• Conduct field coaching and customer visits.
• Build wine sales and commercial capability.
• Support succession and talent development.

Commercial Intelligence

• Manage the Wine List Database.
• Analyse customer, market and portfolio performance.
• Produce commercial reports and recommendations.
• Support strategic decision-making through market insights.
• Identify market trends and regional requirements

 Brand Representation

• Represent Meridian at trade shows, tastings and customer events.
• Build brand relationships.
• Position Meridian as the premium wine partner of choice.

How Success is Measured

You will be successful if you:

• Grow premium wine revenue.
• Increase premium listings.
• Build trusted customer partnerships.
• Develop specialist capability.
• Deliver commercial insights.
• Position Meridian as the leading premium wine partner.
• Become the supplier of choice for premium wine

Minimum Requirements

Essential

• Diploma or Degree in Sales, Marketing or Hospitality.
• 5–8 years commercial premium wine or FMCG experience at a leadership level.
• Strong commercial and customer management capability.
• Certified wine education: WSET level 3, Cape Wine Academy Certificate level, Certified Sommelier level or higher.
• Category Management experience.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills.
• Valid driver's licence and own reliable vehicle.

What You'll Bring

• Passion for premium wine.
• Wine brand-building knowledge
• Your connections and reputation within the wine industry
• Channel expertise
• Commercial mindset.
• Customer-first approach.
• Strategic thinking.
• Strong leadership capability.
• Ability to influence at executive level.
• Excellent relationship-building skills.