Chain Sales Specialist - Chicago

Campari Group today is a major player in the global branded spirits industry, with a portfolio of over 50 premium and super premium brands, marketed and distributed in over 190 markets around the world, with leading positions in Europe and the Americas.

Headquartered in Milan, Italy, Campari Group owns 22 plants worldwide and has its own distribution network in 22 countries, and employs approximately 4,000 people.

Shares of the parent company Davide Campari - Milano N.V. are listed on the Italian Stock Exchange since 2001. Campari Group is today the sixth-largest player worldwide in the premium spirits industry.

Company: Campari America

Job Title: Chain Sales Specialist, IL

Job Location:  Illinois

Reports to:  Senior State Manager, IL & IN

Organizational Layer:  Local

General Description of the Role

The Chain Sales Specialist is responsible for driving national and regional retail execution, volume growth, distribution and brand visibility through direct account engagement, strategic distributor management, merchandising and advanced data-driven insights. This role serves as the key liaison between Campari and top national and regional grocery chains in Illinois, contributing to the business planning process, retail programming, and execution across a defined geography. This individual will leverage syndicated data (e.g., Nielsen, IRI) to inform decisions, optimize performance, and build compelling, insight-driven presentations.

Mission/Objectives

Drive visibility and brand standards focused on Strategic Brands within the Campari portfolio concentrated in the Retail Grocery channel.

Key Responsibilities and Activities

Key Account Management

• Owns the commercial relationship with store level buyers at designated national and regional grocery chains and contributes to HQ Planning meetings.
• Contributes to annual and quarterly business planning in partnership with internal stakeholders, including pricing, promotional calendars, and merchandising strategy.
• Designs and executes brand initiatives across shelving, pricing, LTOs, promotional vehicles, and cross-merchandising to maximize visibility and sell-out.
• Conducts top-to-top meetings with key decision-makers, presenting brand plans and performance insights to secure retailer alignment and incremental opportunities.
• Utilizes Nielsen Scan data and internal sales resources to track performance, analyze trends and recap program success.
• Coordinates with local Campari and Distributor management on a regular basis to ensure increased execution and visibility of strategic brands.
• Conducts education training, supports incentive programs and budget management on priority strategic brands.

Channel Expertise

• Strives for a deep understanding and insight of the channel to enhance overall execution of brand standards and product education with our distributor partners, accounts,shoppers and consumers.
• Applies channel insight and recommends resources/tools to SGWS KAMs, Campari National Account leads, as well as Region and Field Marketing Managers
• Partners with Region & Field Marketing and National Accounts to create custom retailer presentations that highlight Campari’s differentiated value proposition.

People Performance

• Achieves growth by working through and with people. Demonstrates the desire and ability to motivate and develop our distributor partners overall execution.
• Creates a supportive and challenging environment where “best in class” performance is expected.
• Demonstrates excellence in resourcing and building effective distributor teams. 

Brand Building

• Works in conjunction with SGWS, Campari’s National Account leads and Region and Field Marketing Management (FMM) Team to assist with the planning and execution of creative, local events that increase the presence and visibility of our strategic brands within the target market.
• Schedules education events in assigned flagship accounts.
• Monitors and reports competitive supplier, or other volume increasing activity, in assigned key accounts and the channel to improve future Campari brand promotions/strategy in the retail grocery channel and key account banners.
• Works with Campari State Manager and distributor to develop goals and objectives focused on sell out metrics.

Distributor Management

• Leads collaboration with distributor Chain teams to ensure flawless execution of HQ mandates at retail.
• Aligns KPIs and execution standards with distributor sales leadership and key account managers.
• Conducts regular business reviews and performance recaps to evaluate distributor execution, prioritize focus areas, and drive accountability.

Key Relationships

Internal:

• State Manager
• Field Sales
• National Account leads
• Field Marketing Management
• Brand Ambassadors

External: 

• Buyers and Category Managers at Retail Chains
• Distributor Chain Sales Directors and Account Managers
• Merchandising Teams and Third-Party Execution Partners

Experience Required

• 3 years of experience in off-premise CPG or beverage alcohol sales, with direct buyer responsibility.
• Proven track record managing key accounts and delivering sales growth through data-driven strategies.
• Experience working in a three-tier distribution environment.
• Strong understanding of syndicated data tools (Nielsen, IRI, etc.) and how to translate insights into actions.

Education / Professional Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required – preferably in Business Administration.

Essential Job Functions

• Ability to travel within assigned territory – generally 5 days per week, and able to work extended hours when required.
• Drive to various locations in assigned area/region.
• Deliver retail grocery account development and point of sale in market/key accounts.
• Make in person presentations – communicating verbally information and opportunities within key accounts and assigned geography.
• Must have a motor vehicle that is insured and possess a valid driver’s license.

Skills

Functional

• Sound understanding of in market selling skills in the retail grocery channel.
• Ability to execute brand building programs that drive volume and share growth in key accounts.
• Strong account management and follow-up skills.
• Business financials and experience in managing to a budget.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with key customers and stakeholders.
• Ability to develop compelling selling stories to grow distribution and volume sales.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in working with a multi-brand portfolio.
• Results oriented; thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work independently.

Technical

• Proficient in Nielsen/IRI and CRM tools.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; strong presentation skills.         

Managerial

• Demonstrated ability to lead through influence and manage cross-functional priorities.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Proven capability to mentor and develop distributor partners.

Our commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:

At Campari Group we believe in building more value together, thus we see diversity in all forms as a source of enrichment. Our employment policies and practices ensure that we are committed to providing equal employment opportunities in all aspects of employment without regard to any individual’s race, religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or characteristics or expression, political affiliation or activity, age, veteran status, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Note to applicants:

Your application will be assessed based on your abilities, expertise, general knowledge and experience, not because of any confidential, proprietary or trade secret information you may possess. You must not disclose to Campari Group any such information. In the event that you are asked a question that cannot be answered without disclosure of any confidential, proprietary or trade secret information (including from a current or prior employer or their vendors or customers), you must decline to answer the question.

Notice to third party agencies:

Please refrain from cold-calling or emailing our executive leadership team or the HR community directly. The Talent Acquisition department manages centralized recruiting operations globally, including the selection and management of external suppliers. Currently, our preferred supplier list is at full capacity. To ensure we have your information on file for future consideration, we kindly request that you complete the online form provided here.