National Expansion & Operations Manager - Premium Tequila Brand
Location: Remote
Employment Type: Full-time contract (1099)
Compensation: Base pay + performance incentives
Start Date: ASAP
Reports To: Co-Founders/Board of Directors
About the Company
An emerging premium tequila brand is seeking a hands-on, entrepreneurial Operations Manager to support its next stage of growth. With existing retail distribution, direct-to-consumer sales, and expansion opportunities across the U.S. and Canada, the company is looking for someone who can build distribution while managing the operations behind sustainable growth.
Role Summary
This role combines business development, marketing, and operations. Approximately 50% of your time will focus on opening markets and growing distribution, 25% on marketing and consumer channels, and 25% on supply chain, financial oversight, and reporting.
Working directly with the Co-Founders/Board of Directors, you will have meaningful ownership of execution and results.
Key Responsibilities
Business Development & Distribution — 50%
- Develop and execute a prioritized market-entry plan across the U.S., Canada, and future international markets.
- Identify, secure, and manage distributor and wholesaler partners, including partners needed to support pending retail expansion.
- Open new off-premise retail and on-premise accounts.
- Manage and grow existing retail relationships and support Canadian listing opportunities.
- Drive sell-through and depletions through distributor engagement, account programming, and market-level performance tracking.
- Plan and execute in-store tastings, demonstrations, and trade events.
- Represent the brand at industry events and support distributor sales teams in the field.
Marketing — 25%
- Manage social media channels and the content calendar while maintaining a consistent brand voice.
- Grow direct-to-consumer sales through existing online retail partners.
- Oversee an upcoming e-commerce merchandise store, including product selection, launches, and performance.
- Build and manage influencer and creator partnerships.
- Plan and execute consumer events and brand activations.
- Develop and deploy point-of-sale materials and signage for retail and on-premise accounts.
- Ensure marketing activities comply with applicable alcohol advertising requirements.
Operations — 25%
- Manage relationships with the producer in Mexico, importer, freight providers, and warehousing partners.
- Oversee orders from purchase order through delivery.
- Forecast inventory and production needs to support market expansion and prevent avoidable stock-outs or excess inventory.
- Manage budgets and oversee accounts receivable and payable in partnership with bookkeeping and back-office providers.
- Prepare and present monthly and quarterly KPI reports and board updates.
Compliance
- Coordinate with relevant partners to support compliance with U.S. federal and state requirements and applicable Canadian regulations.
- Help ensure distribution, labeling, marketing, and events meet requirements in each operating market.
What Success Looks Like
Specific targets will be established with the Co-Founders/Board of Directors.
First 90 Days
- Develop a working knowledge of the company’s supply chain, accounts, systems, and finances.
- Identify and begin negotiations with priority wholesaler partners.
- Establish consistent reporting for depletions, inventory, and budget performance.
- Implement a tasting and demonstration calendar for existing retail accounts.
- Deliver initial KPI reports and present a board update.
First Year
- Secure new distributor and wholesaler agreements and launch product in additional markets.
- Increase active retail and on-premise accounts and improve depletions per account.
- Deliver measurable growth across direct-to-consumer, merchandise, and social channels.
- Establish reliable inventory forecasting and order management.
- Develop a clear annual budget and quarterly KPI reporting process.
Qualifications
Required
- 3+ years of experience in spirits or beverage alcohol sales or brand management.
- Established distributor relationships and solid working knowledge of the beverage alcohol industry.
- Of legal drinking age.
- Valid driver’s license.
- Willingness and ability to travel for market visits, account meetings, and events.
Preferred
- Tequila or agave spirits experience.
- Experience working in both the U.S. and Canada.
- Familiarity with Shopify and social media management tools.
- QuickBooks experience.
- Experience with a startup or early-stage brand.
What We Offer
- A high-impact role with meaningful ownership at a growing premium tequila brand.
- Direct collaboration with the Co-Founders/Board of Directors.
- The opportunity to shape distribution, marketing, and operations from the ground up.
- Remote work arrangement.
- Base pay plus performance incentives.