Vice President of Marketing and Trade Development – Spirits

Position Summary:

Redwood Empire Distillery, California’s largest whiskey brand, based on historic Mare Island in Vallejo, CA, is seeking a dynamic spirits Vice President of Marketing and Trade Development to lead the creation and execution of national and regional marketing programs that drive brand growth and awareness.

This role is ideal for a hands-on, results-oriented trade marketer with a proven track record of building and accelerating premium or craft spirits brands. The successful candidate will partner closely with Sales to translate brand strategy into impactful, in-market execution—leveraging both on-trade and retail relationships and national distributor networks.

Success in this role will be defined by the ability to activate our Homeplace Distillery as a strategic asset, strengthen trade engagement, and deliver incremental revenue across national markets. The position reports to the Chief Sales Officer.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Brand Stewardship

• Lead development and execution of integrated marketing strategies that drive brand growth and commercial performance.
• Own brand positioning, messaging, and go-to-market approach, ensuring consistency across all channels.
• Shape annual marketing plans and priorities in alignment with company growth objectives.

Consumer Marketing & Demand Generation

• Own and drive consumer marketing strategy and execution across digital, social, PR, partnerships, and experiential.
• Oversee media planning, agency partners, and creative development to deliver high-impact campaigns.
• Build programs that generate sustained consumer demand, awareness, and loyalty.

Portfolio & Innovation Leadership

• Lead commercialization of innovation, including product launches and go-to-market strategy.
• Define and manage portfolio priorities, including SKU focus, line extensions, and limited releases.
• Leverage consumer and market insights to inform marketing direction and growth opportunities.

Trade & Market Activation

• Develop and lead trade marketing strategy and execution across on- and off-premise channels.
• Partner with Sales and distributors to drive best-in-class in-market execution and revenue growth.
• Maximize the Homeplace Distillery as a strategic platform for brand and trade engagement.

Insights & Performance Management

• Own marketing performance, establishing KPIs and accountability for brand and commercial results.
• Leverage data (Nielsen/IRI, digital analytics) to guide decision-making and optimize investment.
• Lead business reviews, continuously refining strategies to improve impact and ROI.

Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Influence

• Lead a high-performing marketing team across brand, digital, and trade.
• Manage agencies and cross-functional partners to ensure aligned, high-quality execution.
• Serve as a key commercial leader, influencing cross-functional decisions that impact growth and profitability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marketing, Business, or related field; MBA preferred.
• 8–12+ years of progressive marketing experience in spirits or beverage alcohol, including both brand and trade marketing leadership (craft spirits experience strongly preferred).
• Demonstrated success leading marketing strategy and execution to grow premium or emerging brands.
• Proven ability to own and drive consumer demand generation, including digital, social, PR, and experiential marketing.
• Experience leading product launches and innovation commercialization within a competitive market.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to translate insights into actionable growth plans.
• Track record of partnering effectively with Sales and distributors to deliver integrated commercial results.
• Experience managing and leading agencies, budgets, and cross-functional initiatives.
• Deep understanding of digital marketing ecosystems, media strategy, and brand storytelling.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and external partners.
• Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a proactive, solution-oriented approach and strong executional discipline.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; experience with Nielsen/IRI and digital analytics platforms preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to lift and carry 40–50 lbs for short periods.
• Ability to handle materials equivalent to a case of spirits or promotional assets.
• Ability to maintain a consistent, weekly presence (when not traveling) at our Distillery Homeplace on Mare Island in Vallejo, California.