EOE Statement
We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.
Description
Brand Development Manager - Walkerswood (NY & NJ)
PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
Looking for a hands-on individual to drive sustainable and profitable growth of the
Walkerswood portfolio across the New York and New Jersey markets. You will be responsible for broadening distribution in both traditional Caribbean channels and mainstream retail, while elevating the brand's image as the premier Caribbean seasoning and sauce authority for a diverse consumer base.
Compensation Structure: Starting at $80,000. Salary commensurate upon experience. Eligibility of earning a quarterly bonus based on performance targets. Expense reimbursement.
Core Responsibilities
Pound the Pavement: Drive daily territory coverage to find, open, and cultivate new business opportunities across independent grocers and ethnic markets.
Own the Shelf: Partner directly with store management and distributors to optimize product placement, secure eye-level shelf space, and build high-traffic secondary displays.
Distributor Alignment: Work side-by-side with local Caribbean-interest distributor networks, providing hands-on, on-the-ground guidance to their sales teams.
Field Audits: Conduct frequent retail store visits to check stock levels, ensure product freshness, and maintain strict visual merchandising standards.
High-Energy Activations: Coordinate and execute consumer sampling programs, local food festivals, and seasonal events (like Jerk Festivals and BBQ season) to drive immediate store traffic.
Brand Advocacy: Serve as the primary, authentic ambassador for the Walkerswood heritage, educating retail partners and store staff on product usage.
Requirements & Skills
Field Experience: 5+ years of hands-on experience in retail store management, field sales, or route distribution within the food and beverage sector.
Territory Hustle: Deep familiarity with the local NY/NJ retail landscape and a proven track record of building long-term relationships with neighborhood store owners.
Merchandising Expertise: Strong background in physical store operations, cash/inventory management, and setting up creative point-of-sale displays.
Relationship First: A natural, persuasive communicator who excels at consultative selling, handling customer issues, and closing deals face-to-face.
Bilingual Advantage: Full professional fluency in Spanish is highly preferred to effectively navigate and build trust within diverse ethnic markets.
Position Requirements
- Experience in brand development, trade marketing, or CPG marketing, preferably within multicultural or specialty food categories.
- Strong knowledge of the NY/NJ retail and distributor landscape, including independent grocers, ethnic markets, and major chains.
- Ability to develop and execute localized marketing strategies for diverse consumer groups and cultural events.
- Proven skills in territory and channel management, guiding distributors, and optimizing retail placement.
- Analytical capability to track regional sales, ROI, consumer insights, and competitor activity.
- Experience managing marketing budgets with emphasis on cost-efficiency and high-impact programs.
- Strong communication skills for training teams and representing the brand as an ambassador.
- Ability to execute events, samplings, and tradeshows effectively.
- Understanding of compliance, brand guidelines, and retail display standards.
Full-Time/Part-Time
Full-Time
Salary
$80k
Position
Brand Development Manager
Division
Brooklyn Bottling Company of Milton NY
Location
Brooklyn Bottling of Milton
This position is currently accepting applications.