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Position Summary

The Director of Wine leads Big Red Liquors' wine business by developing a best-in-class assortment that serves both everyday shoppers and wine enthusiasts. This position oversees purchasing, pricing, merchandising, supplier relationships, private label development, education, and promotional strategy while driving sales growth and profitability across all wine categories.

The Director of Wine serves as both a strategic business leader and a trusted authority on wine, helping position Big Red as Indiana's premier wine retailer.

Key Responsibilities

Category Leadership

• Develop and execute the company's overall wine strategy.
• Curate assortments across value, premium, luxury, domestic, imported, sparkling, rosé, and dessert wines.
• Evaluate emerging regions, varietals, and consumer trends.
• Optimize assortments by store demographics and customer preferences.

Purchasing & Supplier Management

• Negotiate pricing, allocation opportunities, and supplier programs.
• Build relationships with wineries, importers, distributors, and brokers.
• Secure exclusive products and limited allocations.
• Manage inventory investments and purchasing plans.

Pricing & Promotions

• Develop competitive retail pricing strategies.
• Build promotional calendars that maximize profitability.
• Evaluate promotional performance through sales and margin analysis.
• Recommend pricing adjustments based on competitive market conditions.

Merchandising & Customer Experience

• Establish merchandising standards for all wine departments.
• Design compelling displays, endcaps, feature tables, and seasonal presentations.
• Oversee shelf organization, signage, and educational materials.
• Create a shopping experience that encourages exploration and discovery.

Education & Training

• Lead wine education initiatives for store teams.
• Develop product knowledge materials and tasting guides.
• Organize supplier training sessions and customer wine events.
• Promote a culture of continuous learning throughout the organization.

Financial Management

• Manage sales, gross margin, inventory productivity, and profitability.
• Monitor KPIs and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Analyze market trends and customer purchasing behavior.
• Present regular category performance updates to executive leadership.

Marketing & Brand Development

• Collaborate with Marketing on seasonal campaigns, email promotions, and in-store events.
• Support wine clubs, tasting programs, and digital content.
• Lead development of exclusive and private-label wine programs.

Leadership

• Mentor wine buyers, merchandising teams, and category managers.
• Foster collaboration across Operations, Marketing, Finance, and Store Leadership.
• Champion innovation and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• WSET, Court of Master Sommeliers, CSW, or equivalent wine certification preferred.
• 5–10 years of wine buying or category management experience.
• Strong negotiation and supplier management skills.
• Advanced analytical and financial acumen.
• Excellent leadership and communication abilities.
• Passion for wine education and customer engagement.

Key Performance Indicators

• Wine sales growth
• Gross margin %
• Inventory turns
• GMROI
• Average bottle retail
• Premium wine sales growth
• Promotional ROI
• In-stock percentage
• Merchandising compliance
• Customer event performance
• Private label sales
• Customer satisfaction

What Success Looks Like

The Director of Wine builds a differentiated wine program that combines exceptional value with premium selections, outstanding merchandising, knowledgeable staff, and strong supplier partnerships. This leader continuously elevates Big Red Liquors' reputation as Indiana's destination for wine while delivering sustainable sales growth, increased profitability, and an exceptional customer experience.