New York Wine & Spirits League Managing Director

New York Wine & Spirits League - Managing Director

Reports to: Board of Directors

Department: Executive

FLSA Classification: Exempt

Distributor Members: DeCrescente Distributing, McCraith Beverages, A.L George Distributing, Wright Beverage Distributing

Purpose:

The New York Wine & Spirits League brings together four leading beverage distributors (the “Members”) to create a powerful, unified route-to-market across Upstate New York, from Albany to Buffalo.

Each Member brings established customer relationships, experienced sales teams, local market knowledge, logistics capabilities, and strong execution. Together, the Members offer suppliers the scale andreach of a larger distribution network while maintaining the local market expertise and relationships of independent distributors.

The League’s objective is simple: become the preferred distribution partner for wine and spirits suppliers looking to build their brands across Upstate New York.

Job Summary:

The Managing Director serves as the independent executive leader of the New York Wine & Spirits League, representing the collective interests of all four Members. Reporting directly to the Board of Directors, consisting of 1 Member from each Distributor, the Managing Director is responsible for transforming the collective strengths of the League’s Members into one powerful and coordinated statewide platform.

By aligning sales organizations, customer relationships, market expertise, logistics infrastructure, data, and local execution, the Managing Director creates a coordinated route-to-market solution for wine and spirits suppliers while preserving the local strengths that make each Member successful. The Managing Director will lead supplier development, portfolio growth, Member alignment, and financial performance while ensuring suppliers experience the League as one coordinated organization rather than four separate distributors.

The ultimate objective of this role is to establish the League as a differentiated Total Beverage House and the preferred alternative for suppliers seeking a scalable, high-performing distribution solution across Upstate New York.

Executive Functions:

Supplier Leadership, Prospecting & Management

• Identify and recruit wine and spirits suppliers that strategically fit the League's portfolio
• Assist Members and League Counsel in negotiations with key supplier partners
• Continually evaluate the portfolio for growth opportunities, gaps, and SKU productivity
• Maintain an active pulse on emerging market trends to propose new products and prospects in alignment while elevating the League’s differentiated position.
• Develop and implement commercial terms

Unified Market Strategy

• Turn four distributor organizations into a coordinated statewide route-to-market.
• Align Members around common supplier strategies, priorities, pricing, programs, and execution expectations.
• Develop annual business plans with clear sales, distribution, and profitability objectives.
• Ensure suppliers experience the League as one coordinated organization rather than four separate distributors.

Economic Value Creation

• Drive incremental gross profit through portfolio expansion, including targeted supplier prospecting and the addition of new brands.
• Deliver measurable cost savings (freight, procurement, and related areas)
• Establish clear tracking and streamlined reporting to measure results and confirm value realization.

Market Execution

• Leverage the combined account coverage, sales capabilities, logistics infrastructure, and customer relationships of the League’s four Members.
• Establish consistent execution standards and measurements across markets.
• Identify opportunities to improve distribution, velocity, programming, and account penetration.
• Use the League's total beverage capabilities to create differentiated solutions for retailers and suppliers.

Analytics & Capability Building

• Build shared data, reporting, and insights capabilities that track sales, distribution, SKU productivity, supplier performance, forecasts, and program execution.
• Monthly Dashboard reporting & updates.
• Use market and performance data to identify opportunities and drive strategic decisions.

Governance

• Provide regular, transparent reporting to the Board
• Maintain neutrality and represent the Member’s collective interests . Lead and coordinate Board committees and working groups.
• Understand NYSLA and other applicable laws and regulations to ensure compliance.
• Work with legal counsel to stay abreast of legalities, proposed changes to the legal landscape, etc.

Authority & Scope

• Authorized to operate within a clearly defined scope established by the Board to include engagement with suppliers, vendors and partners to execute League initiatives.

First Year Priorities:

• Clearly define and communicate the League’s unified supplier value proposition.
• Build a targeted pipeline of prospective supplier partners.
• Deliver measurable portfolio and financial growth.
• Establish common business planning and performance reporting.
• Improve coordination and execution across the four Member distributors.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

Financial Performance / Gross Profit Growth: 35%

League GP vs. annual budget; incremental GP from new and existing suppliers; ROI against League operating costs

Portfolio & Supplier Growth: 25%

Acquisition of targeted new suppliers/brands; quality and financial contribution of new business; retention and expansion of strategic suppliers

Supplier Business Plan Performance: 25%

League sales/distribution performance vs. agreed supplier annual business plans; forecast attainment; distribution and key initiative execution

Unified Member Execution: 15%

Consistent execution across all four distributors; adoption of League programs; reporting compliance; speed to market; Member alignment

Conditions of Employment:

Compensation

• Annual Base Salary Range: $120,000 - $150,000
• Bonus Potential: Up to $50,000 based on achievement of established KPI’s.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Paid time off (PTO)
• 401(k) plan.
• Mileage reimbursement provided for business use of a personal vehicle.

Location & Travel

• Must reside within the League’s Upstate New York market, from Albany to Buffalo.
• Remote work arrangement or the ability to work from a League Member office
• Regular travel throughout the League’s market is required

These statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work involved for this position. It is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of this position. Additional duties may be assigned as required by the Board of Managers.

Qualifications

Qualifications and Required Skills:

• At least 10 years of management experience in the Wine and Spirits Industry
• Proven operator with strong commercial, relationship management and financial acumen
• Demonstrated ability to influence without direct authority
• High credibility, sound judgment, and strict neutrality
• Experience across both supplier and distributor environments preferred
• Industry certification & training credentials
• Valid driver’s license
• Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a solicitor’s permit
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation