Sales Executive – Graduate to Export Programme

Background

Belfast Distillery Company, the venture behind McConnell’s Irish Whisky, was established with a single goal: Restoring the Legend. And we’re well on our way. In 2020 the Belfast Distillery Company revived McConnell’s Irish Whisky, a brand that dates back to 1776, and placed it back on the global stage. Within 5 years of the relaunch of the brand, it is once again found in bars across our home city and is now exported to over 40+ International markets, including the US, Canada, Australia, South Africa and many countries across Europe.

In our short 5 years since the brand was re-awakened, we have been awarded no less than 44 International Spirits Awards across our portfolio of whisky expressions. And most excitingly of all, we’re only getting started. If you’re interested in being part of our story and meet the criteria detailed below, submit a CV to Shauna Parkes (sparkes@belfastdistillery.com) or through the company website by 30 June 2025. Interviews are planned for the week commencing 7th July.

Principal Accountabilities

The successful candidate will be centrally involved in the implementation of the sales and marketing strategies of the company and its brands. Duration of the role is 18 months, with the first 6 months based at McConnell’s Distillery Belfast and the following 12 months in an export market of our choice supporting our distribution partner.

Principal Accountabilities include:

– Tracking and management of sales targets within chosen export market
– Managing the execution of trade events within the industry ensuring Belfast Distillery Company is brilliantly represented with maximum exposure to trade and consumers
– Spending time in trade building our brands with customers; shoppers and consumers
– Providing feedback from the market in order to support the Belfast Distillery Company marketing team to develop brilliant in market activations for all markets and channels
– Attending distributor meetings to support presentation of the portfolio.
– Supporting the development of brand sell-in decks which will be used by distributors
– Work with distributor to create an activity calendar by market/channel for our portfolio
– Execute On Trade & Off Trade activation in export market in line with the global marketing plans.
– Support the Brand Team with the creation of the social media content calendar, including development of export market content.
– Analysing data and sales trends in order to support the measurement of our performance
– Tracking and reporting competitor activity in chosen market
– Support the management of Trade Marketing budgets; assessing effectiveness of spend

Knowledge / Experience / Skills

Essential
– A self-starter who is highly motivated to work hard and deliver results
– Ability and willingness to travel internationally
– Ability to proudly represent Belfast Distillery Company portfolio with confidence.
– Ability to work as part of a team ensuring positive team dynamics
– Ability to engage with all departments of the business to deliver marketing activations
– Ability to manage multiple priorities and / or projects at one time
– Comfortable analysing data with high attention to detail
– Strong online capabilities on social media and digital marketing
– Full clean driving licence and access to vehicle with Use of Business Insurance cover

Desirable
– Ability to use Adobe Design Suite – photoshop, illustrator, in-design
– Keen attention to detail and strong command of spelling, grammar and punctuation
– Specifications as per Invest NI Graduate to Export Program –
Graduate Eligibility – as per Invest NI
– A Pass degree (This can be in any discipline)
– Graduated in the last five years
– A willingness to relocate outside Northern Ireland (foreign language skills are desirable, but not essential).
– Pre-existing legal status to live and work in Northern Ireland