Are you a commercially minded brand leader with a genuine passion for wine - and ideally Port -looking for a rare opportunity to take ownership of one of the most prestigious fortified wine portfolios in the world?

If so, this could be just the role you have been looking for…

Signature Career Management are working with a highly respected, heritage-led wine & spirits business, jointly owned by two of the most influential family groups in the global drinks industry. The company represents some of the most iconic fortified wine brands ever created, alongside a wider premium wine portfolio, and is now investing heavily in the future of its Port category.

This is not a “traditional” marketing role.
This is not a sales role.
This is a senior, end-to-end commercial brand leadership position sitting right at the heart of the business.

One of the core brands in this portfolio is the UK’s leading Port brand - a true untapped diamond. It has centuries of heritage, outstanding quality credentials and a powerful international brand owner behind it, yet the UK market has only just begun to see its full potential unlocked.

With strong marketing investment, growing innovation pipelines and increasing focus from global headquarters, this is a rare chance to shape how Port is repositioned, premiumised and grown across the UK.

You will sit at the centre of everything -Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance and the international brand owners -acting as the lynchpin that turns strategy into real commercial growth.

Reporting into the Director of Brand Management, you will take full ownership of the fortified wine portfolio in the UK -both commercially and from a brand perspective.

The role has two core pillars:

 Commercial Leadership

You will be the UK lead for the portfolio - in a business that is highly commercial, data-driven and focused on long-term brand growth.

You will:

• Collaborate with Sales on JBPs, pricing, promotions, range and distribution
• Use Nielsen and market insight to identify growth opportunities
• Play a leading role in annual customer planning and reviews
• Act as the key UK contact for the international brand owners

 Brand & Category Leadership

You will be the champion for Port and fortified wines inside the UK business.

You will lead:

• Brand campaigns, in-store activation, PR, events and trade marketing
• NPD and innovation (working on year +1 and year +2 pipelines)
• Positioning, storytelling, premiumisation and tone of voice
• Cross-channel strategy across grocery, on-trade, specialist and wholesale

This is full-mix brand management -retail, on-trade, experiential, PR, innovation and commercial delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Driving sales, share and brand growth across the fortified wine portfolio
• Co-creating and delivering the Annual Brand & Commercial Plan
• Leading innovation and NPD development
• Managing the marketing budget and agency partners
• Owning the day-to-day relationship with international brand owners
• Supporting Sales in key customer meetings and JBPs
• Managing market data, performance reporting and buyer insight
• Delivering PR, press, events and awards strategy
• Chairing cross-functional fortified category meetings
• Owning forecasting, reporting and performance tracking

Who We Are Looking For

This role needs someone with gravitas, commercial instinct and brand leadership capability.

You could come from:

• A large drinks group
• A premium wine or spirits business
• Or a smaller, entrepreneurial brand environment

What matters most is that you bring:

• Strong commercial and brand management experience
• A clear understanding of how brands grow in UK retail and on trade
• Confidence operating with senior stakeholders and international principals
• A genuine love of wine - and ideally Port

This is a role for someone who enjoys full ownership, complexity and influence and who wants to build something meaningful.

This is truly not one to miss, To apply directly please send a copy of your CV to Niall@signaturecm.co.uk or Mike@signaturecm.co.uk or alternatively please apply via the link below.

Whilst we will always endeavour to respond to you, due to the high levels of applications we receive this isn’t always possible. If you are not contacted within 3 working days, you have unfortunately not been shortlisted for this role. 

Please note Signature Career Management is acting as an employment agency