Kingsland Drinks is a well-established premier independent UK supplier of wine and spirits specialising in providing a complete category solution. Using our consumer understanding and drinks experience, we provide innovative, bespoke solutions to become the partner of choice as we create value for our customers.
Working at Kingsland, a company that is employee owned, means that you can suggest ideas and innovative ways in how we, as a collective run our business. Our most important stakeholder is our members (employees), who have also been key to our success. We have built on our heritage, with a family ethic, and always tried to encourage a positive can-do culture that encourages individual responsibility. We have always valued our members contribution and we recognise that the success of Kingsland has only been possible with everyone’s valued contributions.
Our key objective when we decided on the next step on the journey for Kingsland is for our business to continue to grow and develop and provide security for all our stakeholders. We strongly believe we have created a great legacy that we want to securely hand this on to the next generation and beyond, so the future of the business remains in its own hands. We want Kingsland Drinks Group to be a place people enjoy coming to work and a business our members feel proud of.
We are looking for passionate, professional, and fun-loving candidates to join our expanding business here in Manchester! As we’re accredited in IIP, we are invested in looking after our members and training / developing you to fulfil your careers.
Role Summary:
Supporting the Senior Brand & Insights Manager, responsible for the planning and commercial delivery of Kingsland brands across all alcoholic drinks. This role ensures brands are positioned, activated and executed effectively across channels, driving awareness, distribution and commercial performance. Working closely with Sales, Commercial, Buying and external brand partners, supporting the brand and innovation agenda; champion consumer and insight-led planning, bring brands and innovation to life, and enhance their profile through stakeholder management and activation campaigns.
Key Responsibilities:
· Creation and implementation of brand plans - utilising an insight-led approach (external and Internal), and working with the Senior Brand and Insight Manager, define how our brands can win commercially.
· Implementation of integrated brand communications – Bring brands to life by creating compelling stories and campaigns which generate the brand equity identified within brand models and maximise ROI.
· Measuring and reporting brand KPI’s & financial performance – support the SB&IM when required to create updates vs ABP spanning volume and profit after S&D, performance vs core competitor set across key metrics (e.g. brand share and shopper metrics). Ensure appropriate commercial reporting of brand performances are communicated to cross functional teams as requested by DOW&BD and Exec team.
· Brand profile management – working closely with the SB&IM to represent (e.g. presentations to customers and at internal sales meetings) and manage the profile of Kingsland brands with both internal and external stakeholders, including brand owners.
· Monitor brand performance using sales data, market insight and internal reporting tools.
· Track brand KPIs and ROI, identifying opportunities to optimise plans and improve performance.
· Use consumer, shopper and customer insight to inform brand decisions and recommendations.
· Brief and manage design and product management teams for packaging, POS, sales materials and digital assets, working with agencies as required.
· Working with technical and product managers to ensure all brand assets are compliant with legal and regulatory requirements within the alcohol category.
· Maintain and organise brand guidelines and asset libraries.
· Partner with Commercial and Finance teams to support pricing, margin management and promotional planning.
The Candidate:
Essential to have strong creative & brand development skills
- Minimum of 3 years’ experience in FMCG, preferably in the drinks industry, with a proven track record of delivering and achieving results. Be able to demonstrate strong brand & project management skills.
- Degree or diploma in Business, marketing, Economics or similar discipline
- Computer Literacy – Word, Excel, PowerPoint & email
- Numerate with strong financial skills
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Knowledge of market desirable
- Experience in a Brand Manager or Assistant Brand Manager role within FMCG, wine, spirits or drinks.
- Brand/retail sales experience
- Proven commercial skills with an understanding of how brands drive sales and margin.
- Exposure to working with a team of people
- Strong organisational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple brands and projects simultaneously.
Strong communicator with the ability and confidence in interaction with different functions within a business (in particular, Sales, Finance, Wine Buying, Production and Supply Chain) and externally (Customers and Suppliers). Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
At Kingsland we offer a wide range of benefits:
- Highly competitive salary
- Generous holiday entitlement that increases with length of service
- Company day at Christmas, to share with your nearest and dearest
- Annual profit share based on company KPI’s
- Huge discounts on wine and spirits in our company shop!
- Flexible working options
- Life assurance cover
- A generous thank-you gift if you 'recommend a friend' to work with us too. Lots of people work alongside their loved ones at Kingsland.
- Wellbeing resources, including Mental Health First Aiders and access to an EAP with free counselling. Your wellbeing is a top priority, and there's lots of support at Kingsland.
- Well-being App to help support your mental health
- Health Checks (diabetes/blood pressure, stop smoking advice etc.)
- Training and progression opportunities open to all, including fully funded apprenticeships.
- Involvement with New product development (Wine / Spirit tasting)
- On-site free car parking
- Electric Vehicle charging
- Local Community involvement – Irlam Live ticket discounts and Rugby ticket discounts
We welcome applications from everyone. If you have got the talent, the potential, the drive, and determination there is a place for you at Kingsland Drinks Group.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £45,000.00 per year
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Irlam M44
