Beverage Director

• 5+ years of experience in the beverage industry (manufacturing or retail, not hospitality)
• Experience owning vendor relationships at the strategic level
• Must be comfortable with monthly travel out of state

Nice to Have Skills & Experience

• Experience in/working with a trade association or trade organization

Job Description

Insight Global is seeking a Director of Beverage Strategy for our client, an association of independently owned convenience stores, headquartered in Smyrna, GA. The Director of Beverage Strategy will lead our client's beverage category, overseeing vendor partnerships, program development, and strategic initiatives. This role is responsible for driving category growth, maximizing vendor funding and rebates, strengthening strategic partnerships, and delivering meaningful value to members. The Director acts as the internal category authority - aligning leadership, field teams, and vendor partners around initiatives that increase participation, compliance, and revenue.

Key Responsibilities

Category Ownership & Growth

• Lead the overall beverage category strategy, performance, and long-term growth roadmap
• Drive increases in vendor volume, rebates, funding, and member participation
• Identify whitespace opportunities across energy, CSD, water, RTD, and emerging beverage segments
• Ensure beverage programs deliver measurable financial and operational value to members

Vendor Strategy & Negotiation

• Lead identification, negotiation, and execution of vendor partnerships and CMAs
• Own vendor relationships at the strategic level, ensuring accountability, performance, and alignment
• Drive funding, promotional support, and innovation pipelines from key partners
• Conduct structured quarterly business reviews with vendors

Program Development & Execution

• Design and optimize beverage programs, pricing structures, and promotional strategies
• Oversee launch execution for new products, LTOs, and innovation initiatives
• Ensure consistent program communication and adoption across the member base
• Monitor compliance and program performance across territories

Field & Member Integration

• Partner with VP of Field Operations to embed beverage priorities into field execution
• Train and enable BDRs/BDMs to effectively sell, position, and implement beverage programs
• Support key member relationships and high-impact accounts
• Analyze vendor reporting, rebate performance, and category trends
• Monitor competitor strategies and market dynamics
• Use data to guide portfolio decisions, pricing strategy, and vendor negotiations

Leadership & Organizational Alignment

• Collaborate with executive leadership on strategic direction and category investment decisions
• Influence internal planning across sales, marketing, and operations
• Lead beverage planning for tradeshows, member events, and strategic initiatives

Industry Engagement

• Represent the company at trade shows, conferences, and vendor meetings
• Maintain deep awareness of innovation pipelines and category evolution

Compensation

$120,000 to $150,000 per year annual salary.

Exact compensation may vary based on several factors, including skills, experience, and education. Benefit packages for this role may include healthcare insurance offerings and paid leave as provided by applicable law.