Breakthru Beverage Group is a family-owned company with more than $8.5 billion in annual sales and a team of 10,000 dedicated associates. Breakthru delivers world-renowned brands to the doorsteps of North America’s retail, bar, and restaurant businesses, and has been named a “U.S. Best Managed Company” for three years in a row.

 

The Sales Leadership Development Program is a highly selective, early career program designed for recent college graduates or seniors who will graduate no later than May 2025. This program is seeking individuals who possess exceptional talent, leadership skills, and a strong determination to excel. Our early career program is in partnership with two of our key supplier partners, Brown-Forman (the maker of Jack Daniel's) and Diageo (a global leader in beverage alcohol).

 

This sales program, which is based on merit and is phased out in four years has timelines adjusted according to business requirements and your personal growth and development in readiness for the program's next phase. At the start of the program you will be a part of a fast-paced outside sales team working with customers in the market. 

 

Graduates of the Sales Leadership Development Program find success often secure higher-level sales management positions, corporate roles, or roles in field marketing or commercial sales analysis with our supplier partners.

 

Being accepted into the Sales Leadership Development Program, means you will have the opportunity to build your foundation in sales and sales leadership. This experience will accelerate your career growth and prepare you for a career in sales, distributor management and beyond.  

 

 

PHASE ONE: VIRTUAL STRUCTURED LEARNING

You will spend your 1st 90 days virtually introduced to the core skills for providing world-class servcice. This robust and structured learning provides our Sales LDP's an engaging experience to prepare for market assignment.

 

PHASE TWO: SALES REPRESENTATIVE

In the Sales Representative role you will spend your first 18-30 months in an outside sales role within an assigned territory in that market.  You will receive extensive product and sales training that will help you manage a set number of accounts. Our business model does not involve cold calling; it's all about established selling. Displaying exceptional sales leadership skills and achieving results will propel you to your next assignment.

 

PHASE THREE: FIELD SALES MANAGER 

In the Field Sales Manager (FSM) position, which typically is between 18-24 months, you will enhance your leadership abilities and strategic thinking by managing a team of 4-7 Sales Representatives. Identifying effective motivational strategies and using a range of tools to manage your team will be critical to accomplishing success via your team and cultivating future talent. 

 

PHASE FOUR:  GRADUATION (VARIOUS OPPORTUNITIES AND PATHS)

Graduation is your promotion into the next level distributor sales or commercial related role or to a position with the key supplier partner you are aligned with during your time in the program. 

 

Example of graduation positions include:

 

Distributor Business Manager-

In this role, you are a liaison between a specific supplier or group of suppliers and our sales and marketing team, implementing sales and marketing strategies and achieve company financial objectives. This role serves as the in-house expert on a particular portfolio, managing all aspects of the supplier’s business with the company and provides the critical link between the sales and marketing departments.

 

Distributor Division Sales Manager-

In this role, you will manage a team of 2-4 Field Sales Managers (FSM). At this level of sales management, you are responsible for a greater amount of business and personnel. 

 

Supplier Market Manager-  

In this role, you will represent Brown-Forman in the market. You will be responsible for key account and consumer development; events, education and training; planning and evaluation. You will collaborate and establish rapport with key distributor sales personnel.  

• Senior college graduate of December 2024/June 2025.
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities, enthusiasm for sales and sales management, and interest in the alcoholic beverage industry
• Excellent oral and written communication
• Strong collaboration and teamwork skills
• Exceptional strategic, creative, and analytical problem-solving abilities
• Proficient in identifying issues, gathering data, establishing facts, and drawing valid conclusions
• Experienced in planning and organizing tasks through effecient project management
• Skilled at effectively presenting information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization
• Strong presentation skills and a proven ability to effectively present information to management groups is required
• Must be 21 years of age at time of employment
• Valid Driver's License and ability to operate a motor vehicle 
• Ability to hold a Solicitor’s Permit required (where applicable)

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

 

• While performing the duties of this job, the associate is regularly required to extend their hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; as well as speak or listen. The associate frequently is required to stand, walk, sit, and maintain balance or climb. The associate must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The associate must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

 

Working Conditions & Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an associate encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

 

• While executing the duties of this job, the associate is frequently exposed to a typical business office setting. The capacity to share workspace, commute by car or train, dress appropriately for business, attend evening meetings, and meet deadlines are all prerequisites for this position. The associate is frequently required to work in the market, which may occasionally expose them to adverse weather conditions.

Breakthru Beverage Group is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics. The EEO is the Law poster is available Here, if you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please call (708) 298-3536 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

Corporate- Early Careers