Global Distributor Manager

Sazerac Company Overview

Build your career at Sazerac! With almost 400 years of rich history, Sazerac Company has thrived as an independent, American family-owned company with operations in the United States and around the world. Since the 2000s, Sazerac has averaged double digit growth every year! Sazerac Company produces and markets the most award-winning bourbons and whiskeys in the world, including Buffalo Trace, Pappy Van Winkle, Eagle Rare, Blanton’s, Traveller, and Sazerac Rye. Additionally, Sazerac owns many popular brands across a range of spirits, including Fireball, Svedka, Wheatley, BuzzBallz, Southern Comfort, Seagram’s V.O., Myers’s, Goldschläger, Parrot Bay, 99 Brand, and Platinum Vodka.

Job Description/Responsibilities

The Global Distributor Manager, BuzzBallz Business Unit is responsible for maximizing the performance of BuzzBallz’ distributor ecosystem across global markets. This role takes strategic direction from the Global Markets Director, and ensures each distributor delivers sustained growth driven by strong execution, clear planning, disciplined pacing, and consistent alignment with BuzzBallz brand standards.

 

This team member understands the complexities of managing distributors of different sizes, capabilities, and market maturities. They will manage and enable distributor success by setting clear expectations, providing accurate calendars and commercial rhythm, monitoring performance against KPIs, ensuring pricing and branding compliance, and adapting the BuzzBallz commercial playbook to fit local market realities.

 

Their work ensures that BuzzBallz enters each market with the best partners, the right expectations, and a clear path to sustainable growth.  This role is critical to executing BuzzBallz’ global expansion strategy and requires a highly adaptable commercial operator with significant global experience. This role is essential to executing the BuzzBallz BU distributor and go to market strategy as established by the Global Market’s Director.

 

Responsibilities Include:

 

1. Distributor Management, KPIs & Performance Reviews

• Execute the full lifecycle of distributor management from onboarding to annual planning to quarterly performance reviews.
• Assist Global Markets Brand Director in defining global distributor KPIs including:  weighted distribution, sales velocity, pricing compliance, activation execution, display frequency, forecasting accuracy, funding efficiency
• Build and maintain detailed commercial calendars based on Direction from Global Markets Director for each distributor, including launch timelines, activation windows, reset cycles, and key retail milestones.
• Run structured performance conversations tied to clear metrics, expectations, and corrective action plans as needed.
• Serve as the initial resource helping distributors understand priorities, solve problems, and elevate execution quality

2. Contract Negotiation, Terms, and Key Customer Relationships

• Support Sazerac’s engagement with Global Key Customers (Circle K, 7 Eleven, Oxxo, Zabka, GS25). Support with Sales Strategist to integrate negotiations with partnership to expand our planning and standards of execution. 
• Participate in  negotiation of commercial agreements, including: margin structures, minimum volume commitments, exclusivity terms, service levels, reporting requirements, performance incentives
• Ensure BuzzBallz achieves the strongest possible terms while maintaining long-term partnership health.

3. Distributor Incentive Programs & Prioritization

• Support the Global Markets Director in the design of distributor incentives that drive sustained focus and growth.
• Align incentive plans with BU priorities (distribution, velocity, displays, pricing adherence).
• Monitor compliance with brand guidelines, pricing strategy, and creative direction.
• Ensure BuzzBallz receives high visibility and prioritization within distributor portfolios.

4. Emerging Market Distributor Identification, Selection & Onboarding

• Evaluate distributor structures that best support BuzzBallz’ global expansion strategy by market (exclusive, multi-distributor, hybrid RTM, national vs. regional).
• Evaluate market-specific nuances (regulation, culture, retail infrastructure, cold box access, independents vs. chains).
• Screen prospective distributors across global markets based on capability, portfolio fit, financial strength, and execution track record.
• Support Global Markets Director in executing RFPs, capability assessments, and competitive evaluations.
• Manage distributor contracting, onboarding, and launch planning.
• Ensure dist