Job Description
Bluegrass Distillers is seeking a dynamic and driven Associate Manager of Brand, Group & Marketing Engagement to support the growth and visibility of our brand through strategic marketing, group sales, and exceptional visitor experiences. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and wants to make a measurable impact across departments.
You’ll play a key role in driving brand engagement, supporting sales and philanthropy efforts, growing event and tour revenue, and working cross-functionally to ensure a consistent and exceptional customer experience.
Core Responsibilities
Sales & Relationship Development – 15-20%
- Schedule and conduct retail tastings, ensuring ambassador preparation and effective feedback collection.
- Oversee the full lifecycle of the 5-Gallon Barrel Program.
- Cultivate local business relationships to coordinate SPINS, dinners, and collaborations.
- Partner with distribution to pursue leads, assess client needs, recommend products, and ensure timely deliveries.
- Work with our Philanthropy Barrel Program partners
- Coordinated all donation requests.
Marketing & Brand Engagement – 35%
- Direct social media strategy and execution across Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and TikTok, including paid ad management.
- Maintain and update the website, including blog posts, SEO, event listings, and retail directories.
- Coordinate influencer and media relationships with support from the Marketing Director.
- Deliver timely marketing materials to partners and collaborators.
- Track and report on digital engagement metrics including social performance, web traffic, and newsletter engagement.
- Lead content creation across blogs, newsletters, digital ads, and physical assets.
- Support the marketing team with promotional planning and event support.
Event Sales & Management – 15%
- Drive event revenue by identifying opportunities and creating compelling proposals.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for event clients, managing the full event lifecycle.
- Draft and negotiate contracts, coordinate logistics, timelines, and budgets.
- Collaborate with operations, hospitality, and facilities teams to ensure seamless execution.
- Oversee Bluegrass-hosted events including event programming community, seasonal, and product release initiatives.
Visitor Experience & Tours – 25%
- Build relationships with tour booking partners and maintain a proactive reservation calendar.
- Act as a concierge for group experiences, tailoring visits to exceed expectations.
- Align with internal teams to ensure consistent, high-quality visitor experiences.
- Innovate and enhance tour offerings with exclusive add-ons and premium tastings.
- Serve as a liaison for Elkwood Farm tour guests, handling requests in coordination with the Hospitality Manager.
Cross-Departmental Projects – 5-10%
- Contribute to special projects and support internal initiatives as needed.
- Embrace a flexible, collaborative mindset in the fast-paced environment of a growing brand.
Desired Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Communications, Hospitality, Business, or a related field.
- 2–5 years of experience in a marketing, event coordination, hospitality, or sales-focused role—ideally within the spirits, food & beverage, or tourism industries.
- Strong understanding of social media platforms, content creation, paid advertising, and digital marketing tools(e.g., Meta Ads, Canva, Mailchimp, Google Analytics, Squarespace or similar CMS).
- Experience coordinating events, tours, or group experiences, with a proven ability to manage logistics, timelines, and budgets.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a strong attention to detail and brand voice.
- A confident and professional customer-facing demeanor, with experience providing high-touch service and managing client relationships.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment with shifting priorities.
- Availability to work occasional evenings and weekends for events and special tastings.
- Highly organized, proactive, and solution-oriented mindset.
Company Description
Bluegrass Distillers is based in Midway, Kentucky. Founded in 2012, the brand is known for its award-winning small-batch and single-barrel offerings, including unique wheated bourbons made with non-GMO, heirloom blue corn. Committed to a ground-to-glass approach, Bluegrass Distillers sources local ingredients, including grains grown on its 64-acre Elkwood Farm in Midway. With a focus on quality and craftsmanship, the distillery has expanded both domestically and internationally, introducing its premium spirits to new markets.
