Job Description

What Makes this a Great Opportunity

Beam Suntory is a world class employer that develops talented, high-performing team members in a fast-paced, inclusive environment. Beam Suntory and its parent company, Suntory Holdings in Tokyo, Japan, have won numerous awards, including being named on Forbes\' list of \xe2\x80\x9cBest Midsize Employers\xe2\x80\x9d and on Fortune magazine\'s list of the \xe2\x80\x9cWorld\'s Most Admired Companies.\xe2\x80\x9d Most recently our Chicago Headquarters was named one of the \xe2\x80\x9cCoolest Offices in Chicago\xe2\x80\x9d by Crain\'s Chicago Business, and a Top Workplace by the Chicago Tribune.

Purpose of Role

Our aim is for Beam Suntory India portfolio to look to the future of the category and to drive reappraisal. And to create a cult following among whisky enthusiasts ahead of its scale from the get-go; winning word-of-mouth ahead of competitive set. The role of Brand Advocate is critical to deliver this ambition.

The Portfolio Advocate is the face of the brand for Key Opinion Leaders & Halo Accounts in the Key Cities; responsible for creating experiences which enable consumers, influencer groups, media and internal/external stakeholders to discover and have conversations about the products. This will be done via a focus on influencing the influencers, education and engagement, including digital. They will create social experiences that connect people and raise awareness of this new brand, inspiring people to try and then share their experiences with others.

Role Responsibility

This role is a quest to create Blended Whiskies that stand proudly amongst the most revered of Scotch whiskies, advancing the tradition of blending within the greater arc of Scotch whisky history, and contributing to the ongoing legacy of Scotch.

INSPIRE WHISKY KEY OPINION LEADERS

• Build the local KOL engagement plan across all influencer networks, including whisky communities, key media, influential bartenders & internal stakeholders, including a plan for always-on digital engagement (along with the PR agency & local brand team)
• Drive awareness and education of Beam Suntory India portfolio with internal sales and external trade partners in respective region, ensuring front of mind presence and selling confidence with key customers
• Drive awareness and education of Beam Suntory India portfolio with digital influencers in respective region, ensuring front of mind presence and discussion of the brand and blended Scotch
• Introduce Beam Suntory India portfolio in a way that sparks a fresh perspective - Avoiding a cold pitch, immersing into whisky communities & leveraging cultural connections
• Be the local face and leading voice of Beam Suntory India portfolio for any media queries & building distributor & internal team engagement

INFILTRATING WHISKY COMMUNITIES WITH DIGITAL AS THE LEADING TOUCHPOINT

• Create & develop social media content leveraging the wider social media plan and agency support, including creation of virtual brand experiences
• Build & infiltrate social whisky communities leveraging hooks from agencies and existing connections
• Actively develop their own content to spark conversation & reappraisal
• D2C content creating locally relevant content for use on D2C that aids purchase conversion
• Enable 1st party data capture in all activations building digital conversations

BUILD STRONG PRESENCE IN KEY NEIGHBOURHOODS & AMONG WHISKY ENTHUSIASTS

• Establish strong relationships with Halo On trade & Specialist Off trade customers to champion the products partnering closely with local key account teams
• Act as an authority on the Beam Suntory India portfolio and the respective categories; planning and executing tastings, education, and unique brand experiences
• Represent Beam Suntory India portfolio at relevant media, consumer, and trade events
• Amplify halo on trade activations & venue testimonials on social media communicating with global brand manager

+ agencies for amplification

• Identify arts collaboration opportunities aligned to the brand purpose and experience strategy alongside local marketing team & agencies, including amplification on social media, D2C etc

ENABLE INTERNAL ADVOCACY CULTURE AND TEST & LEARN MINDSET

• Create and lead a \xe2\x80\x9cfeedback loop\xe2\x80\x9d regarding emerging trends, whisky community conversation, lifestyle drivers, etc with key internal stakeholders
• Work with global brand house to develop and implement a range of brand marketing activations and communications that are in line with brand messages and objectives
• Collaborate with global & local brand teams, contributing as part of the global network of Brand Advocates and Marketers
• Identify the products brand building initiatives in conjunction with Brand, Customer Marketing & Sales teams
• Develop a strong working relationship with distillery stakeholders
• Develop a strong collaboration culture with other Beam Suntory India Portfolio Diplomats and wider Beam Suntory \'Brand Ambassador\' network
• The management and best use of their annual T&E and activation budget

Qualification & Experience

• Educated to degree level or equivalent, gained via work experience within a premium/luxury environment
• Experience working with luxury brand(s) and their clientele - whisky communities: individual interaction and influencing methods
• Experience working in hospitality and strong existing trade influencer network
• Culturally knowledgeable and in-tune with trends both globally and locally
• Socially connected with Influencer communities in key markets
• Strong appreciation and has experience in social media skills (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)
• Ability to use technology in presentations
• Leadership and mentoring/training skills
• A strong sense of ownership and pride, with the ability to work independently
• Fluency in English

Interpersonal skills required:

• Confident individual who portrays a positive & inclusive energy
• Warm and welcoming style
• A natural networker & relationship builder
• Inspiring public speaking and presentation skills
• Strong influencing and negotiating skills
• Exceptional organisational/prioritization skills
• Quality driven with high standards of customer service and attention to detail

It would be advantageous if candidates have:

• Previous experience as a Brand Ambassador
• Exposure in the world\'s most influential bars hotels and whisky speciality stores
• Alcohol industry or advanced bartending/service qualifications
• Brand messaging and positioning knowledge
• Formal Media training

What will set the successful candidate apart from others? They are/have--

• A Whisky & Spirits nerd - experts of brands, liquids, history & trends
• A Founder\'s mindset - curious about innovation and passionate about advancing the norms
• An Authentic Storytellers - able to weave a unique & warm perspective, not just facts
• An entrepreneur - experienced in creating opportunities
• A stage presence - capturing the attention of the audience
• Immersed in the artistry of whisky & beyond whisky eg active interest in the Creative Arts

Beam Suntory