Who We Are

Wine Enthusiast Companies is a Certified B Corporation and the ultimate source of innovation and information around wine. Founded in 1979 by Adam and Sybil Strum, the family-owned company is composed of Wine Enthusiast Commerce and Wine Enthusiast Media. Wine Enthusiast Shop provides premium wine-lifestyle products, reaching millions of consumers globally via direct mail, an e-commerce site, and a business-to-business division. Wine Enthusiast magazine is an award-winning print publication and online resource that showcases wine news, food trends, and more than 25,000 ratings and reviews annually. Wine Enthusiast events include the annual premier Wine Star Awards gala. In 2024, the company launched a travel division, which includes the Tasting Room Directory and Cork+Compass Travel. Together, Wine Enthusiast Companies is the indisputable hub for everything wine. We bring wine to life.

Your Role in Our Journey

Wine Enthusiast Companies, the leading full-service provider of innovative products for the wine lifestyle, is seeking a customer-obsessed VP of Sales and Marketing to help our legacy business grow. 

As our VP of Sales and Marketing, you will fully understand and appreciate how wine is an essential part of a balanced and joyful lifestyle. Your goal will be to evangelize this, welcoming new customers into the wine world by growing the annual sales of our commerce business. To be successful in this role you must have a fresh perspective and a test-and-learn mindset. This role requires strong leadership, a deep understanding of direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales models, and a proven track record in customer acquisition and conversion optimization.

This role would oversee both revenue generation (sales) and demand generation (marketing), ensuring alignment between the two departments to drive customer acquisition and retention.

What You'll Be Uncorking

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive sales strategy to grow Revenue through our Web site, Phone and emerging in-store retail touch points.
• Partner with Brand to generate awareness and conduct competitive analysis to understand our place in the market and opportunities to grow
• Lead a team of marketers across digital (SEO and PPC), social (paid and organic) and print media, enhancing lead generation and customer retention.
• Identify new ways to bring on incremental revenue outside of existing channels
• Oversee sales forecasting, budgeting, and performance analysis.
• Analyze customer data to optimize marketing initiatives and conversion rates through existing customer personas.
• Collaborate with Product and Inventory teams to align marketing efforts with go-to-market product launches, messaging and promotions.
• Manage budgets, track ROI, and implement performance-driven marketing plans.
• Create a high performance sales culture
• Identify and build strategic partnerships and alliances that can enhance marketing efforts and brand exposure.

The Perfect Blend (What You Bring to the Table)

Qualifications:

12+ years of experience in sales and marketing leadership, preferably in a DTC retail environment.

• Track Record: Expertise in developing and executing integrated sales and marketing strategies.
• Technical Savvy: Expertise in mapping and launching CRM tools with regular performance tracking.
• Leadership Excellence: Demonstrated ability to inspire and motivate teams toward ambitious goals, coupled with strong negotiation skills and a customer-centric mindset.
• Communication Mastery: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex ideas with clarity and conviction.
• Collaborative Spirit: Proven ability to cultivate strong cross-functional relationships and work collaboratively across diverse teams.
• Analytical Savvy: Strong financial and technical analytical skills, coupled with a resourceful, hands-on approach and meticulous attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications:

• In store Retail prowess
• Familiarity with EOS (Enterprise Operating System)
• Hospitality (restaurant and hotel) experience
• Netsuite and Magento experience
• Love of wine!

The position is at our beautiful Valhalla, NY headquarters which has onsite covered parking, a cafeteria and a gym for employees. This position is expected to be in-office 3 days per week.

Reports To: President, Wine Enthusiast Commerce

Our Commitment to You

Unlimited PTO, Full Medical, Dental and Vision benefits, 401(K) Match, FSA & Dependent Care FSA, Flexible Work Environment, Pet Discount Plans, Employee Discount, Wellhub, optional Wine Tasting Class participation, Flexible Schedule, Dynamic and Collaborative work culture.

Our Core Values

PASSION

We’re not just a company; we’re a community. Our job is to enhance the lives of others, making the wine industry and all its offerings accessible and enjoyable. Delighting and educating our consumers is at the core of everything we do.

COLLABORATION

We believe in the power of working together, sharing ideas, and leveraging our collective talents to achieve our goals. We mentor those we lead and surround ourselves with people who drive us to do more than our personal best.

INNOVATION

We value those who think outside the box to elevate the company. We celebrate change, appreciating that a nimble culture attracts talent and motivates team members to push the envelope and build our business for the future.

TRANSPARENCY

Communication and integrity are the cornerstones of our relationships with each other and our customers. We speak openly about our achievements and challenges, with the goal of helping each other grow.

EMPATHY

We support our employees with patience and understanding, recognizing that work hours represent a substantial percentage of one’s time. We encourage a diverse mindset that helps us better reflect the evolving wine culture.

JOY

We recognize that our business is not just about numbers, but also about people. As a family business, we honor the importance of our employees’ home lives. We encourage fun, discovery, adventure and health for our teams.

Our Commitment to Inclusion & Equity

At Wine Enthusiast, we are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and do not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status. As part of our commitment to fair hiring practices, we have adopted "ban the box" policies to provide individuals with criminal records a fair chance at employment. We consider all applicants on their merits and qualifications, considering their ability to perform the job.

Our family-owned company was born from a passion to bring a fine wine experience to the everyday. We believe wine is best shared with others and brings people together. In 2021, Adam and Sybil's daughters Erika Strum Silberstein and Jacqueline Strum were named co-presidents and continue to lead the mission of bringing wine to life. The second generation works together with the collective team to create new and better ways for everyone to explore and enjoy the exciting world of wine, including low-alcohol wines, non-alcohol wines, spirits, and beyond! We hope you’ll join us with a glass in hand.