WineTalent Classifieds: Estate Director for Luxury Santa Barbara Winery

 WineTalent is working with our Santa Barbara Winery Client to find an Estate Director.

About the company: WineTalent’s client is a luxury estate winery producing highly sought-after wines from a highly regarded AVA. The winery has a stellar team including an estate Vineyard Manager, Winemaker and a world-renowned consulting winemaker. Join the team in an important role that is integral to the success of the winery. 

About the opportunity: WineTalent is seeking an Estate Director to oversee the sales and marketing of the business to increase the brand awareness with consumers and trade professionals.

Responsibilities:

• Provide day-to-day and longer-term general management leadership to the business.
• Lead the sales and marketing activities to position the brand in the luxury product arena.
• Accountable for winery's revenue, expenses and profitability.
• Oversee marketing initiatives to ensure increased customer engagement including winery visits, wine club membership and wine purchases.
• Manage wholesale sales including strategic initiatives.
• Emphasize direct trade selling with all staff.
• Manage outsourced consultants in digital, social marketing and content development.
• Create routine and specific reporting to keep ownership engaged with business developments and performance.
• Ensure sales and marketing plans match production levels and budgeted revenue generation.
• Consistently deliver high touch consumer engagement across all channels.
• Management of human and financial resources.

What the Job Requires:

• Senior level management experience in a wine focused business.
• At least 3 years of winery experience in a management, hospitality, and marketing role.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Communications, Marketing or related is strongly preferred. Work history in lieu of a degree will also be considered.
• Extensive wine business experience to create successful plans, budgets, forecasts and initiatives for the winery.
• Thorough understanding of DTC and wholesale sales channels.
• Strong communication skills.
• Proven personnel management to ensure collaborative team environment.
• Luxury product and/or lifestyle marketing experience.

About WineTalent: WineTalent is a wine industry focused recruitment company. We work closely with our clients and our job seekers to find the right fit of talents, experience and work environment.

WineTalent: The Right People for the Job

All inquiries will be kept strictly confidential

To apply please email your resume to amy@winetalent.net   

WineTalent Classifieds: Hospitality Manager in St. Helena

WineTalent is working with our confidential client in St. Helena, CA, to find an experienced hospitality professional to lead the hospitality team at the winery.

Job Description:  Situated in the heart of the Napa Valley, WineTalent’s client is seeking a Hospitality Manager to oversee the staff and manage the guest experience at a busy tasting room on the Silverado Trail.   Working with colleagues from the wine club team, the Hospitality Manager will be directing the tasting room, facilitating wine club sign-ups, managing wine sales and overseeing hospitality events.  This position will be managing a team of 10 tasting room personnel as well as a few key hospitality support personnel.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee daily tasting room operations including staffing. 
• Handle outreach to business partners including destination management companies, tour providers and wineries. 
• Manage wine and non-wine sales including shipping, inventory management and providing top-line customer service when necessary.
• Ensure the tasting room is stocked with all necessary items including stemware, wine supplies, retail goods and related items.
• Market winery’s hospitality program within local community, to wine enthusiasts and to business partners. 
• Manage and build VIP and key customer relationships.
• Determine areas where improvement is needed and put systems in place to correct and improve. 
• Manage tasting room within annual company budget and periodically make adjustments to maximize profitability

Qualifications:

• 2 or more years in a hospitality management position within the wine industry. 
• Experience with AMS and Vin65 preferred
• Proven personnel management experience including recruiting, interviewing, hiring, training, scheduling, coaching and effectively reviewing performance. 
• Solid DTC sales management experience.
• Understanding of government regulations including compliance and consumer shipping regulations.

All applicants and inquiries will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.   

WineTalent Classifieds: Accounting Manager in St. Helena, CA

WineTalent is working with our client, Long Meadow Ranch, on an Accounting Manager role in St. Helena, CA. 

Long Meadow Ranch is a family owned and operated producer and purveyor of world-class wine and food that is economically successful and socially responsible using diversified, sustainable, and organic farming methods. Long Meadow Ranch produces award-winning wines, handcrafted extra virgin olive oils, grass-fed beef, eggs, and heirloom fruits and vegetables. 

Long Meadow Ranch has a unique opportunity for an Accountant to join the administration to provide quality customer service to the ranch management team, business partners, customers and vendors. Reporting to the Vice President of Operations, the Accounting Manager will be responsible for the financial reporting and analysis, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and other general accounting functions for Long Meadow Ranch Wine Estates. The Accounting Manager will follow generally accepted accounting practices, adhering to the policies and procedures set forth by the company.  

Responsibilities
Hold accountability for the preparation of monthly financials including handling the month end-close process.
Posting all required monthly journal entries, reconcile inventory in multiple locations, reconcile other balance sheet accounts as required, and perform overhead allocations.
Reporting on any significant budget variances.
Manage daily accounting tasks including: Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Payroll, Bank reconciliations, daily banking tasks.
Assist with all accounting aspects of Human Resources for Wine Estates including time card and PTO tracking, EDD reporting, workers’ compensation management and policy development.
Monitor, track and report on all required external compliance including wine compliance, TTB reporting, sales tax, property tax returns, organic certifications, etc.
Develop and manage the budgeting/reforecasting process and the cash forecasting process.
Manage a direct report on the wholesale and dtc order desk to accurately, timely, and efficiently process all wholesale and direct wine orders. This includes verifying the accuracy of each wine by type, vintage, variety, brand, inventory availability, price, and size.
Manage sales data reporting for distribution to Tradepulse, Targit and wholesale sales team. Provide support and analysis as needed.
Manage and be responsible for timely and accurate monthly, quarterly and year-end closing cycles.
Evaluate, recommend and implement policies, procedures and systems related to company efficiency, productivity and internal controls.
Support other business accountants as needed with inter-company transactions and inter-company inventory reconciliation.

Qualifications and Requirements
Minimum of 3 years of experience in financial analysis and/or general ledger accounting practices.
Wine business accounting experience required.
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business or related discipline.
In-depth knowledge of Accounting Software including QuickBooks.
Experience with ecommerce and POS systems, Vin65 preferred.
Proficient in MS Excel and MS Office including PowerPoint.
Sharp attention to detail with good oral and written communication skills.
Able to work in a team environment as well as operate independently.
Valid driver’s license and maintain a safe driving record.
A pre-employment background check is required.
Able to lift 40+ lbs. 

Compensation and Benefits
This is a full-time, salaried position.
Competitive compensation depending on experience plus benefits including medical/dental insurance, paid vacation and 401(k).

Interested in applying?  Please email your resume to amy@winetalent.net.  All inquiries are completely confidential.