What makes this a great opportunity?

As a world leader in premium spirits, Suntory Global Spirits inspires the brilliance of life by delivering great consumer experiences through its world-class portfolio of brands. Known for its craftsmanship of premium whiskies, including Jim Beam®, Maker's Mark®, Basil Hayden® and Knob Creek® bourbons; Japanese whiskies, including Yamazaki®, Hakushu®, Hibiki® and Toki™; and leading Scotch brands including Teacher's, Laphroaig® and Bowmore®, Suntory Global Spirits also produces leading IMFL brand Oaksmith in India.
A global company with approximately 6,000 employees in more than 30 countries, one of Suntory Global Spirit's core values is Growing for Good and through its Proof Positive sustainability strategy, the company has committed to ambitious goals and investments to promote environmental sustainability in its operations, ensure the company has a positive impact on the communities where employees live and work, and programs to educate and inform consumers to make the right personal choices about drinking. Headquartered in New York City, Suntory Global Spirits is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. 

Role Responsibilities

The Refreshment Brand Manager will lead brand strategy, annual planning, and end-to-end marketing execution across American whiskey, premium beer, gin, and plum liqueur (umeshu), with primary focus on American whiskey and premium beer. The role will build understanding of younger legal-drinking-age consumers, recruit beer drinkers into highball, and support premium beer growth through relevant positioning, communication, and brand experiences. On-trade experience is not required, but strong curiosity and willingness to learn through market engagement are essential.

Key Responsibilities

Brand Strategy & Business Performance

• Develop and execute annual marketing plans for assigned categories, primarily American whiskey and premium beer, to deliver brand growth and business results.
• Manage brand P&L responsibilities, including annual A&P budget planning, tracking, and optimization.
• Use market data, consumer research, cultural trends, and market feedback to understand younger legal-drinking-age consumers and identify growth opportunities.

Consumer & Occasion Development

• Develop strategies that make highball relevant and approachable to beer drinkers while strengthening premium beer positioning and occasions.
• Partner with sales and trade marketing teams (MDC) to translate strategy into programs, promotions, events, and activations across relevant channels, including on-trade.
• Engage sales teams, outlet partners, bartenders, and consumers to gather insights, test ideas, and improve execution.

Long Description

Integrated Marketing Communications

• Develop effective brand communication and IMC plans across ATL, BTL, digital, PR, events, social, and experiential channels.
• Lead creative, media, digital, PR, and activation agencies to deliver high-quality execution and improve campaign effectiveness.
• Build brand communication and experiences that recruit beer drinkers into highball, support beer premiumization, and create relevant occasions for younger legal-drinking-age consumers.

Portfolio & Cross-functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with regional teams on portfolio initiatives and new product launches, from positioning and readiness to go-to-market execution.
• Work with internal stakeholders and external partners to ensure consistent execution across consumer and trade touchpoints.

Qualifications

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree or above in Marketing, Business, Communications, or a related field.
• Minimum 3 years of brand marketing or project management experience; FMCG, beverage, alcohol, spirits, or beer backgrounds are welcome.
• On-trade experience is not required; strong interest in the channel and willingness to learn in market are important.
• Experience in brand communication and ATL/BTL development, including advertising, PR, events, digital, and consumer activation.
• Good command of written and spoken English; Japanese language capability is a plus.

Skills & Competencies

• Solid project management fundamentals, with the ability to organize workstreams, manage timelines, and drive execution.
• Strong brand communication skills and the ability to translate positioning into compelling consumer and trade programs.
• Outgoing, energetic, curious, and approachable; enjoys engaging people to understand behaviors and uncover opportunities.
• Independent, agile, collaborative, and comfortable working in a fast-paced, market-facing environment.
• Genuine interest in highball, beer, younger legal-drinking-age consumers, premiumization, and on-trade.