Wine Category Manager

Overview

Key Responsibilities

• Identify global wine trends, consumer insights, and opportunities to shape the wine category strategy and annual range plans.
• Build and maintain a global pipeline of wineries, producers, and distributors to unlock limited allocations and exclusive propositions.
• Develop business cases for new wine collections and present recommendations to key stakeholders.
• Track category performance and supplier scorecards and recommend actions to optimize range health, pricing, and promotional effectiveness.
• Create synergies within the QR Group ecosystem and develop 360-degree commercial propositions across the Group.
• Source and select wines across key regions and styles, ensuring a balanced portfolio aligned to target customer segments.
• Lead commercial negotiations with wineries, agents, and distributors to deliver agreed margin and value targets.
• Secure limited and/or exclusive selections and manage launch readiness in partnership with Retail, Supply Chain, and Marketing.
• Ensure alignment and provide expert advice to other hospitality businesses, namely Lounges and Inflight.
• Perform other department duties related to the position as directed by the Head of the Department.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or Equivalent.
• Minimum 6 years of relevant experience.
• Fluent in spoken and written English.
• Proven experience in wine buying across main producers' countries.
• Experience in category management, sourcing, or brand management within travel retail, retail, hospitality, import/distribution, or winery/producer environment.
• Strong track record of supplier negotiation and relationship management.