What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Manager, Key Accounts position at River Barrel Distributing?
Senior Manager, Key Accounts - River Barrel Distributing (RBD)
Kent, WA (Hybrid) | Territory: Western Washington
River Barrel Distributing is seeking a Senior Manager / Key Account Executive to lead and build our Key Accounts function from the ground up. This is a strategic leadership role focused on expanding RBD’s partnerships with major retail chains, national and regional restaurant groups, event venues, music and sporting venues, and other high-impact on-premise accounts across Western Washington.
This individual will be a member of RBD’s senior leadership team and will own the development and execution of our Key Accounts strategy — driving measurable growth through distribution gains, promotional excellence, and joint business planning.
We are looking for a proven industry professional with existing relationships in the market and deep experience in beverage alcohol sales and account management.
This is a newly created role responsible for:
- Building and leading RBD’s Key Accounts business development strategy
- Expanding distribution and promotional presence within major regional and national accounts
- Executing sales initiatives at key Grocery and other Retailer inflection points (assortment reviews, ad planning cycles, resets, promotional calendars)
- Coordinating execution with RBD’s sales team to ensure flawless in-market performance
The ideal candidate brings established relationships with major grocery chains, large-format retail, restaurant groups, sporting venues, music venues, and regional event operators — and knows how to convert those relationships into measurable business growth. With the right qualifications, this individual may also partner with the CEO on supplier portfolio strategy and expansion, helping shape the future growth of RBD’s beverage portfolio.
Salary (including performance bonuses): $90,000 – $125,000 (commensurate with experience and relationships)
Compensation is structured to reward Revenue growth and strategic execution, including:
- Net New Distribution gains
- Incremental case volume growth within key accounts
- Promotional execution & feature frequency
- Gross profit growth within managed accounts
- Strategic account acquisition and retention
Additional Benefits:
- Health benefits
- PTO
- Mileage reimbursement / expense coverage
- Opportunity for long-term performance-based growth and leadership expansion
For exceptional candidates with strong existing account relationships, compensation structure may be customized.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Account Growth
- Develop and execute joint business plans with assigned National and Regional account buyers
- Drive measurable results through Net New Distribution, pricing strategy, ad/display programming, and promotional execution
- Identify and close distribution gaps through data-driven analysis
Cross-Functional Leadership
- Coordinate execution with RBD Sales Team
- Partner with suppliers and executive leadership on innovation launches and portfolio strategy
- Communicate key updates including ad features, pricing changes, distribution shifts, and performance recaps
Relationship Development
- Build high-trust partnerships with key buyers
- Position River Barrel as a preferred, strategic distributor partner
- Represent RBD at major regional events and industry touchpoints
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required
- 10 years beverage alcohol sales or key account management experience
- Existing relationships with major grocery chains, large-format retail, restaurant groups, or venue operators strongly preferred
- Experience with syndicated data (Nielsen, IRI), and Encompass (sales MIS)
- Strong negotiation, presentation, and joint business planning skills
- Entrepreneurial mindset — capable of building systems and structure from scratch
Requirements:
- 21 years of age
- Valid driver’s license, clean driving record
- Reliable transportation and proof of insurance
River Barrel is an independent, growth-focused distributor expanding its footprint across Western Washington. This position will directly influence our portfolio growth, supplier expansion strategy, and major retail presence.