Director, Winery Operations & Commercial Growth

*This is a confidential search being conducted on behalf of an established winery portfolio. Company details will be shared with qualified candidates as the interview process progresses.*

Director, Winery Operations & Commercial Growth

Location: In office in Long Island, NY no less than 3 days per week. Regular travel required. 

About the Opportunity

The Director of Winery Operations & Commercial Growth will serve as a key leader responsible for the overall commercial success and day-to-day operations of our New York winery. This highly visible, hands-on role combines strategic leadership with operational execution, overseeing sales strategy, business development, forecasting, budgeting, financial performance, hospitality, wine club growth, customer engagement, and team leadership. Working closely with ownership, this individual will help shape the long-term direction of the business while ensuring operational excellence and delivering an exceptional experience for customers, members, trade partners, and distributors.

This is not a traditional sales position. We are seeking an entrepreneurial wine industry leader who thrives in a dynamic environment and enjoys building businesses, leading people, and creating memorable customer experiences. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable analyzing financial performance and developing sales strategies as they are leading hospitality initiatives, mentoring a team, strengthening distributor and customer relationships, identifying new revenue opportunities, and introducing creative ideas that enhance the winery's operations, brand presence, and overall guest experience. Success in this role requires a strong business mindset, a passion for hospitality, and the ability to balance strategic planning with a hands-on approach to driving growth across all areas of the winery.

Key Responsibilities

Business Leadership & Operations

• Lead the day-to-day operations of the winery while ensuring operational excellence across all business functions.
• Develop annual sales forecasts, operating budgets, and financial plans.
• Monitor business performance, analyze results, and recommend strategies to improve revenue and profitability.
• Identify operational efficiencies and implement process improvements.
• Partner with ownership on strategic planning and long-term business initiatives.

Sales & Business Development

• Develop and execute sales strategies that drive revenue growth across wholesale, on-premise, off-premise, and direct-to-consumer channels.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with distributors, retailers, restaurants, hospitality partners, and key industry contacts.
• Evaluate market trends and identify new opportunities for growth.
• Support pricing strategy, product positioning, and portfolio expansion.

Wine Club & Customer Growth

• Lead the continued growth of the winery's wine club and membership programs.
• Develop creative initiatives that increase membership acquisition, retention, and customer engagement.
• Enhance the direct-to-consumer experience through innovative programming, events, and exclusive member offerings.
• Identify new ways to increase customer loyalty and recurring revenue.

Hospitality & Guest Experience

• Oversee the winery's hospitality experience and maintain exceptional customer service standards.
• Develop creative tasting experiences, wine dinners, private events, and community programming that strengthen brand awareness.
• Ensure every guest experience reflects the winery's values and commitment to hospitality.
• Continuously introduce fresh ideas that enhance the visitor experience and encourage repeat business.

Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop winery staff across sales, hospitality, and operations.
• Foster a collaborative, service-first culture focused on accountability and continuous improvement.
• Support hiring, coaching, scheduling, and performance management.
• Build a positive team environment that encourages innovation and professional growth.

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of leadership experience within the wine or beverage alcohol industry.
• Experience managing business operations, forecasting, budgeting, and financial performance.
• Demonstrated success leading sales growth and business development initiatives.
• Experience building or growing wine clubs, membership programs, or direct-to-consumer sales.
• Strong leadership experience managing and developing teams.
• Passion for hospitality and delivering exceptional customer experiences.
• Creative mindset with the ability to develop new ideas, events, and revenue opportunities.
• Strong organizational, financial, and operational skills.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities.
• Knowledge of New York wine markets and industry relationships preferred.
• WSET, CSW, CMS, or similar wine certification is a plus.

Compensation

• $100,000–$120,000+ base salary (negotiable depending on experience)  plus performance-based incentive opportunity.
• Additional compensation details will be discussed during the interview process.

Why Join Us?

This role offers the opportunity to play a key leadership role in the growth of a respected winery portfolio while building strong relationships across the wine industry. The position provides a unique blend of sales, business development, business operations, brand representation, and strategic market engagement, making it ideal for a wine professional who enjoys both relationship-building and market execution in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment.

#IND123